R&D – Yves Kerlo, designer of the first French sports electric motorcycle – H-KER occasions

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Yves Kerlo, designer of the first French sports electric motorcycle

R & amp; D - Yves Kerlo, designer of the first French sports electric motorcycle - Occasions H-KER

Yves Kerlo is at the origin of a daring project: to build and market the first French electric sports motorcycle. Site asked him to come back to the ins and outs of this challenge… overwhelming! Interview.

In collaboration with François-Xavier Huille, an industrialist passionate about motorcycles, Yves Kerlo created H-KER ("H" for Huille and "KER" for Kerlo) to build the first French electric speed motorcycle, which among the readers of Site.

Supported by the French Motorcycling Federation (FFM), the project will soon enter its marketing phase with the First, an attractive "battery-powered" sports car built around a Yamaha YZF-R125 chassis..

To complete our first contact with the H-KER prototype (read our), Yves Kerlo, the "father" of La Luciole and La First, looks back on the genesis of this daring project and its objectives.

Site: When and for what reasons did you get the idea of ​​building an electric speed motorcycle ?
Yves Kerlo, General and Technical Director of H-KER : A little over three years ago, a friend of mine in the Challenge des Monos came to find me because he wanted to ride on an electric racing motorcycle with a "JBB" front axle (see box opposite).

Yves Kerlo in brief

A former speed driver, Yves Kerlo contracted the racing and motorcycle mechanics virus from an early age. Gifted with his hands, he turned to motorcycle design and preparation in the 1970s and notably built several high-performance chassis. Much later, Yves Kerlo will also launch the first "Junior Cup" in France. His taste for innovation and alternative solutions led him to Jean-Bertrand Bruneau, the creator of the famous "JBB" triangular front suspension. For 20 years, Yves Kerlo has been closely involved in the development of the Metiss, this endurance motorcycle with Suzuki engine and JBB suspension.

I did some research to determine the feasibility of the project and to find out what was already being done in this area … that is to say not much! Very quickly, the pilot who had asked me to drop the project. But for my part, my curiosity was piqued and I developed a passion for this initiative which was already generating a lot of positive reactions and proposals for support at the time, especially from the FFM..

We then laid the technical foundations of our project, but we lacked the finances to put it into practice. The previous year, I had met an industrialist, François-Xavier Huille – who was at the time vice-president of the Eure-et-Loir chamber of commerce and industry – and I am went to submit the project to him so that he could help me gather the means.

As the project interested him at the highest point, he suggested that we make it happen together: he would take care of raising private funds (around 300,000 euros to date, Editor’s note) and I would take care of the technical aspect. In November 2010, the H-KER company was created with the objective of building and marketing the first French electric racing motorcycle..

M.-N.C. : Apart from the support of the FFM, which notably provided you with a Honda RS125, H-Ker received no public subsidy. Is it a choice on your part ?
Y. K. : Yes, we have not taken any steps in this direction for several reasons. The first is that we consider that our project is not "credible" for the moment. In addition, we believe that requesting state aid can only be considered when our project generates activity and employment. Mr. Huille is very attached to this aspect.

H-KER First at a glance

  • Perimeter frame from a YZF-R125

  • 26 kW (35.3 hp) three-phase Brusless motor

  • 120 Ah electronically managed Li-Ion battery

  • Rated voltage of 65.7 V and maximum of 74.7 V

  • Programmable Sevcon Gen4 controller (2 presets: "eco" or "sport"

  • Primary belt drive

  • Final chain drive

  • Rims in 100/80/17 and 130/70/17

  • Wheelbase: 1355 mm

  • Advertised weight: 150 kg

  • Price: around € 20,000 excl.

M.-N.C. : Your first "production" motorcycle, the First, is ready to go. Who is she talking to ?
Y. K. : To piloting schools, to circuit owners and even to manufacturers who want to communicate. Initially, the objective is to make known this alternative which brings a solution to the environmental and sound constraints which certain circuits meet. Because with the First, it is possible to drive for noon or even in the evening without disturbing local residents.

However, at present, our project should only be considered as a complement for the circuits: technically and economically, completely replacing thermal by electric is absolutely impossible..

M.-N.C. : Isn’t it a bit restrictive to design an electric motorcycle that can only be used on speed circuits? Why not extend the concept to off-road vehicles, where the electric also has its advantages? ?
Y. K. : Of course, we start from afar and we must make ourselves known. People can’t tell if they want to ride an electric circuit motorcycle because they don’t even know it exists! Regarding off-roading, we don’t have the skills and there are already a lot of qualified players in this category. We are passionate and qualified in the field of speed: let’s stay in our field of expertise !

M.-N.C. : What are your industrial objectives ?
Y. K. : "Industrial", the term is undoubtedly a little strong. Rather, it is a big craft. We are aiming for a production of one to two series of ten models in 2013. The production of the first series will start in May or June 2013. We have already built three Firsts and we will make it available to those interested in order to make know the project.

M.-N.C. : Have you planned to market abroad ?
Y. K. : Yes of course, our approach will go beyond borders. We already have contacts with Belgium, England and Holland.

M.-N.C. : Have you tried to approach certain manufacturers specializing in electric motorcycles in order to benefit from their experience? ?
Y. K. : Indeed, we contacted for example, but they are more oriented towards urban and off-road. In general, we must already show that we exist, develop our project and then we can go to meet other manufacturers. This is part of our future steps.

Interview by Alexandre BARDIN

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