Racing
In 2010 CRP designed and built the eCRP, the electric racing motorcycle. The eCRP 1.0 was presented during the "Cleaner Racing Conference" in Birmingham on January 13, 2010.[4] It was introduced by Lord Paul Drayson, UK's former Minister for Science and Innovation, with the support of the Motorsport Industry Association.
The eCRP, unlike most other electric racing motorcycles which were usually only a conversion of traditional combustion engines into electric vehicles, was created from the ground up as a real electric racing motorcycle, specifically designed for 100% electrical power. In later 2010 the eCRP 1.2 made its debut on the track at Assen, in the TTXGP EU with the professional rider Alessandro Brannetti.[5]
The eCRP 1.2 was the first competition version of the electric motorcycle made in CRP. On October 2 and 3 2010, the eCRP 1.2 competed at Brands Hatch and won the title of European Champion TTXGP 2010. The team went on the podium at the World Final Albacete, taking second place. In 2011 CRP developed a new version of the Italian electric racing motorcycle, the eCRP 1.4.[6] The use of Additive Manufacturing and the innovative materials of the Windform product line represented a crucial stage in the construction of the electric racing motorcycle, carried out in collaboration with CRP Technology. The chassis of the electric racing motorcycle eCRP 1.4 featured a cast aluminum frame, welded aluminum swingarm, and racing suspension.
The eCRP 1.4 was also equipped with a data logger and sensors with built-in GPS, a new racing dashboard, dual DC motor, and integrated air cooling. The eCRP 1.4 was ideally suited for the two new classes of TTXGP, Formula 75 and Open Formula GP, as widely demonstrated by eCRP 1.2. After two years of racing, the eCRP team started working on the road version: Energica.
In a 2020 TechCrunch interview, CEO Livia Cevolini highlighted the company's involvement in racing as something that gives Energica a leg up in product development over other EV manufacturers, such as Zero Motorcycles. Because of racing, "We're in a different category," she said. "They have less power, less range, and less fast charge capability."[7]
In 2023, Energica will make history in MotoAmerica this coming race season when they become the first electric motorcycle brand to compete full time in a motorcycle road racing series against internal-combustion-engine motorcycles.[8]
