The CR ELECTRIC PROTOTYPE announced by Honda at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show uses an electric motor for power based on the 2018 CRF 250R. If know-how is accumulated in a more severe environment, it is likely that electric sports bikes will appear in the near future.
Proto model is already being tested!
When BENLY Electric was announced (see related articles), as it was also in the speech of President Chiaki Kato of Honda Motorcycle Japan, Honda accumulated technical know-how in motocross, which is a more severe field for electric motorcycles and declared that it will pursue the sports performance of the electric motorcycle.
Isn't it sounds really interesting? So, while walking around the motorcycle, I found someone who seems knowledgeable about the details, and I asked if I could cover the electric motocrosser CR Electric Prototype in my report. Even there are many things that cannot be answered, I curiously asked as much as possible.
There is something that can be done because it is a motor. And that freedom is high!
The CR electric prototype has a large power output = high current flows, so it is water cooled and equipped with a radiator to cool the motor and inverter, as what Honda Engineer said in the video. The interesting point was the freedom in fastening the frame because of the motorcycle while using the frame of the commercial racer and CRF250R almost as it is. It means, in the process of pursuing the benefits unique to the motorcycle, there is also a possibility that a body configuration different from the sports bike up to now will be born!?
Also, the creation of the power characteristics had a high degree of freedom, which was incomparable with the engine. Even though there are issues such as the weight of the battery and the range of the vehicle, I was curious to see what it would be like to ride an electric motorcycle.
[HONDA CR ELECTRIC PROTOTYPE] It is a prototype of the electric motocrosser that Honda announced at the press conference of the Tokyo Motorcycle Show. The battery circumference with motor are made by M-TEC (MUGEN).
The same day announcement MUGEN E.REX has evolved.
The E.REX prototype, announced by MUGEN, was a major evolution from the E.REX concept model presented at the 2017 Tokyo Motorcycle show two years ago. The specifications of the model are the same as the Honda CR electric prototype, and original MUGEN design. It is responsible for the production of Honda in the completed vehicle area (It is not for research but for development of commercial vehicles), and MUGEN is responsible for the battery and power unit. This is proof that HONDA and MUGEN collaborated research are more firmly in advance.
MUGEN has accumulated the know-how and data obtained by SHINDEN (Electric Road Racer that has participated in the Isle of Man TT) and utilized in the development of the electric motocrosser. Currently, it is MUGEN with a strong image of the car (4-wheel vehicle), but in the past, it has developed with 2-wheel (motorcycle) × 4-wheel (car), and once won a champion at All-Japan Motocross and also participated in Suzuka 8 Endurance in the 1980s. Among them, motocrossers that participated in Asama Races and other races are also MUGEN which are the source of origin. I can't help but expect the MUGEN to develop a new electric motocrosser.
TEAM MUGEN Director Miyata Akihiro with MUGEN E.REX Prototype
Introducing the details of the CR Electric Prototype
It is equipped with a radiator in terms of water-cooled. The size looks like STD motocrosser. It cools the inverter with a motor of high output.
The power unit (motor) is placed in the rear, and the drive sprocket position looks similar to the engine version. Since there is no heavy rotating body like a crank, I wonder how does it affect the ride......? The battery is stored in a box made of carbon in front. The weight is still quite heavy.
It is a secret handlebar switch. Does it control such as power mode? The accelerator is a mechanism to transmit input through the APS = accelerator position sensor to the control unit.
It was made of NOGUCHI Seat.
Since the body is almost shared with the 2018-type CRF250R, the suspension and the like will be the same. However, I feel it is not a good thing such as coating rod.
See here the photo collection of motorcycles
Original Source[ YOUNG MACHINE ] (*Japanese)
