Positive Motorcycles News: Startup Founder Talks About Egera – Final Product is Released in 2024
I go by the name Timoteo Maffei (Timmy). I was born in Italy in 1980, am married with three children, and have worked as a manager and engineer in the biomedical sector for 17 years, making millions of prosthetic limbs. Passionate about anything that has a motor and wheels, I enjoy experimenting with cutting-edge technology outside of the automotive industry to create new products.
Why did you start making electric motorcycles from the start? The idea of EGERA starts as a natural evolution of my passion for motorbikes and engineering. In the past, I was part of the production of some Moto2 motorcycles, some specials, and automotive projects. I was looking for a solution for the next generation of riders to transmit their passion for mechanical components and minimal design in a low-emission world.
Tell me about the brand or company. Positive Motorcycles was born in 2020 during the COVID lockdown period It is based between the Como and Lugano lakes, in Italy, a few kilometers from the Swiss border. The name is coming from the positive of battery, from the COVID period, and mainly as a life mindset to go over the issues and find the solutions with fun.
How has the process been from sketch to final product? I started with a manual sketch, making the general concept on a piece of paper. One pillar of the project is to keep the general frame geometry similar to that of an ICE modern motard (length and position of swingarm, fork inclination, pinion positioning, etc.) without making compromises on the scheme, to have the right dynamic and ergonomics. Then I went to CAD 3D to start the modeling, preparing more than 100 components ready to be manufactured and replicated with a 3D printer, CNC milling, turning, laser cutting, etc.
Describe or tell us about the bike’s design, tech, etc. The scope of EGERA is clear. To bring on the market a premium motorbike positioned between the cheap product and extremely high-performance electric motorbikes. One of the main elements of the design of the EGERA is the presence of two rear shock absorbers. That scheme has been identified to have a callback to 1970s bikes and to have a physical clearance in the middle of the frame to place the battery close to the center of gravity. The current battery has 7.7 kwh of nominal capacity with cylindrical cells. For the motorcycle, it has been developed a liquid-cooled motor with a peak of 30 kW and a continuous 11 kW to ride on the highways. The liquid cool helps to keep under control the motor temperature also in extreme conditions in a different environment. We have a touchscreen display and regenerative braking.
Do you have any new bikes in the pipe? Yes. The same platform of EGERA will be developed in different versions for different utilizations.
What got you interested in electric motorcycles from the beginning? I’ve been passionate about motorcycles since I was a child. I developed and built other ICE bikes. The electric powertrain has a lot of benefits in certain environments, such as commuting, cities, or protected areas. Electric technology will guarantee a long life for motorbikes because we bikers must admit that people are no longer tolerating noise or pollution, and the idea to travel with green energy produced, for example, with your own solar panels represents the future.
Do you ride a motorcycle yourself? Yes, of course. I owned different Ducatis, Moto-Guzzis, some Japanese brands, and Husqvarnas, and currently, I have in the garage an old-timer Ducati 888 Biposto from 1993, a Moto-Guzzi from 1984, and a Husaberg 300 2T.
What is your inspiration? People like John Britten are an inspiration for all motorcycle builders. But what Ducati did in these years is really inspiring me, looking for performances and design without compromise! Now Ducati has started the MotoE projects, and I’m sure they will bring a lot of technology there.
Do you create other things besides bikes? I’ve been used to creating products since I was a child. In 2010, I was part of the core team building a Moto2 bike in Switzerland. In 2017, I cofounded an electronic audio device, participating in a startup challenge. Going back to the bike, I’m designing some accessories for EGERA.
Tell us something that you thought was especially fun to be a part of. Well, starting from scratch and some metal tubes, the journey has been funny, with a lot of trouble and surprises. I fondly remember the first start, the first ride in a private area with my sons in the back seat. I remember the tons of hours during the night sandpapering the 3D printed fairing… the cellphone unlock was not able to recognize my fingerprints for 3 days. I painted it more than 10 times!
What’s shaking for 2023? The bike was unveiled on March 26 in Bologna, Italy, the heart of the Italian Motor Valley (close to Ferrari, Ducati, Lamborghini, Bimota, Maserati, or Energica headquarters). It has not been easy, but people in that area are really prepared with a strong culture in automotive. The feedback was good, giving a clear signal that the direction in which PSTV is going is right. I’m preparing some public events to show the bike during 2023. Some tests are planned on supermotard tracks and flat-track ovals to continue the development of the bike and consolidate the reliability of the project.
Credits to give to someone else? A lot of friends helped me, and a lot of companies provided the components and services for free or at a discount. I definitely have to say thanks to my family for supporting me on several occasions!
