Stark Future is making moves to take cutting-edge 26120 motorcycle batteries into the mainstream.
The folks at Stark Future have a hard-earned reputation for pushing the envelope of electric performance. If you’ve ridden any of their current models, be it the MX motocrosser, EX enduro, or SM supermoto, you know exactly what I mean: the power, handling, and technology packed into the Varg platform will push your hair back in more ways than one, but there’s always room for improvement, especially in the battery department.
The main culprit of that shortcoming, aside from the limitations of worldwide charging infrastructure, is batteries. Specifically, the type of batteries most electric motorcycle brands currently use, the industry-standard 21700 cell, which is designed for use in automotive applications.
Stark CEO Anton Wass recently announced that the brand has partnered with manufacturer A123 Systems to solve that issue by bringing a motorcycle-specific cell, the 26120, into mass production. Here’s why that’s a big deal.
Why 26120 Batteries are Ideal for Motorcycles
The main issue with the traditional 21700 battery is that while it works great in automotive applications like Rivians and Teslas, its short and stumpy shape simply doesn’t play well with the narrow confines of a proper motorcycle frame. To get the power and range they need, motorcycle manufacturers have to layer in two or more banks of cells, and each bank needs its own wiring and hardware.
The 21700’s other major shortcoming is that, because it’s typically jacketed in stainless or nickel-plated steel, it’s a fairly heavy battery and isn’t particularly good at shedding heat. Brands like Stark and Zero, who forego liquid-cooling in favour of a lighter, simpler machine, are limited by their ability to passively shed heat through the walls of their battery cases.
The 26120 motorcycle batteries on the other hand, are thicker and roughly twice the length of a standard 21700 cell, making them well-suited to fit inside a motorcycle frame in a single layer without sacrificing energy density. The 26120 is also jacketed in aluminium, which drastically improves the battery’s ability to passively shed heat in an air-cooled system.
Stark Future says these purpose-built cells have been tested to improve energy density to a claimed 330Wh/kg while also allowing for 10-15 minute ultra-fast charging. Both of those claims would represent new benchmarks in the electric motorcycle segment, so it’s no surprise Stark is eager to sign on A123 Systems as a series supply partner.
A123 is the second such partner Stark has signed on in the past year (they inked a similar partnership with EVE Energy back in November), but they’re also by far the most capable. The company has previously worked with some of the biggest names in the EV space including Volkswagen, BMW, and General Motors, so their bonafides are well established.
“Motorcycles deserve their own battery architecture, not hand-me-downs from the car industry.” said Stark Future CEO Anton Wass. “With 26120, we unlock capacity and reduce weight while improving charge time. It’s a step change for electric performance.”
Stark has confirmed they’ve already begun testing the 26120 motorcycle battery in prototypes at their Barcelona R&D facility, and that they plan to integrate them into their future platforms. No further details have been shared at this time, but if you’ve been paying attention, you already know their plans.
Two new bikes are in the works: the ÄLG, a long-range electric adventure bike, and the LO, a cafe-faired street/sportbike. Both bikes will share a platform, which Stark Future says is an “800cc equivalent” but with 50% more power than gas, less weight, ample range, and a recharge time that’s faster than you can drink a cup of coffee. Both sound like they’ll be built with the new 26120 motorcycle batteries to us, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
