Crate engines are common in the auto world, giving rebuilders and restorers an easy way to replace a tired or blown engine with something new and more powerful. Recently, Ford and GM have extended that idea to electric crate motors, so you can replace the entire internal combustion drivetrain in your car or truck with factory built electric power.
GM has shown a couple of conversions like this K5 Blazer to showcase their eCrate project and Ford has done an F-100 pickup to promote their Eluminator.
The external appearance of the car or truck can remain unchanged and the only thing you might notice is the absence of a tailpipe. The other obvious difference would be the sound, or lack thereof, when the vehicle drives off. Keeping the stock appearance is pretty neat as is the ability to reverse the procedure should you want to.
Since GM and Ford are committing a lot of resources to electric vehicles, they have ready made crate motors and drivetrains, the GM ecrate is from the Chevy Bolt and Ford takes theirs from the Mustang Mach E GT, a convenient way to expand the market for their electric investment.
Would this work for motorcycles?
Motorcycles, for the most part, have their drivetrain in plain view, if you replace the engine, you’ll see it, but look at the Ducati above, it’s their new electric racer for MotoE. The exhaust is absent, but everything else looks just like a Ducati sport bike. Interesting.
So, my question is, would you ever think about a swap?
Electric motors and batteries and the associated electronics are expensive which means it’s unlikely to be cost effective, though custom builders might jump at the chance and those able to afford high dollar customs would be the target market. It’s also likely to be restricted to those brands building a factory electric, since the cost to develop an electric crate motor kit of some sort, while possible for a custom shop, won’t bring with it the economies of scale a factory would have.
Also, unlike cars where the engine is hidden, the potential motorcycles for a swap like this would likely be those with fairings, like the Ducati shown above plus, motorcycles are often built around a specific engine, so an electric motor and batteries would have to be small enough to allow some flexibility in potential applications.
Of course, even if Ducati decided to provide an e-crate motor, how many Ducati owners would want to eliminate the sound and ride around in the quiet?
I don’t know if this is on anyone’s radar, but after seeing a number of articles on electric crate motors for the four wheel world, I began to think about it. What do you think?
Peppyrick says
Am in! Have a Honda CB500 , 1985 with a title. No motor, just a frame with 2 wheel.This would make a great build.
There is got to be a kit out there! If there is bring it on
todd says
I can’t think of any of my bikes that I would want to remove the sound and feel of an engine and transmission for an electric drivetrain. I see absolutely zero benefits for such a swap.
Graham says
Run around shopping bike – OK.
Anything else – NEVER.
Charlie says
Yes. Some people do this very successfully, but they are comfortable spending thousands of dollars on what they know. Most customizers aren’t (you know which brands and models of controllers are best suited for given applications and with best value considerations too?). A retro “crate” would remove big obstacles to electric acceptance.
noahzark says
200 kms and the end weight equal, sure, no problem. Garage landlord might object to increased hydro use. Gas vs. hydro equal? maybe.
neal carter says
“Loud pipes save lives”
JanBros says
get over it, they don’t !
South Park made a great documentory about this.
Duffey Wolvin says
I’d be down to try- it’s easy to get a cheap bike with a blown motor, and electric is really good for most commuting and daily utility runs like shopping or whatever. And electric torque converts people really quickly…
Ian Jones says
Spot on. I would love an electric run-about to be home charged. “Torque smiles” are addictive, as one leaves the wannabes far behind. Fuel prices become irrelevant. The urban environment is ideal for electrics. For country runs I would revert to hydrocarbons.
RicknRedmond says
To get the benefit of an electric conveyance, the entire drivetrain must be built for it. Crate motors for cars lose 1/2 the potential benefit, so why bother? With a chain driven bike, it’s possible to get closer to the ideal, However, in my view, a sport vehicle needs to sound like one. If you need the quickest bike, electric may be the right thing, i.e. racing for money. But if you want one that is the most satisfying to ride, my money is on the IC engine.
DEBBE SWANSON says
A huge part of the essence of a motorcycle is its sound, so no replacement for me.
Erik says
I’m sure some electronic gadget can be made to replicate your choice of sound. Fashion the output speaker in the shape of an exhaust pipe, and violá, press A for Ducatti sound, B for HD, C for Jap inline, etc. Easily done.
Erik in Oz.
Brian Casey says
Amen to thatâ€¼ï¸ All been done already.. BMW has done this with some of their autos and may still do so..
Doug says
Not a bad idea for the commuter as others stated.
I see a 2-part kit possibility, albeit the cost goes up compared to just a drivetrain swap…
1. An OEM makes their ecrate available
2. A company like Spondon makes a chassis available, built specifically for that e-crate (understandably, this isn’t 100% the essence of this article’s “swap” topic, but say the triples, forks, wheels are also swapped).
One result could be that e-bikes have style!! (and a chassis made for the ecrate).
I’ve not seen but a couple that have the style to compel a purchase (e.g. Mission’s trellis chassis and sleek bodywork).