XP Zero: Revolutionizing Motorcycle Design

Hugo Eccles' Electric Motorcycle Defies Conventions

The XP Zero is not your conventional motorcycle. It is a new breed, one that discards traditional design constraints dictated by combustion engines. This electric motorcycle, designed by Hugo Eccles, is developed without compromise and built with precision, combining cutting-edge design with state-of-the-art technology. The XP Zero produces twice the torque of a superbike, delivered linearly without gears. Its individualized ride modes transform it from a cruiser on the motorway to a supermoto in the twisties.

Eccles' design process took a first-principles approach, creating an entirely new design language for electric motorcycles. The XP Zero is made from machined aluminium and features a welded tubular steel spaceframe. It houses an 82kW electric motor and a 14.4kWh Li-ion powerpack. The motorcycle also features a keyless RFID ignition and an onboard charger.

The XP Zero's design language is centred around control surfaces - both human and machine. The powertrain, a machined aerospace aluminum core, houses the batteries, motor, charger, and other control components, and also incorporates the seat. The rider sits astride the powertrain, while aerodynamic panels direct airflow over the motor. When approached, the motorcycle recognizes its rider, illuminates its lights and panels, and becomes 'alive'.

The XP Zero project was initiated in October 2018 and completed nine months later, in June 2019. It debuted at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2019 and has been exhibited at EICMA in Milan, and at the One Moto Show in Portland USA. In 2020, it will be showcased at the Moto MMXX exhibition.

The design of the XP Zero represents a unique opportunity to rethink the inherited status quo of motorcycle design. Eccles believes that the 2020s will be regarded as the moment when the electric motorcycle industry came of age. The challenge was to set electric motorcycles apart from traditional combustion designs to appeal to new audiences. The XP Zero, with its unconventional design and superior performance, has certainly risen to that challenge.

The XP Zero was awarded the Golden A' Vehicle, Mobility and Transportation Design Award in 2021, a testament to its innovative design and Eccles' vision. This electric motorcycle is not just a vehicle; it's a revolution on wheels, signaling a new era of motorcycling.