E-Motiv brings two-speed seamless shift transmission for electric motorcycles to EICMA 2026
British transmission specialist E-Motiv Shift Systems will show its two-speed seamless powershift transmission for electric motorcycles at EICMA in Milan, 3 to 8 November. A demonstrator bike is being built and will start road testing in early 2027.
Why gears on an electric motorcycle
Most electric motorcycles run a single fixed ratio. That choice is a compromise between strong pull from a standstill and a usable top speed. A second ratio removes part of that compromise, but a conventional gear change briefly interrupts drive. E-Motiv says its system keeps torque flowing to the rear wheel during the shift. According to the company, this can mean stronger acceleration and better powertrain efficiency.
The system also lets manufacturers set how the shift feels. Shift character can be tuned to the type of use and the market a bike is aimed at, from smooth and barely noticeable to more direct.
Roots in MotoGP
The technology grows out of the Zeroshift seamless selector gearing developed for combustion engines about 25 years ago. Aprilia Racing has used that first-generation system in its RS-GP MotoGP bike since 2015. E-Motiv credits it with contributing to more than 30 podium finishes for the team, including a 1-2-3 at the Silverstone Grand Prix in July 2026.
The electric version is a separate development, designed by E-Motiv specifically for light electric vehicles.
BSA, Bath and IAAPS involved
The EV transmission was validated through a £1 million project funded under Innovate UK’s Design and Build programme. E-Motiv worked with motorcycle manufacturer BSA, the University of Bath and IAAPS, the Institute of Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems.
Demonstrator bike in 2027
A demonstrator called Demo 1 was conceived by British design consultancy Envisage. IAAPS is building it at its £77 million, 11,300 m² research facility in the UK. Real-world testing is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
Tony Inchbold, Managing Director and Co-Founder of E-Motiv Shift Systems, describes the product as a transmission and control technology for vehicles where more than one ratio adds value. He says the compact design maintains drive through the ratio change and gives engineers more room to optimise the powertrain and tune the shift.
E-Motiv Shift Systems is in Hall 9, Stand S79 at EICMA 2026.