The MotoE World Cup is a single-manufacturer championship of electric motorcycles that is part of the MotoGP World Championship. The bikes currently used are the Ego Corsa by Energica Motor Company while from 2023 the sole supplier will be Ducati.

Aesthetically the MotoE is very similar to a motorcycle with an internal combustion engine and to the bikes of the other MotoGP classes; nevertheless, under the fairing, it is totally different. In addition to the architecture, also the riding style is not that of a traditional motorcycle. To explain how MotoE is made and how it works, we have created a series of posts, of which this is the first. The MotoE that we will describe is the one currently supplied by Energica Motor Company while from 2023 the sole supplier will be Ducati (here the post on the Ducati MotoE).
Starting from the construction aspect, on the MotoE the internal combustion engine is replaced by a permanent magnet electric motor (PMAC - Permanent Magnet AC Motor), but this is not the only difference with a traditional motorcycle. The tank, the fuel system and the exhaust are not needed and in their place we find the lithium battery and the group namd "power electronics".

The function of the battery is to store electrical energy and to transfer it as electrical current to the motor through the power electronics which transform the direct current from the battery into alternating current required for the rotation of the motor shaft. The battery is made up of cells grouped in packages connected together inside the reinforced casing to withstand the shocks of a fall.
Also on the MotoE the gearbox, the clutch and the lubrication oil circuit are not necessary. The cooling system is also different from that of a traditional motorcycle: on the Ego Corsa there is a small radiator that cools the motor and the power electronics while the battery is air-cooled.

Regarding the chassis, however, there are no substantial differences: frame, suspension and brakes are conceptually the same as those of a motorcycle with an internal combustion engine. The electric motor and the rear wheel are connected by a traditional chain. On the bike designed by Energica, the pinion is connected to the shaft of the electric motor through a fixed ratio speed reducer embedded in the motor casing. Among the mechanical components most stressed by MotoE there are certainly the brakes that must slow down the 260 kg of the Ego Corsa plus the 70 kg of the rider.

What was previously called power electronics is a unit consisting of a converter and an inverter. The first modifies the frequency of the electric current that powers the motor by varying the number of revolutions. The second transforms the direct current coming from the battery into alternating current necessary to rotate the motor. When the rider keeps the "throttle" closed when the bike is stationary, the electric motor does not turn so the clutch is not needed. The engine brake also works differently and does not have a real 'character' as on endothermic motorcycles and on MotoE it can be set at the software level. On the MotoE it is possible to decide which behavior to assign to the engine brake through the various maps. The same bike can therefore be adapted to a rider who wants a lot of engine braking and to another who wants a bike with an almost 2-stroke behavior.

As previously described, the cooling system of the MotoE is different from that of a motorcycle with an internal combustion engine. This is due to the fact that an electric motor produces less heat than an internal combustion engine, so a smaller radiator is sufficient to keep the working temperatures within the optimal range. The battery of the MotoE by Energica is air cooled. The 2019 model was equipped with a battery externally cooled by the air. Starting from 2020, a lateral air intake has been fitted to convey air inside the battery itself and obtain a more effective and uniform cooling of the cells. While the electric motor has a limited footprint, the battery is very heavy and bulky. The range of an electric motorcycle depends on how much energy can be stored in the battery, so the more km you want to travel, the bigger and heavier the battery must be.

In these sections you can find further information and details on MotoE and its main components.

To be updated on MotoE World Cup, subscribe to Epaddock's Whatsapp broadcast and receive all our news on your mobile phone in real time: find out how here.