Powering the electric motorcycles of tomorrow

The Union Motion project came to life when Dom met Damien Tanner through shared family connections. They quickly hit it off due to their common interests, including a passion for electric vehicles. It may have been inevitable, but as they discussed Damian’s entrepreneurial experience and also Dom’s background and training in product design, an idea quickly began to form.

The timing was perfect. Damian had recently exited a software business he had set up and was looking for a new opportunity. Meanwhile, Dom’s role at the time wasn’t giving him the type of challenge he craved. And so the pair decided to come together and set up Union Motion with the aim of producing and commercialising an electric Powered Twowheeled Vehicle (ePTW).

Although it was technology and a market that neither Dom nor Damian were experienced in, they were not daunted at all. The pair quickly immersed themselves in the sector and began what turned out to be a huge learning curve.

As the pair’s knowledge grew, they made a discovery that could have derailed the entire project. Batteries with the power capacity they required were not available off-the-shelf. You can’t walk into a supplier and pick up a set. Most major electric vehicle manufacturers have their batteries specially made.

This simply wasn’t an option for their prototype. However, further research identified a solution. The batteries used by the Nissan Leaf were, in effect, modular. The full pack for the car was made up of a series of smaller batteries, and it would be possible for a large enough number of them to be accommodated in a bike to provide the power they needed.

However, the team hit another problem. It’s not possible to buy a Leaf battery pack directly from a Nissan dealer. So, they searched for, and found, a Leaf that had been written off in an accident. The batteries were still in working order, and the team removed them from the car to create their first key component for their project bike: The power pack.

With the power pack identified, and its dimensions fixed, the team could set their focus on the next key component, the frame. Damian and Dom assumed they would need to have a frame built from scratch and started the hunt for a frame builder. They found a company in the West Country that had the necessary experience. But when they visited they discovered there was an alternative option. The frame builder already had a frame in their workshop, a complete rolling chassis in fact.

Armed with the dimensions for the power pack, Damian and Dom discovered it was a good fit. The team had sourced their second principal component. And as it turned out they had also found a name for their new project, as the frame had come from a Yamaha Fazer, and so the Phaser Type 1 was christened.

Phaser Type 1 was christened
The motor for the project was one Dom had used in a previous role. It was selected for its power to weight ratio but also because Dom knew there was someone who could set it up and make it work effectively in the Phaser Type 1.

This was Will Williams. He had significant expertise around battery and motor control technology and had worked with Dom on previous projects, developing launch systems for powered gliders. And so Will joined the Union Motion team tasked with integrating the motor and battery technology. He had to find a way to make the stock components work together and develop the powertrain.

This task was easier said than done. Components not specifically designed for each other had to be integrated, and lack of standardisation in this fledgeling industry made this a difficult task.

It was no easy ride. During one test, a motor controller, supplied to the Union Motion team to beta test, caught fire. Not something that you want to happen when sitting on top of 50kg of lithium batteries.

The team survived these setbacks, and they made the project work. Today they have an electric motorcycle that is significantly lighter than its petrol counterpart. It has a 60m range and a very healthy amount of power on tap.

Most significantly, the team has developed a solution that thoroughly tests the technology, its parameters and capabilities. They have learned an enormous amount which has shaped the direction the business will take, and they have a test bed that has helped to get the team noticed and created a profile for Union Motion.

What does the future hold?
The Phaser Type 1 will remain a core project for the Union Motion team, but it was never the intention to make it a production vehicle. It is a test bed that offers an impactful way to showcase their technology and expertise.

They have already displayed the Phaser Type 1 at a variety of shows and exhibitions attracting much interest. As well as further public outings, Dom and Damian are considering a future entry into the Isle of Man Zero TT.

The TT is regarded as one of the most exciting motorcycling events in the world, with a huge profile and following. The Zero race for electrically powered motorcycles was introduced in 2010 and has proven to be a powerful showcase of the technology. The major manufacturers have been slow to get involved, but some of the sport’s leading riders have taken part. The technology is evolving at a much faster rate than the conventionally powered bikes, and it is expected that, where overall lap times are concerned, the electric powered bikes will easily be on a par with their petrol counterparts by as soon as 2020.

While high profile outings for the Phaser Type 1 will help Union Motion’s profile, Dom believes the slow take-up of ePTWs amongst the major manufacturers is due to there being a relatively small market beyond utility vehicles. And so it is in the more buoyant end of the market that the team are now focussing their attention - primarily using their expertise for consultancy.

The Niche Vehicles Network have recently granted the Union Motors team funding to carry out a study into lighter weight ePTW solutions. The work is looking to explore how electric technology can be applied to bikes suitable for learners and users such as commuters, who have a more utility-based approach to the motorcycle.

There are rumours of electric powered projects in development by established motorcycle brands such as Yamaha, BMW and Harley Davidson, which bodes well for the sector. Both attitudes and legislation are changing, and so the technology will have to adapt. If they are not careful, the major manufacturers could be left behind, leaving the way clear for those businesses driving the technology today - companies like Union Motion.

Union Motion has worked with Breakthrough funding, a company that helps UK SMEs achieve R&D tax credits - a government scheme created to enhance and reward innovation amongst UK businesses. Could you be eligible? Click here to learn more.

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