CRP Energica, the first Italian electric superbike

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ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY srl (EMC) is a start up, created by CRP group, which has been present in the market since 1970. The Group is a center of excellence in state-of-the-art technologies: with its 45 year old experience it is now one of the key players worldwide in high performing CNC machining, 3 D printing, metal laser sintering. Recently it has decided to invest in sustainable mobility setting up ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY (EMC) with the purpose to create the first Italian electric superbike. Promoters of the project are Eng. Livia Cevolini, CEO of EMC, Franco Cevolini, CEO of CRP Group, Giampiero Testoni, CTO of EMC, Andrea Vezzani, CFO of CRP Group and EMC.

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A dream that comes true: an electric superbike that can be mass-produced and has the same performances of the most advanced traditional bykes. The objective is to sell it all over the world, especially in difficult markets like the American, Japanese and German ones where the electric mobility is widespread and where charging stations are rapidly growing in number making battery recharging easier and faster. Nobody has yet made a byke with a 100 KW power: presently the two landmarks of the market are Brammo whose vehicle has a 40 KW engine and the BMW scooter with a power around 30KW. All Technical Designers know very well that technical problems increase with power, especially as far as bykes are concerned for which weight and space are critical factors, more critical than in cars. It is therefore easy to imagine the difficulties in designing a vehicle with a 100 KW power and a 12 KW/h battery. The main problems to be solved have been: • Lay out of the vehicle (position of battery and electric engine) • Electronic Control Unit • Performance optimization. Driving effectiveness and comfort should be even better than with traditional internal combustion engine motorbykes. • Safety and reliability.

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In order to solve all these complex problems in a reasonably short time, CRP has decided to implement the Lean methodology with the support of Eng. Gaetano Cocco of GC&P, a consulting firm specialized in creating value for Small and Medium-sized Companies. The combination of Lean methods with the remarkable competencies, the enthusiasm and the passion of the persons involved has brought about excellent results in a very short time and the vehicle EGO, ready for sale, has been presented at the EICMA salon in November 2014 and will be launched on the market by mid 2015. Considering the complexity of the project time-to-market has been very short: from the esthetic maquette presented at EICMA 2011 less than 4 years have passed! From the point of view of the methodologies applied the one called “Lean Design Review” has proved particularly effective for a correct planning and management of the project. Using that method it has been possible to keep the project under control and to plan and implement the actions needed to solve problems and difficulties as they arose. Equally important has been the use of “visual tools” like the billboard of critical situations located near the prototypes assembly line on which each person could write problems and suggested solutions. This way it has been possible to quickly and effectively solve problems that had not been spotlighted in the design phase.

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The use of Lean methods and techniques has significantly reduced time-to-market and has encouraged a number of innovative high technology solutions for one of which, a special system for cooling batteries, an application for international patent has been submitted. Other important innovations are: the development of a VCU, i. e. a single control unit for the electronics of the whole vehicle; a safety system for protecting batteries in case of fall; the pleasure and comfort of driving that is even superior to that of traditional motor cycles.