Energica showed up to the EICMA 2018 Milan Motorcycle Show with an impressive display of electric racing motorcycles. In addition to their newest 150 mph electric superbike, the Ego Sport Black, Energica also debuted a new concept bike, the Bolid-E.
Energica Bolid-E
The Bolid-E concept electric motorcycle was a joint project with Samsung. The project is known as Smart Ride.
The electric racing bike is being used to demonstrate a number of advanced new technologies co-developed with Samsung.
One of the technologies developed in project Smart Ride is the use of high-definition cameras in lieu of standard mirrors. Cameras are integrated into the front and rear of the Bolid-E electric motorcycle. The live view is then fed to two Samsung Galaxy devices mounted as “intelligent mirrors”.
In addition to showing a live rear view like a standard mirror, the dual displays will also work like a HUD device. Using the front facing camera, they will be able to analyze and highlight obstacles and threats on the road ahead.
The mirrors can also be used as a form of dash cam or action cam, allowing riders to relive exciting moments on the track.
Another new technology developed with Samsung is the incorporation of bluetooth and NFC connectivity between the Energica Bolid-E electric motorcycle and Samsung’s new Galaxy watch.
The Bolid-E has been designed to use the Galaxy watch as a type of smart unlocking device. In addition to the owner using his own watch to unlock the bike, permissions can be granted to other watches. A Samsung representative at the Energica booth explained how this can become the digital equivalent of lending a friend your keys. By authorizing another person’s Galaxy watch, he or she can be given access to the motorbike. At dealerships, test drives could be offered in a similar way.
The Samsung Galaxy watch can also be used to locate the Bolid-E in a parking lot, guiding a rider back to the bike.
An accompanying app has also been designed that offers live mapping along with pushing telemetry data to the rider’s phone.
According to Francesco Cordani, Head of Marcom at Samsung Electronics Italia:
“At Samsung, we are aware that innovation can play a key role because it enables revolutionary projects with direct impact on everyday life. This is exactly the reason why we are committed to continue exploring new sectors, where ideas can be transformed into real projects, thanks to technology. With the objective of developing a solution of great importance and quality, we wanted to work with a valued brand in the world of two wheels like Energica which, thanks to its experience and innovative approach, represents a partner of excellence to start out on this journey with the creation of the Smart Ride project.”
The Bolid-E, which is based on Energica’s Eva EsseEsse9, was developed in close collaboration with Samsung Electronics Italia. The two companies are hoping to demonstrate what an electric motorbike of the future could look like, and how it would meld with mobile technology.
Energica’s CEO explains further Livia Cevolini:
“We are proud to be at the side of a global leader like Samsung in the Smart Ride project. Our corporate idea is firmly rooted in the well-known Italian Motor Valley: engines and innovation have always been in our DNA. Over the past few years, we have interpreted the market’s need by anticipating products and solutions that are unique in the world. We have gone beyond the status quo offered by current technology, creating a new know-how. By creating innovation. I hope that the Energica and Samsung visions connected in this new Smart Ride project can be an inspiration for electric mobility in Italy and beyond its borders.”
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