Valeo Reveals 48V Electric Powertrain

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French global automotive supplier Valeo just dropped a Vmoto-based electric prototype packing a lightweight 48-volt powertrain. (Valeo/)

Ignore the fact that under the green paint lies a fairly stock-looking Vmoto Super Soco TC Max; the interesting part of Valeo’s newly revealed electric bike prototype is the mass-manufactured powertrain that the firm plans to offer as an off-the-shelf solution to motorcycle companies looking for a shortcut into the electric market.

Valeo is a French automotive supplier with a global reach and massive production abilities spread across an astounding 187 production sites in 33 countries, backed up by 63 R&D facilities and 110,300 employees. Until now, the company has had little involvement with motorcycles, but its expertise in electric vehicles means it’s well positioned to develop a powertrain for bikes.

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While the prototype borrows the Super Soco TC Max chassis and bodywork, the air-cooled 48-volt motor and related electronics are all unique. (Valeo/)

This motorcycle prototype was shown at last week’s CES 2022 event in Las Vegas, and while the chassis and bodywork are borrowed straight from the Super Soco TC Max, the motor, batteries, and electronics are all unique. Where the Soco has a 60-volt battery and a motor with a continuous rated power of 3.9kW (and a peak of 5kW), the Valeo design uses the firm’s 48-volt electronics and a motor that’s derived from hybrid and electric powertrains created for cars. Valeo claims to have more than 30 percent of the market share in the 48-volt hybrid field, and it’s reusing the same technology for its motorcycle components, giving economies of scale that couldn’t be reached with a dedicated, bike-only design.

The new two-wheel powertrain is said to be directly related to that of the recently released Citroën Ami auto. (Valeo/)

The drive system features an air-cooled 48-volt motor, an integrated transmission, and a control unit, all combined into one package weighing less than 37.5 pounds (17kg). Initially, the prototype uses a belt-driven reduction gearset, but Valeo says the next generation, already in the pipeline, will use epicyclic reduction gears to improve performance. Peak power is 9.4kW, nearly twice what the Super Soco TC Max offers, to give the performance equivalent of a 125cc gas-powered bike, and the electric motor/transmission unit is more than 90 percent efficient in transferring power from the battery to the rear wheel.

The motor is directly related to the 48-volt combined starter/generator units Valeo provides for mild hybrid cars, and which also forms the basis of the powertrain for the recently released Citroën Ami, a city car that can be driven by 14-year-olds in France. However, while that 937-pound machine is limited to 28 mph by legislation, in a lightweight bike like the TC Max-based prototype seen here, it promises much more sprightly performance. While Valeo hasn’t announced any customers for the powertrain yet, its combination of low cost, simple packaging, and 125cc-equivalent performance should make it a tempting option for a host of smaller motorcycle companies without the resources to develop their own electric powertrains.

The 48-volt nature of the system also fits well with current trends for electric motorcycles, as an increasing number of major manufacturers are adopting 48 volts as the standard for their forthcoming offerings. In Japan, all four major manufacturers have agreed to a standardized, swappable 48-volt battery pack to use in motorcycles and scooters, opening the door to battery-swap stations instead of roadside charging. In Europe, a similar consortium made up of Honda, Yamaha, KTM, and Piaggio is also working toward a standardized battery. Since all four companies already use 48-volt systems or have such designs approaching production, it’s near certain that the standard they agree upon will be similar to the Japanese one, including 48-volt architecture.

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