Do you recall Ben Surain’s E-Core from THE PACK’ article last year? It created quite a stir; a quick Google search of “e-core Ben Surain” will bring up a list of motor media websites that have covered this Belgian sustainable technology.

E-Core is a plug-and-play replacement tool developed by Ben Surain from “ON” #pushthebuttontoday. With this solution, every petrol-powered ‘Base 50’ combustion engine can be converted into an electric one. To meet the global demand for electric vehicles, “ON” has developed E-Core to convert traditional Internal Combustion Engines into electric ones. Numerous cities on our planet are considering banning fuel-combustion engines altogether, so replacing their small combustion engines with an E-Core powertrain would be far more environmentally friendly than discarding millions of mopeds and fabricating new ones.

Despite the positive reactions, there were still skeptics who were dubious: the project would only succeed if it could be manufactured and distributed on a large scale. Some claimed that the project featured at publishing were “just” renders, and that it would be years before E-Core became functional. Furthermore, different homologation rules in different countries could potentially impede sales.

THE PACK recently visited the workshop of ON #pushthebuttontoday located near the Belgian coast in Blankenberge and discovered a fully functioning E-Core installed on a pitbike. Ben Surain explained: I was contacted by APEX in Germany asking if it was possible to put the E-Core in a pitbike. Daniel Hundseder from APEX Pitbikes suggested that this could give pitbike riders the ability to train indoors during the winter months.”

Guy Salens, E-mobility specialist with ON, said he was surprised to discover this new use for the E-Core. He added that track testing of the bike, which has an updated E-Core with more power (6 KW – 15 KW Burst – 20 hp) than the street-legal version (3 KW – 8 KW Burst (11 hp)), will be conducted in Germany.

Ben Surain also mentions his preference for producing E-Core in an environmentally friendly way, and is looking into other ways to use the E-Core to replace traditional motors. “With professional 3D printing techniques, E-Core can be tailor-manufactured “on-demand”. I prefer a sustainable work-flow to manufacture our E-Core. We are at the beginning of a new era and I want to produce as much as possible in an ecological way with sustainable materials and methods. This unexpected turn with APEX has made us think about other applications and we are convinced that E-Core can be used as a sustainable replacement tool in various ways for traditional motors and applications.

About ON #pushthebuttontoday

“ON” is a new Belgian initiative between automotive designer Ben Surain and E-mobility consultant Guy Salens to speed up the use for Light Electric Vehicles. “ON” designs and develops in-house e-mobility projects: from last-mile solutions to personal e-mobility. With #pushthebuttontoday, ON wants to present their range of unique light electric vehicles (E-cargo step C-Board, E-Core) and the possibilities of future mobility.

“ON” is also specialized in electric custom builds and has opened a new multi-brand store and workshop in Blankenberge at the Belgian coast. The focus will be on light electric motorbikes and mopeds with a unique and minimalistic design (which can be also be re-customized to the customers needs). ON is also ambassador for BREKR design mopeds and BoB, a fat tire scooter.

UPDATE!: “Within a few weeks, Ben will have an E-Core road-legal version installed in a Cub frame by Mono Motorcycles and also a Dax ‘Trail’ fully customised by Ben.” Soon at THE PACK.