NAWATechnologies, AKKA Technologies, FAAR, Pronergy and YSY Group today announce that NAWATechnologies’ concept e-motorbike, the NAWARacer, will debut as a dynamic prototype in the coming months.

Revealed at CES 2020, NAWARacer was initially designed as a demonstration project, illustrating how NAWATechnologies’ next-gen ultracapacitors, called NAWACap and reinforced composites solution NAWAStitch, can be applied to a real-world electric vehicle (EV) powertrain. Following a hugely successful global reception, the decision has been taken to develop a fully functioning, rideable prototype – and a highly experienced consortium assembled to bring it to life.

“We had such a fantastic response to our NAWARacer concept at CES 2020 that we had to take the next step and showcase what our NAWACap technology truly can do,” said Pascal Boulanger, Founder of NAWA Technologies, and CTO. “In order to develop a fully dynamic prototype, and best reflect our next-gen energy storage technology, a world-leading consortium has been brought together to design and build a fully functioning version.”

The prototype will feature a world-first in electric powertrains: a ‘hybrid’ battery that combines NAWATechnologies’ own revolutionary ultracapacitors, NAWACap, with conventional lithium-ion cells. These are then merged in an innovative electrical architecture, enabling the best of both energy sources, opening up new possibilities for electric vehicle powertrains, with NAWACap playing an equivalent role to a turbocharger in an internal combustion engine.

Bringing a step-change in e-motorbike performance, this hybrid ultracapacitor battery system greatly improves energy efficiency, reduces charging times and extends the entire system life. Applicable to any electric vehicle, the efficiency improvements can reduce the size of the lithium-ion battery by up to half, or extend the range by up to double – or a combination in between depending on the final design.

For the initial design of the NAWA Racer concept, NAWA Technologies was supported by expert design and engineering services provider Envisage Group – based in Coventry, UK. Envisage Group superbly translated designs and drawings made by Pascal Boulanger, NAWA’s founder and CTO, into beautiful and simple renderings and created a physical demonstrator for the CES show stand.

Expert e-mobility consortium

To develop the first NAWARacer dynamic prototype, an expert development partnership has been assembled with skillsets across automotive engineering, R&D, battery management, electronics, powertrain, systems integration and prototype realisation – within the framework of the HYDEALIST project (Hybrid storage and fast-charging for AGV in logistics), funded by InnoEnergy (the European innovation platform for clean technologies).

The development of the motorbike’s unique e-powertrain and, in particular, the aluminium body – which structurally integrates the battery within the chassis, negating the need for a conventional frame – and the in-wheel motor, is led by AKKA Technologies, a global leader in engineering consultancy which supports the world’s leading automotive industry players. Based in 29 countries, AKKA’s mission is to optimize all the mechanical components and conceive an e-motorbike with very few moving parts; light, easy to fabricate and with a perfect riding experience.

AKKA’s team of experts will develop NAWARacer’s ride and handling characteristics, with particular focus on the motorbike’s new rear arm design and advanced suspension system.

The development of NAWARacer’s electronic power distribution system is led by Pronergy, a subsidiary of FAAR SAS located in Paris. This distributes power according to vehicle mode and rider demand. For this first dynamic prototype, a new switching unit has been developed allowing both NAWACap and the lithium batteries to provide energy, maximising the benefits of both technologies in terms of performance and efficiency.

FAAR heads up the development of NAWA Racer’s Battery Management System (BMS) software control ECU electronic architecture, bringing its embedded energy management expertise to the project, which is based on more than a decade of expertise in energy management systems.

NAWATechnologies, the inventor of the NAWARacer and its hybrid power-battery system, is supplying NAWACap – its next-generation ultracapacitors – integrated in a light, compact, modular and communicating pack that can be used in many other applications. Further expert assistance comes from YSY Group, based in Lille, France who complement NAWA in motorcycle testing. The dynamic prototype will be revealed and demonstrated on track just before summer 2021, depending on current Covid-19 restrictions.

Entirely modular and scale-able, NAWARacer’s hybrid battery system can be applicable to any electric vehicle, capable of reducing the size of the lithium-ion battery by up to half or extending the range by up to double – or a combination in between depending on use. While NAWATechnologies has no plans to make or sell a production version of the NAWARacer, it is open to approaches from appropriate partners interested in taking this revolutionary e-motorbike to the streets.

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