Its great to see another electric motorcycle built by students, that can compete and offer more than many mass-produced electric motorcycles!

Ethec electric motorcycle video and introduction to Zurich university

The focus projects at ETH Zurich gives students a unique opportunity to experience the complete development of a product.

From the first draft to the technical engineering, design, production, and marketing, the students manage the whole process alone. The required knowledge and the necessary skills are acquired through self-study, lectures and, most importantly, the dialogue with experts from the industry, student advisors, and professors.

The Ethec team is made up of 13 mechanical and 1 electrical engineering students from ETH Zurich and 2 industrial design students from the Zurich University of the Arts.

Whats so special about Ethec electric motorcycle?

1. Battery Storage

“Energy storages have limited capacities. Because of that, many electric motorcycles have a relatively short range. With our newly developed technologies, we want to use the available energy more efficiently and open new possibilities in the world of modern mobility.-ETHEC TEAM”

2. Double Hub Wheel Regenerative Braking Innovation

“While braking approximately 75 % of the energy are dissipated on the front wheel and thus lost on a conventional motorcycle. That is why ethec is integrating for the first time worldwide a front wheel-hub motor. This additional engine can be used to recuperate braking energy and obtain higher efficiency, safety, and a superior overall driving experience. The lithium-ion battery, consisting of 1260 cells, is kept at its ideal operating temperature by a thermo-electrical cooling system. ethec created a reliable and impressive power source by combining a low-maintenance cooling system and a direct-cooling oil stream around all cells.-ETHEC TEAM”

3. Unique Monobody Design

“The monobody is the base of the whole motorcycle design. It is modelled following the shape of a human body. The headlight, attached to the collar, is a key visual element and characterizes the head of the design. The prominent expansion of the shoulders gives the motorcycles’ front view a powerful look. The slim seat represents the waist in front of the broadening rear, which finalizes the shape of the monobody. The whole monobody is kept flat and leaning to the front, thus underlining the dynamic appearance of the motorcycle even at standstill.- ETHEC TEAM”

4. ETHEC Battery cooling system and BMS

5. ETHEC braking lever

ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE TECHNICAL DETAILS

Battery:

Lithium-ion technology
-400 km range
-15 kWh capacity
-optimized lifespan achieved through the integration of an active and -passive oil cooling
-continuous monitoring of the cell temperature and the cell voltage

Electronics & Motors:

-wheel hub motors
-22 kW continuous power
-up to 50 kW peak power
-high voltage interlock for security
-fast-charging techniques (charging time approximately one hour)
-variable recuperation

Mechanics, Design & Packaging:

-tube frame for a low weight
-fairing made of carbon-fiber-enforced plastic
-girder fork allows geometry optimization
-stereo swingarm at the back is a proven design
-entire user-interface through a display

It is hard to summarize all that it is done on Zurich university, so follow their team on FB

Ethec project has a nice website with explanations on all their components here