DAB Concept-E
By Ben Purvis
A new French electric concept bike is edging towards production in the form of the DAB Motors Concept-E - with the slightly unusual approach of prioritising quality and the use of intriguing materials over the quest for extremes of performance or range.
Mechanically, the Concept-E gets a 10kW electric motor and a 51.8V Li-ion battery, adding up to 125 cc-equivalent performance, with a 65 mph top speed and a 68-mile range. However, instead of packaging the electronics in a conventional, low-cost chassis, DAB Motors has turned to exotic materials and components, including Öhlins suspension, Beringer brakes and Excel rims.
DAB Motors took a similar approach with its last machine, the 500 cc LM-S scrambler, which bears a Husqvarna 501 single-cylinder engine but carries a hefty € 17,200 price tag thanks to its high-end parts and handmade construction.
For the Concept-E, DAB Motors has turned to carbon fibre, using it for the chassis and swingarm as well as the bodywork, while focussing on details to make sure that despite its unfaired design the bike is uncluttered, with hidden wiring and cables wherever possible and custom-made components, including the taillight lens.
Unusual design elements include the instruments. Instead of a conventional digital or analogue display, the Concept-E uses a dot matrix-style LED setup that shows a bright mirror-image of the readout, but is angled downwards, away from the rider's face. As a result, the speed and other information are reflected in the shiny, mirror-smooth black panel on the top of the fuel tank, rather like the inverse of a head-up display.
DAB does have intentions to make a production version of the Concept-E, although elements of the design will have to change, including the fitment of mirrors and indicators as well as a rear fender and licence plate bracket extending beyond the back edge of the tyre to satisfy regulations. At the moment there's no indication of price, but if the carbon construction and expensive parts are retained, it's going to be well out of reach of the average rider.
