Dutch Student Racing Team Unveils Delta-XE Electric Superbike
Highlights
- Electric Superbike Twente Delta-XE intends to achieve MotoGP performance
- The electric superbike has a claimed top speed of 300 kmph
- Tubular steel trellis frame, Ohlins suspension and carbon fibre bodywork
A team of students from the University of Twente in the Netherlands has unveiled the Delta-XE, an electric superbike. The university's Electric Superbike Twente program is comprised of students who take over the project every year, and the Delta-XE is the university's fourth iteration. Students modified the previous year's design and the electric motor of the Electric Superbike Twente Delta-XE now claims maximum power of 150 kW (around 200 bhp), with claimed acceleration from 0 to 100 kmph in less than 3 seconds, with a top speed of over 300 kmph.
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The Delta-XE's energy comes from a custom, permanent-magnet AC motor and a 13.5 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack containing 576 cells. The set-up is controlled by a Cascadia Motion PM150DZR controller. Every successive year has shown increases in safety, with the latest iteration of the electric superbike project making the entire high voltage circuit enclosed within the battery pack. This makes the motorcycle more user-friendly and safer for maintenance. The Delta-XE was created with the help of over 70 partner companies that contributed services and financial support.
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The bike's tubular steel chassis was designed by Dutch firm Bakker Framebouw and features a trellis design mated to a conventional double-sided swingarm. Front suspension duties are handled by an upside-down fork from CeraCarbon Racing featuring an Ohlins cartridge set-up, while an Ohlins TTX GP monoshock takes care of suspension at the rear. The bike is wrapped in a nice carbon fibre fairing, and with over 200 kg kerb weight, the bike weighs as much as the previous generation model, but has more battery cells.
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The current team is also recruiting next year's team members, and the fifth team will begin working in Septemnber, around the same time the Delta-XE will possibly participate in an actual race in Hengelo, in the Netherlands, with two motorcycles being used at the race. The next team of students will focus on researching, analysing, testing and optimisation to improve on the current models, and to collect vital data and experience, to try and achieve the ultimate goal, to reach the same levels of performance as a MotoGP machine.