Stark develops innovative new battery tech for electric motorcycles

Stark Future is preparing to introduce a motorcycle-specific battery format designed to deliver improved energy density, faster charging, and enhanced thermal management.

The Barcelona-based electric motorcycle company has added Wanxiang A123 as a series supplier to industrialise its new 26120 cylindrical lithium-ion battery cell.

Stark initially collaborated with EVE Energy to develop prototypes of the battery cell but is now taking a multi-sourcing approach by leveraging A123’s extensive battery innovation expertise. China’s A123 previously supplied batteries to the McLaren-Mercedes Formula 1 team for its KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) in 2009.

According to Stark, the 26120 cell is designed to meet the demands of high-performance electric motorcycles, with a targeted energy density of 330 Wh/kg and fast-charging times of 10–15 minutes.

Currently, many electric motorcycles use 21700 cells, which were originally developed for early electric cars and e-bikes. The 26120 format is larger and better suited to motorcycle frames, offering improved cooling, durability, and overall energy packaging.

“Motorcycles deserve their own battery architecture, not hand-me-downs from the car industry,” said Anton Wass, CEO of Stark Future. “With 26120, we unlock capacity and reduce weight while improving charge time. It’s a step change for electric performance.”

Stark is already testing prototypes at its Barcelona headquarters and plans to integrate the battery into future motorcycle platforms. The company has previously hinted at plans for high-performance electric motorcycles across the adventure, street, and supermoto categories.

The new 26120 battery comes as Donut Lab and Verge Motorcycles revealed plans to launch the world’s first all-solid-state battery, which is expected to significantly improve range, charging times, and thermal performance.