Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Europe/EU, USA, Videos



CRP Racing first revealed its Energica electric superbike concept at the epic 2011 edition of EICMA. Now, a year later, a prototype version is on display at that same venue with promises of a finished product in 2014 with sales in both the US and Europe. It should be worth the wait.

The Energica packs a 100-kW (134-horsepower) punch from an oil-cooled permanent magnet AC motor that sends its damage through a single-speed gearbox. No official performance testing has been done, but chief engineer Giampiero Testoni calculates it should swing up to 100 km/h (62 miles per hour) in about 3.3 seconds. Top speed is computer-limited to 220 km/h (134 mph).

The lithium battery nestled within the tubular trellis frame is said to hold 11.7 kW-hours of energy. That should be enough to propel the bike for 150 kilometers (93 miles) at 80 km/h (50 mph), though range will vary with terrain and by which throttle map you've selected by a switch on the left handlebar.

As much as possible, CRP has stuck with high-end Italian components - Brembo brakes, Marchesini wheels, Schedoni seat - but have managed to keep the price down to a relatively reasonable 18,000 Euros ($22,940 at today's rate). The company says it will have a number of options available and also offers some amount of customization, so be prepared to pay a bit more.

Also, don't bet that the bike will look exactly like this prototype. While we suspect that it will have a lot in common, including the front fairing with its twin LED lights, we imagine there will be some further refinement before the final product emerges, perhaps at next years EICMA.

Scroll below for a promotional video featuring the Energica in action on some spectacular cliffside Italian roads, along with a more lengthy clip featuring a pre-show unveiling with more technical details.Continue reading CRP Energica prototype debuts at EICMA 2012 [w/video]

CRP Energica prototype debuts at EICMA 2012 [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 07:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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