From Amarok Consultants
LENNOXVILLE, QC - Amarok Consultants, a leader in motorcycle industry consulting, has presented the prototype for an electric racing motorcycle that will compete in the 2011 TTX GP racing series.
The Amarok P1, designed and built in Lennoxville, QC, tips the scales at a diminutive 147kg (325 lbs), with 7.5 KwH of lithium batteries and powered by two Agni 95R DC motors, making it one of the lightest electric sport motorcycles in existence.
To achieve maximum power-to-weight and optimize handling, Amarok uses proprietary Concentric Design methodology to rethink conventional motorcycle architecture and challenge preconceptions of motorcycle engineering. The Amarok P1 features a frameless aluminum monocoque design that incorporates the structure, enclosed battery storage and the aerodynamic fairing all into one, eliminating duplication, optimizing distribution of loads and reducing weight across the system.
“Ever since I saw the first modern electric scooters in the mid 2000's, I felt that the time was ripe to approach motorcycle design like an aerospace vehicle, and integrate the body, frame and battery into the same structure,” said Amarok Consultants President and P1 chief designer Michael Uhlarik. “Since the 1930's, airplanes have relied on all-stressed skin, aluminum monocoques for superior strength, lower weight and packaging efficiency. Batteries already have strong and bulky structures, so why not design them into shapes that give them enough strength to support the entire motorcycle and rider vehicle system, while sculpting them into an aerodynamic package?”
The P1 is the result of over one year of design and fabrication, and although impressively light already, it represents only a starting point.
“The P1 is far from perfected, with many compromises made for the sake of time and limited resources," Uhlarik continued. "It is our design target to achieve a weight of 125kg (275 lbs) with the next generation P2, giving us power-to-weight parity with a gasoline powered 250cc Grand Prix bike. I want Amarok to prove that with battery electric vehicles, less really is more. Less heavy, costly batteries, but more performance and better handling.”
Amarok will be campaigning the P1 in the North American TTX GP electric racing series this summer with support from Pro6 Cycle, Canada's largest track day operator, and Dunlop Tires, while continuing to develop the concept and upgrading the technology for the second generation P2, due in fourth quarter 2011.
Based in Lennoxville, Quebec, Amarok Consultants provides outsourcing services to the motorcycle industry. Founded by international award winning designer Uhlarik, author of motorcycles such as the Yamaha MT-03, Yamaha TZR, Derbi CRA07 and many others, Amarok offers a range of services from industrial design and project management, to market research and brand development.
