NAWA Racer – more details on the first ultracapacitor motorcycle

Featuring a lightweight carbon-fibre frame and composite body panels, the NAWA Racer tips the scales at just 150kg, an impressive 25 per cent lighter than a conventional electric sports bike.

This weight saving comes thanks to a combination of NAWA Technologies ultracapacitors, which produce 0.1kWh to boost the bike’s low-mounted 9kWh lithium-ion battery, about half the size of a conventional e-bike battery.

The French company claims that this hybrid ultracapacitor battery system will greatly improve energy efficiency, reduce charging times and extend the entire system life. Located in the Racer’s tank, these ultracapacitators are known as the NAWACap. It’s a system that could be included in any electric vehicle, offering similar efficiency improvements.

All in all the NAWA Racer can cover 90 miles on a mixture of roads, including motorways. However, with the ultracapacitators able to store and re-use more than 80 per cent of the energy captured from regenerative braking (such as in stop-start riding) the Racer’s urban range doubles to 186 miles. The NAWACap pack itself will be able to recharge in just two minutes, while the battery will fill to 80 per cent in one hour from a home supply.

Producing 98.6bhp, the hubless rim motor will reportedly propel the motorcycle from 0-62mph in under three seconds, continuing to a top speed in excess of 100mph. If you were worried that a lack of noise might make the NAWA Racer a little unexciting to ride, that kind of performance should get the adrenaline pumping.

Unfortunately, this cutting-edge modern-retro machine is but a concept for now, however can be seen in the flesh and experienced via a riding simulator at CES now.