Honda has unveiled an all-electric dirt bike prototype, marking its foray into the world of electric motorcycles. Over the weekend, the prototype, named CR Electric Proto, made its official racing debut in the premier IA1 motocross class, impressing onlookers with its competitive performance.
Test rider and Honda advisor Trey Canard was at the helm of the CR Electric Proto during its inaugural competition weekend. Competing in the All Japan Motocross Championship’s eighth round, the electric bike was pitted against 450cc internal combustion engine counterparts. Despite not clinching the top spot, the prototype exhibited an impressive race-leading pace.
Trey Canard, reflecting on the event, emphasized that the primary goal was to gather valuable data for the ongoing development of the electric motorcycle. He mentioned, “This weekend was definitely a big challenge for me, but it was a great race for our development.” Canard continued, “Each time I was on the track, we improved the motorcycle, and the CR Electric Proto team adapted to the challenge.”
In a promising sign of things to come, the CR Electric Proto secured the second-fastest lap time during Saturday testing. During its maiden race, Canard came within a mere 0.7 seconds of the fastest lap of the session, ultimately finishing a commendable second.
While the subsequent races presented some challenges, including crashes that took Canard out of contention, he managed to lead the pack in the third race of the weekend before another crash disrupted his dominance.
Taichi Honda, the manager of Team Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), expressed the team’s commitment to refining the electric dirt bike. He noted that insights gained from the bike’s first official race weekend would be taken back to the factory for further development of the CR Electric Proto.
In a broader context, Honda is part of a group of four motorcycle manufacturers that have entered into a memorandum of understanding. The objective of this agreement is to collaborate on the development of swappable batteries for powersports vehicles, aiming to standardize electric vehicle (EV) technology for bikes, mopeds, tricycles, and quadricycles.
