Breaking Boundaries with Electric Superbike Twente
In America and Europe, most people think of cars when talking about electric mobility. In other regions, like Asia, three-wheelers or two-wheeler bikes define the electrified landscape. But when you look at the performance data below, these bikes have little in common with the high-performance race bikes the Electric Superbike Twente team creates!
The above numbers can't even come close to conveying the feeling of moving such a thoroughbred racing machine over the asphalt. The team is creating more than just a bike — they create Superbikes!
Saint-Gobain® Tape Solutions has supported the team for many years with developing next-level electric race bikes, especially with materials and know-how for the battery pack. After the launch of their fifth-generation bike “Vector-ST”, we interviewed Ariën Hoekstra, the Chief Chassis of Electric Superbike Twente 2022-2023, and the team to find out more about their ambitions, the vehicle and the benefits of working together.
What is the Twente Superbike and what are your team’s goals for 2023?
Electric Superbike Twente is a student racing team that focuses on designing and building a fully electric motorcycle from scratch. To preserve the world of racing for future generations the team has set the goal to reshape electric motor racing. Every year a new team of students with fresh ideas takes over, eager to continue the mission of showcasing the excitement and fun of sustainable mobility!
This year, we have designed and produced our new bike, the Vector-ST, which has a swappable battery pack that can be replaced within 30 seconds. In this way, we can prolong races since the battery pack is still the limiting factor for the range of electric vehicles.
How does the collaboration with Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions help to reach your goals? For which applications and materials do you use Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions?
Since the battery pack is this year's focus, we wanted to make sure it functions at the best of its performance. Keeping the battery cells within a certain temperature range is important to make sure that they don't overheat or malfunction. Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions is providing us with ThermaCool® R10404, which is a silicone rubber that is also used in commercial electric vehicle battery packs. This is thermally conductive, yet electrically insulating rubber that is used inside the battery modules.
What are the benefits of the materials and which challenges do they solve?
ThermaCool R10404 has several benefits: First, it insulates the module casing so that no electricity can flow through it. Besides that, it transfers the heat that is generated by the battery cells outwards, cooling down the battery pack. Lastly, it puts light pressure on the cells, which also improves its performance.
What makes Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions materials special and a good fit for your needs?
The challenge was to find a fitting rubber or tape that is electrically insulating, but not thermally insulating as well. This is the case in a lot of other rubbers/tapes, which is not great for our application. Together with Eef van Riet, District Sales Manager Benelux & Germany from Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions, we concluded that ThermaCool R10404 is the right solution for our battery pack!
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It is impressive to see what can be possible when two professional partners with expertise and enthusiasm collaborate. This type of collaboration promises all the best for the upcoming racing season. To boost your EV challenges, contact us today and find out how the right tape solutions can help you turn the wheel to reach further and last longer!
