- Supercharger functions with an electric motor
- Extender designed like a top-box
- Still in nascent stages of development
KTM may not be producing many motorcycles right now, but the Austrian brand is still filing ambitious patents. Two recent concepts have surfaced – an electronically assisted supercharger and an EV range extender.
The supercharger is described as a mechanically driven unit with electronic assistance. An electric motor can spin the charger when revs are too low, while at other times it could serve as a generator for the battery. The unit would otherwise be powered directly from the crankshaft, with software determining when each system is engaged. KTM’s approach promises the performance boost of forced induction without the battery demands of a fully electric system, improving efficiency while helping to cut emissions.
The second patent tackles electric motorcycle range. KTM’s idea is a modular “top box” extender that could house one of three solutions: a small petrol-powered generator, a set of swappable batteries, or a fuel cell. Of the three, the fuel cell option appears the least practical, given the lack of hydrogen infrastructure compared to widespread charging networks.
The variety of approaches suggests the project is still in early stages, but it underlines KTM’s ongoing efforts to explore unconventional solutions for future mobility.
