British technology specialist, E-Motiv Shift Systems, will present the latest evolution of its two-speed seamless powershift electric vehicle transmission at EICMA 2026 next week.
E-Motiv’s powershift technology delivers seamless gear shifting, with potential for stronger acceleration and improved powertrain efficiency. It also provides OEMs with the opportunity to engineer a much more engaging user experience by tailoring the shift character to align with the vehicle’s duty cycle and market positioning.
This new technology for electric vehicles is an addition to the technology that originated through Zeroshift’s seamless selector gearing system for internal combustion applications almost 25 years ago. In 2015, that first generation technology and its innovative design was integrated into the Aprilia Racing RS-GP MotoGP bike, and it has since helped the team race to over 30 podium finishes, including a 1, 2, 3, podium lock-out at the Silverstone Grand Prix in July 2026.
E-Motiv’s powershift technology was designed and developed by E-Motiv for light EV applications and has been
validated through a £1m grant project funded by the UK Government’s Innovate UK Design and Build initiative. The project saw E-Motiv collaborate with motorcycle manufacturer BSA, the University of Bath, and IAAPS (the Institute of Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems).
A demonstrator bike, Demo 1, has been conceived by British design and realisation consultancy, Envisage, and is being built by IAAPS at its world-class £77 million, 11,300 sqm research and innovation facility in the UK. Real-world testing will start in Q1 2027.
“We provide an enabling transmission and control technology for vehicle applications where multiple ratios create value,” said Tony Inchbold, Managing Director and Co-Founder of E-Motiv Shift Systems. “Our compact powershift architecture is designed to maintain drive through a ratio change while giving engineers additional freedom to optimise the powertrain and tune shift character.”
E-Motiv Shift Systems is on Stand S79 in Hall 9 at EICMA 2026 in Milan from 3 – 8 November.
