MotoE™, an electric tornado in Texas

Published on Tuesday, 15 May 2018

 

“It's close to race ready.” It was a thumbs up from the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), in Texas, where American rider Colin Edwards tested the Energica MotoE™, the motorcycle that will be used by all riders competing in the 2019 FIm Enel Moto E World Cup, the competition for electric two wheelers. The races are due to be held at MotoGP™ events and Enel is Title Sponsor for the Cup.

As well as being a two-time World Superbike Champion – the world’s fastest production-based motorcycle Championship – and a vastly experienced rider in MotoGP™ (2003-2014), including in the Yamaha factory team alongside Valentino Rossi, Edwards is one of the most admired and well-loved of riders. Fans appreciate his character, great experience in refining motorcycles and his decisive racing style. These qualities have earned him the nickname, the “Texas Tornado”. On this particular occasion Edwards was an “electric tornado” offering his skills to test the electric racing bike with the Enel colours on 22 April, just before the third race of the MotoGP™ season in Texas. On his first outing on an electric motorcycle Edwards completed three laps of the Circuit of the Americas; impressed by the unique sound of the non-polluting bike, he suggested a few technical tweaks to boost the bike’s performance. With a little modification to the angle of the front forks and a little more “engine brake” (which for an electric engine means optimising the power management), the Texas Tornado deemed the Energica MotoE™ ready for the track.

The mobile fast charger developed by Enel X was on hand in the pit lane with Edwards and the Energica electric motorcycle. The system, commissioned expressly for the purpose and linked to the Enel platform of smart e-mobility, is capable of providing a motorcycle with a full charge in less than 30 minutes.

Following the test ride in Texas, MotoE™ demo laps will head to MotoGP™ circuits in Europe from 4 May.  The first three races are the Gran Premio Red Bull de España in Jerez de la Frontera, the HJC Helmets Grand Prix de France at the historic Le Mans circuit and the Gran Premio d'Italia Oakley at the Autodromo del Mugello.

ENEL