In collaboration with Zero Motorcycles, White Motorcycle Concepts (WMC) created the world’s first electric sports bike with a unique aerodynamic duct. This duct reduces air drag by 10%. The new design of the Zero SR/S concept allows air to flow from behind the front wheel and out above the rear wheel. The team also added a new front fender and fork shroud to improve airflow.
WMC and Zero Motorcycles first met at the EICMA show in November 2023, sharing a vision to improve electric motorcycle performance. They aimed to enhance efficiency and range to meet customer expectations. The design of the Zero SR/S makes it perfect for adding the new aerodynamic duct.
The two organizations have been working on a fast-track development program to create this proof of concept. Using experience from F1 and world sports car programs, WMC’s engineering team quickly developed the idea using in-house modeling, computer fluid dynamics simulations, and real-world testing with aero rakes, often used in motorsport, to refine the design and deliver the final assembly.
Robert White, Founder and CEO of White Motorcycle Concepts, said, “The whole industry is currently facing a huge technical/commercial challenge to produce an electric motorcycle with performance close to its petrol equivalent.”
“This problem space will not be solved by battery technology alone, it requires a blend of innovations to bridge the gap now and provide efficiency benefits in the future.”
“When I first saw the Zero SR/S frame and battery, I saw the chance to add an aerodynamic duct. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved, though the bike’s design limits the duct. It would perform even better if it were part of the original design.”
Aerodynamics is a big focus in MotoGP, with devices like winglets improving performance, but this only sometimes applies to retail bikes. This new intelligent aero duct boosts efficiency, reducing power consumption at high speeds.
The new WMCSRS concept is the first to demonstrate our patented duct on a mid-sized sports bike, built with all the knowledge we’ve gained from previous applications.
The design team created a vertically split duct that captures air behind the front wheel and guides it through the existing Zero SR/S frame, exiting just under the seat. During testing, F1-style aero rakes were used to measure airflow in front, behind, and near the rear wheel.
This helped the team understand how the bike’s architecture affected the duct’s performance. As a result, custom front fenders and fork shrouds were designed to improve airflow. Based on White Motorcycle Concepts’ land-speed record program, the dual-channel duct design increases aerodynamic efficiency by 10%, which boosts range at highway speeds.
The aerodynamic efficiency gain can help extend the bike’s range or reduce costs by minimizing the need for a larger battery. This also lowers weight, charge time, and battery expenses. The duct is inexpensive to integrate and manufacture, and its range of benefits stays consistent over time.
It improves top speed, sustained top speed, and acceleration with a very low risk of component failure. Additionally, its advantages grow with higher-speed riding, unlike batteries, which lose efficiency at higher speeds.
Abe Askenazi, Zero Motorcycles’ CTO, said, “From our initial meeting at EICMA, we have been interested in understanding the potential impact of WMC’s aerodynamic duct.”
“We are committed to innovation, and while battery development is advancing rapidly, we believe a combination of technologies is the key to developing the electric motorcycles of the future. This proof of concept has given us valuable insights into the potential benefits of integrating an aerodynamic duct into electric motorcycles, and we will continue to explore complementary technological advancements to deliver market-leading products for our customers.”
