British transmission specialist E‑Motiv Shift Systems will present a two‑speed seamless powershift transmission for electric motorcycles at the Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori (EICMA) in Milan from 3 to 8 November 2026. The company says the compact system preserves torque delivery to the rear wheel during ratio changes, which it expects will deliver stronger acceleration and improved powertrain efficiency compared with a single fixed drive ratio.
Why a second ratio matters for electric bikes
Most production electric motorcycles use a single fixed gear ratio, a compromise that trades off between low‑speed pulling power and top speed. E‑Motiv’s two‑speed solution aims to reduce that compromise without the brief loss of drive that conventional gear changes create. The maker adds that manufacturers can tune how shifts feel — from subtle and smooth to more direct — to suit the intended use case and rider expectations.
Roots in MotoGP and UK‑led validation
The transmission builds on the company’s heritage from Zeroshift seamless selector gearing developed for combustion engines about 25 years ago. Aprilia Racing has used the earlier system in its RS‑GP MotoGP bike since 2015; E‑Motiv says that generation contributed to more than 30 podium finishes for the team, including a 1‑2‑3 at the Silverstone Grand Prix in July 2026. The electric version is a separate development, designed specifically for light electric vehicles.
Validation of the EV transmission took place under a £1 million project funded by Innovate UK’s Design and Build programme. Partners on the project included motorcycle manufacturer BSA, the University of Bath and the Institute of Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS), the company said.
Demonstrator and testing plan
A demonstrator motorcycle named Demo 1 was designed by consultancy Envisage and is being assembled by IAAPS at its UK research facility. E‑Motiv told attendees and industry observers that real‑world road testing of the demonstrator is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
- Event: EICMA, Milan — 3–8 November 2026
- Project funding: £1 million via Innovate UK Design and Build
- Partners: BSA, University of Bath, IAAPS, Envisage
- Demonstrator: Demo 1; road testing planned Q1 2027
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Technology | Two‑speed seamless powershift transmission for electric motorcycles |
| Provenance | Derived from Zeroshift seamless selector gearing used in MotoGP |
| Validation partners | BSA; University of Bath; IAAPS; Innovate UK-funded project |
| Demonstrator | Demo 1 (designed by Envisage; assembled by IAAPS) |
| Testing | Real‑world road tests planned in Q1 2027 |
For India’s motorcycle and EV sectors, the development is notable because it targets a core limitation of single‑ratio electric drivetrains: the need to compromise between off‑the‑line torque and high‑speed performance. Several Indian manufacturers and new entrants are expanding into electric motorcycles and high‑performance two‑wheelers, and a compact, tunable multi‑ratio transmission could be of interest to OEMs seeking both city usability and improved acceleration without relying solely on higher‑power motors or larger batteries.
The company describes the product as a combined transmission and control technology intended for vehicles where multiple ratios add value. The demonstrator and the timing of public demonstrations at EICMA mean the industry will have an early chance to examine how the concept translates to production vehicles and service networks; E‑Motiv plans to begin road testing in early 2027.
