Students from Zurich Build Electric Motorbike with 400 km Range

 

 

 

16 students from Zurich have come together to experience the complete development of a product - in this case, an electric motorcycle named the Ethec.

From the technical engineering, design production and marketing, the entire process was done entirely be the students themselves, after gaining the necessary skills through self-study, lectures and conversations with experts from the industry.

(All images taken from ethec)

 

 

According to the Ethec team, their vision is an “urban solution for mobility, which efficiently retrieves the own braking power through recuperation.” As energy storages have limited capacities, this also means many electric bikes have a rather short range.

With the technologies the students have developed, they aim to “use the available energy more efficiently and open new possibilities in the world of modern mobility.”

 

Check out the neat little video the students have put together below!

 

So what technology did the Ethec team actually implement in the bike for such a colossal range of 400 km?

 

 

For the first time worldwide, Ethec will be integrating a front wheel-motor. This additional engine can be used to recuperate braking energy and obtain higher efficiency and safety. Their rationale behind this move is because while braking, approximately 75% of the energy is dissipated on the front wheel and thus lost on a conventional motorcycle.

 

Powered by a lithium-ion battery with 1260 cells, this impressive power source combines a low-maintenance cooling system and a direct-cooling oil stream around the cells.

 

Temperature sensors are placed at specific spots to control the cooling system precisely, which consists of fans, pumps, a Peltier element and an expansion tank.

 

The Battery Management System helps to regulate the battery by gathering relevant information about the battery cell and controlling aspects such as the cooling, the charging and discharging of each battery cell.

 

Operation is said to be extremely smooth as well. According to the Ethec team, the recuperation starts intuitively as soon as the driver utilizes the brake handle, and can then be controlled gradually and precisely.

There is also a Keyless-System which means that the biker can “concentrate on the joy of driving only and drive off at the touch of a button.”

 

Lastly, the Ethec comes equipped with a 7-inch touch screen display with an integrated navigation system.

 

If this motorcycle can really live up to its promised features, mass producers of other electric bikes had better watch out, because these students sure can compete with other big companies out there!

 

For more information, visit the official Ethec website.