Curtiss’ Zeus 8 electric motorcycle combines 3D printing and machining

Curtiss Motorcycle Company is an American startup specialised in the development of electric motorcycles and focused on more sustainable vehicles. The startup recently worked with the Fast Radius 3D printing department to make about sixty prototype parts of their new motorcycle, the Zeus 8. The motorcycle will also include many components created by subtractive manufacturing, illustrating the complementarity between these two methods. Curtiss’ Zeus 8 is expected to hit the market in 2020.

The American manufacturer joins the few players who have turned to additive manufacturing to develop their motorcycles, whether electric or not. Recently, we presented the Polish project Falectra, a prototype of an electric motorcycle that was created thanks to 3D printing. It is a method that accelerates the time to market for certain products, bringing ideas to life more quickly. Moreover, additive manufacturing is increasingly used for final production, proof that manufacturers have greater confidence in the technology.

Credits: Curtiss Motorcycle Company

So far, Curtiss has developed two motorcycle models, Zeus and Hades, which have a rather original and open design. This Zeus includes a battery that recalls the v8 engines where the 8 cylinders are placed in a “V” shape. Curtiss designer Jordan Cornille explains: “With the battery cells packaged inside eight cylindrical towers configured in a flaring radial ‘V’ pattern, we’re not only able to tap into Glenn’s iconic V8 form language, but we’re also able to achieve maximum battery cooling efficiency. In this case, there exists no compromise between form and function.”