State-of-the-art electric Superbikes arrive in South Africa

Electronia South Africa, an importer and distributor of electric vehicles (EVs), has signed an exclusive deal with Energica Motor Company Italy, to become the official agent for the first ever electric superbikes launched in the country.

The Italian company designs and manufactures electric racing motorcycles, which it also supplies to the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup Series, known as the electric version of the MotoGP. In 2019 the company revealed its second-generation EGO Sports and EVA Naked streetfighter models and emphasises the increasing popularity of electric motorcycles, having outsold its total 2019 sales in the first seven weeks of 2020.

Energica Motor Company is run by CEO, Livia Cevolini, whose grandfather worked with Enzo Ferrari. While Energica officially launched its first electric bike in 2014, its parent company, CRP Group, has supplied F1 teams and supercar manufacturers with rapid prototyping and advanced materials engineering services since 1970.

The company explains that its motorcycles’ unique performance is due to a synchronous oil-cooled motor with internal permanent magnets and highlights that, without transmission gears, clutch or shifting, the rider is able to fully focus on acceleration, throttle control, cornering and braking. The technology is said to be intuitive, yielding 215 Nm of instant torque to the rider in microseconds.

The bike’s vehicle control unit (VCU) is designed for ultimate control. Unlike other vehicles, where the control units work separately on all controllers, Energica’s battery, inverter, charger, ABS and eABS are constantly monitored and managed by the VCU, which is fully designed and developed by the company. According to the company, the VCU implements a multi-map adaptive energy and a power management algorithm that manages the vehicle, carefully monitoring and adjusting the motor’s power according to the throttle thrust 100 times per second while riding. The VCU interfaces with the Bosch ABS system and controls regenerative engine braking by means of the eABS system, aimed at ensuring the highest efficiency in energy usage and full functionality of the battery throughout the life of the vehicle, while also delivering exceptional drive-ability and experience. The system is based on an architecture with dual redundant microprocessors to ensure the highest safety standards that constantly monitor the status of the battery, even in the key-off position.

The motorcycles are also equipped with ‘park assist’ to facilitate parking and maneuvering on steep inclines or in rush hour traffic. The VCU limits the speed and torque of the vehicle to ensure safe driving and ‘park assist’ reverse and forward mode allows for a maximum speed of 4 km an hour and maximum torque of 50 Nm.

The dashboard layout includes a thin-film-transistor (TFT) full-colour liquid-crystal display unit, with 16.7-million display colours, that offers excellent visibility and an active matrix dashboard designed to create a real ‘human-machine interface’, with technology designed to support the flow of information and interactivity. The Cobo 4.3” WQYGA 480 x 272 TFT colour display unit, integrated GPS receiver and Bluetooth communication with nine warning lights, 6+6 current consumption lights, an ambient light sensor, real time clock and GPS 10Hz, allowing the driver to view the closest charging stations when connected to the MY-Energica application. A Bluetooth low energy and long-range system is also available.

There are currently 3 Energica models available, namely the EGO+RS, the EVA Ribelle RS, and the EVA EsseEsse9+RS, all of which are said to be fitted with the most advanced components available, as well as the latest Marzocchi adjustable rebound and compression damping, spring preload front suspension and Bitubo mono shock, adjustable rebound and spring loaded rear suspension, which can be upgraded to Ohlins.

The brakes are Brembo, double floating, 4 piston radial caliper on the front and single 2 piston on the rear. The ABS is Bosch Switchable, the batteries have a maximum capacity of 21.5 kWh /nominal capacity 18.9 kWh, lithium polymer, with 1 200 life cycles at 80% capacity (100% DOD), fast charge (DCFC Mode 4) 400 km/h or 6.7 km/min and slow charge (Mode 2 or 3) 63.5 km/h.

The power kW/Hp maximum continuous power is 80 Kw/10 9Hp at 6 000 rpm for the EVA EsseEsse9+RS and 107 kW/145 Hp at 6 000 rpm for the EVA Ribelle RS and EGO+RS. The torque differs for each model, 200 Nm/148 ft lb for the EVA + RS and 215 Nm/159 ft lb for the EGO+ and EVA Ribelle RS. The top speed is electronically limited to 200 km on the two EVA’s and 240 km on the EGO+RS. The acceleration  runs at 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds.

The  EGO+RS, the EVA Ribelle RS, and the EVA EsseEsse9+RS models are fitted with a cruise control system that uses the electronic brake to maintain speed and increase braking energy. There are six levels of intervention combined with the existing eABS and the Bosch ABS and each includes four riding modes, namely urban, eco, wet and sport, plus four regenerative modes, namely high, medium, low and off.

Prices for the Energica Electric Superbikes start at R515 000 and exclusive test rides can be arranged through Electronia South Africa.