Triumph built the TE-1 as a one-off electric motorcycle research prototype, completed it in July 2022, and never announced a showroom version. So what happened?
It’s a bit frustrating because its final figures were serious: 130 kW (175 hp / 177 PS), 109 Nm (80 lb-ft), 161 km (100 miles) of tested and projected range, and a 20-minute charge from 0 to 80 percent.
The TE-1 is stil lrelevant because it showed what Triumph and its technical partners could achieve in a full-size performance motorcycle. If you’re waiting for an electric Speed Triple, Triumph hasn’t given it a model name, launch date, price, or production commitment.
Updates
- September 2026: Added the Triumph TXP-12, TXP-16, TXP-20, and TXP-24, the first electric motorcycles sold under the Triumph name.
- Clarified that Triumph has no announced production version of the TE-1 and no confirmed full-size electric road motorcycle.
- Revised the specifications, project history, and current-status sections.
You might also like my guide to the Ducati V21L MotoE electric race bike.
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Triumph TE-1 specifications and what they mean
| Item | Triumph TE-1 result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Research prototype; project completed in July 2022 | Triumph never offered the TE-1 for sale or announced a production version. |
| Range | 161 km (100 miles), based on live testing and official projections | Enough for a fast recreational ride, but without the touring margin of a petrol Speed Triple. |
| Peak power | 130 kW (175 hp / 177 PS) | Similar peak output to a Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS of the same period. |
| Peak torque | 109 Nm (80 lb-ft) | The motor delivers torque immediately and doesn’t need a multi-speed gearbox. |
| Acceleration | 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) in 3.6 seconds; 0–161 km/h (0–100 mph) in 6.2 seconds | The 0–100 mph time shows how hard it keeps accelerating after the initial launch. |
| Charging | 0–80 percent in 20 minutes | This was a prototype result with Triumph’s dedicated rapid-charging system, not a promise for a production bike. |
| Weight | 220 kg (485 lb) | Heavy beside a petrol street bike, but lighter than several full-size electric motorcycles available in 2022. |
What was the Triumph TE-1?
Triumph announced Project TE-1 in 2019 and completed the working motorcycle in 2022. The UK government-backed research project joined Triumph with Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain, and the University of Warwick.
Williams developed the battery pack, Integral Powertrain developed the motor and inverter, the University of Warwick handled modelling and simulation, and Triumph integrated the hardware into a complete motorcycle. Triumph used road, track, and dynamometer testing to study power delivery, range, charging, thermal management, traction control, regenerative braking, and front-wheel lift control.
Triumph’s goal was to build electric-motorcycle knowledge and test technology that could inform later models. The company described the finished TE-1 as a prototype demonstrator, not a pre-production motorcycle.
TE-1 design: an electric Triumph roadster
The TE-1 looks like an electric member of Triumph’s naked-bike family. Its compact nose, twin headlights, short tail, exposed frame, and single-sided swingarm place it somewhere between the Street Triple and Speed Triple in visual terms.
The resemblance doesn’t mean Triumph converted a Speed Triple. The TE-1 needed a bespoke aluminium frame for its battery, motor, inverter, cooling system, and charging hardware. The battery and motor form much of the visual mass that an engine and fuel tank create on a petrol bike.
Motor, battery, and charging
Integral Powertrain combined the liquid-cooled motor and inverter into a unit that weighed about 10 kg (22 lb). Integration reduced the number of high-voltage cables, busbars, and separate cooling connections.
The motor reached 130 kW (175 hp / 177 PS) at peak output and 109 Nm (80 lb-ft). Williams packaged the battery, battery-management system, and charging hardware so the bike could reach 80 percent charge in 20 minutes during the project’s tests.
Chassis, suspension, and brakes
Triumph fitted Öhlins suspension at both ends and twin Brembo M50 four-piston radial front calipers. Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tyres and familiar sport-bike controls made the prototype suitable for track testing.
Those parts don’t make the TE-1 a production-ready motorcycle. Prototype teams often choose proven premium hardware so they can concentrate on testing the new powertrain and chassis.
See my motorcycle braking systems FAQ for an explanation of radial calipers and Brembo’s model names.
Belt final drive
The TE-1 sends power to the rear wheel through a Gates carbon belt. A belt is clean and needs less routine attention than a chain, while an electric motor’s smooth torque delivery suits it well. Triumph didn’t need to package a clutch or multi-speed gearbox.
How the Triumph TE-1 sounds
The TE-1 produces a high-pitched motor and reduction-drive whine that rises with road speed. It doesn’t try to imitate a combustion engine. These edited clips come from Triumph’s promotional videos.
What happened after the TE-1 project?
Triumph completed Project TE-1 in July 2022. In a February 2023 update, the company explicitly said it had no plans to put the TE-1 into production. It said the project’s battery, electronics, and electric-powertrain work would inform future development.
So the TE-1 demonstrated technology, but Triumph didn’t homologate it, publish a price, open orders, or announce a production schedule. As of 2026, Triumph hasn’t announced an adult electric road motorcycle descended from it.
Triumph’s production electric motorcycles: the TXP range
Triumph bought electric trials-bike company OSET in 2022. In October 2025, the two companies launched the Triumph TXP range powered by OSET. These are the first electric motorcycles sold under the Triumph name.
The TXP models are small off-road motorcycles, mainly for children and young riders. They aren’t road-legal TE-1 replacements. Each bike can switch between a seated trail setup and a standing trials setup by changing the seat and front mudguard.
| Model | Intended rider | Motor | Claimed top speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXP-12 | Ages 3–5 | 600 W | 23 km/h (14 mph) |
| TXP-16 | Ages 5–7 | 765 W | 31 km/h (19 mph) |
| TXP-20 | Ages 7–10 | 1,200 W | 35 km/h (22 mph) |
| TXP-24 | Ages 10 and older; teenagers and adults up to 90 kg (198 lb) | 1,600 W | 39 km/h (24 mph) |
The TXP launch gives Triumph a real electric product line and dealer-sales experience, but it doesn’t tell us when a full-size electric road bike will arrive. The motors, batteries, performance, and intended use differ completely from the TE-1.
Is another full-size Triumph electric motorcycle coming?
Triumph says the TE-1 work will guide its electric development, so the company has kept the door open. It hasn’t announced a specific full-size electric motorcycle, though. Reports that describe the TE-1 as an upcoming production model go beyond what Triumph has said.
For now, the answer depends on what you mean by a Triumph electric motorcycle. You can buy a TXP off-road bike for a young rider, or the TXP-24 for a suitable older rider. You can’t buy an electric Triumph roadster, and Triumph hasn’t said when that will change.
