After a year of dedicated engineering work, students at the University of Warwick, in collaboration with MSC Industrial Supply Co UK (MSC), have unveiled a revolutionary new electric racing motorbike. This project, showcasing the best of UK high-value manufacturing, highlights the exciting future of electric superbikes.
The Veloris, the latest innovation from Warwick Moto, was launched last month at the university. Warwick Moto, an electric racing bike team formed in 2019 by students from the university’s School of Engineering, has worked closely with industry partners to create an electric superbike designed to compete at the highest level of motorsport.
MSC has played a crucial role in supporting the project, offering engineering expertise from design to the manufacturing process. They provided essential help with programming and machining critical components. Additionally, MSC worked with its partner Seco Tools to machine a lightweight, advanced battery case from a single block of aluminium. This cutting-edge design highlights significant progress in material optimization and computational simulation, setting a new benchmark for performance and efficiency in electric vehicles.
The partnership with MSC has provided valuable hands-on experience for the students, who had access to advanced technologies like CNC machining and 3D printing at MSC’s Technology Centre in Wednesbury. MSC also offered ongoing consultancy support to the student team throughout the project.
Advancing Engineering and Sustainability
The Veloris project is supported by several industry partners, including Seco Tools, WMG — The University of Warwick, Catapult, and Norton Motorcycles, all of whom share a dedication to advancing engineering and promoting sustainability in motorsport. Weighing 215kg, the Veloris boasts a simulated top speed of 165mph and a motor power of 124W for superior track performance. Its 670V battery has a 12.6kWh capacity and a peak current of 225A.
Nirmit Jobanputra, chief engineer of Warwick Moto, commented, “The team spent a year designing a lightweight powertrain for a high-performance electric motorbike, aimed at setting lap records. This project proves what student-led innovation can achieve when backed by industry and academia. The Veloris is more than just a concept—it’s a clear demonstration of what’s possible when the next generation of engineers tackles the challenge of creating the future of high-performance electric motorcycles.”
Dave Darby, managing director of MSC Industrial Supply Co UK, added, “It was an honour to attend the unveiling of the Warwick Moto ‘Veloris’ concept EV motorcycle at Warwick University. The student team has worked hard to design and build this prototype with MSC and our industry partners. We’ve been proud to support these talented young engineers and provide them with the resources they needed to push the boundaries of engineering. The components were machined in our state-of-the-art Technical Centre, and we congratulate the team for their efforts in combining student innovation with industry collaboration.”
