Hubless Verge TS Ultra raises bar for electric superbikes By Ben Purvis
Finnish electric motorcycle maker Verge first unwrapped its TS sports bike back in 2019, but the new TS Ultra (unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show, at Las Vegas, in January) finally gives it the performance to match its jaw-dropping appearance by hiking peak power to an astounding 201 hp.
That's nearly double the amount claimed by the base model, which has just 107 hp, and vastly more than the mid-range TS Pro, which manages 137 hp. It comes from an unique electric motor that's built directly into the rear wheel and swingarm, putting power straight to the ground without any sort of transmission.
That rear wheel is hubless, with electromagnets inside the rim, and Verge makes spectacular claims for torque, even when compared to other electric bikes. The base model is said to manage 1000 Nm (737 lb-ft), while both the Pro and Ultra manage a peak of 1200 Nm (885 lb-ft).
It's worth mentioning that although those numbers seem to be in a different league to figures from conventional, combustion-engined bikes, the torque multiplication of gearing means that in 1st gear a 1000 cc superbike will achieve similar figures at the wheel. The TS Ultra's 0-60 mph time is claimed to be a mere 2.5 seconds, comparable to the best conventional superbikes, but like most electric vehicles, its top speed isn't in the same ballpark, with the Verge managing no more than 124 mph (200 km/h).
The TS Ultra is a fraction heavier than a comparable ICE bike at 245 kg, but its 20.2 kWh battery is claimed to be good for an impressive 233-mile range (375 km). Once discharged, the battery can be replenished to 80% capacity in as little as 25 minutes via a DC fast charger. In comparison, the Pro's smaller battery needs 35 minutes and the base TS takes 55 minutes.
Although generally similar to the original Verge TS in appearance, the Ultra is marked out by a new nose fairing with downforce-generating winglets, plus a single-seat tail unit.
Verge currently expects the Pro version to reach customers first, with deliveries of the € 29,900 mid-range machine due to start in May 2023. The base, € 26,900 TS will follow in September, with the TS Ultra, at € 44,900, coming in the last quarter of the year.
