Project7 Electric Superbike to Bring Axial Flux to TTXGP

Beware Mission R, as there is a new player in town coming all the way from Belgium to take its shot at the 2011 TTXGP Championship title: the Project7 X01 electric superbike. Powered by an axial flux brushless DC motor, the bike is still under development. So far, the company has built a mock-up and published some of the specs that are to be featured in the X01 challenger.

The power unit is located just ahead of the rear wheel, and is said to be able to produce no less than 136 horsepower and a constant 135 pound-feet (183 Nm) of torque. However, peak torque is said to shoot to 300 lb-ft (407 Nm) for up to 30 seconds at a time.

Also, the racing machine will hold 12.6 kWh of energy in two quick-release battery modules. The use of a carbon fiber frame and swingarm will make it tip the scales at under 200 kg (440 lbs).

The main competitor in the TTXGP is, however, the recently presented Mission R electric superbike, which incorporates a liquid-cooled AC motor that develops 141 horsepower and 115 ft-lbs (156 Nm) of torque at 6,400 rpm, propelling the Mission R to a top speed of over 160 mph (258 km/h) in a singe gear.

The Mission R racing machine is smaller than a typical 600cc MotoGP machine, yet it holds a massive 14.4 kWh battery beneath its carbon fiber skin. The bike tips the scales at 247.2 kg (545 lbs).

Also, after becoming Europeans champions of TTXGP 2010 with their eCRP 1.2 machine, the Italian factory team CRP is working on the new version of their electric racing motorcycle. Specifically, the eCRP 1.4 will replace the eCRP 1.2, as serious contender for the 2011 title.