Cellcius C-01: 24 kWh E-Hyperbike Concept That Changes Weight With Its Battery
An electric motorcycle with a 24 kWh battery sounds like a recipe for a heavy machine. But what if you only needed a fraction of that capacity for your daily ride? The Cellcius C-01 is a concept from Australian industrial design firm Clandestine Design Group that takes a different approach to electric motorcycle design.
Its proposed Hex-Core system uses eight removable battery modules, letting riders choose between a lighter commuter and a more powerful track-focused machine. It's an interesting answer to one of electric motorcycling's biggest headaches. We love the idea, but there's one fairly big catch. The C-01 is still a concept, and there's no word on production.
One Motorcycle, Eight Battery Modules
The Cellcius C-01 is built around eight removable 3 kWh battery modules, giving it a proposed maximum capacity of 24 kWh. You wouldn't need to lug all 24 kWh around for a trip to the shops. The idea is to carry the battery capacity the ride actually calls for.
Two modules would provide a lighter urban commuter, while all eight would deliver the full 24 kWh for longer rides and track use.
Clandestine also proposes a wall-mounted smart dock for charging the removable modules at home. That could be a big help for apartment dwellers without a home charger. Take the batteries upstairs, plug them in, and leave the bike downstairs. Simple, assuming the modules aren't a nightmare to carry.
There’s more to the design than its battery system. The C-01 features a proposed carbon shaft drive, replacing the conventional chain, and a Venturi-style tail intended to draw hot air out of the chassis at speed. The designers say the arrangement aims to manage heat during sustained high-performance riding without bulky liquid-cooling hardware.
The concept also envisages battery-based accessories, including luggage and portable power stations. Portable power is one thing, but vehicle-to-home power? Now we're talking. Assuming the system supports it, of course.
The BCB Take
The Cellcius C-01 asks a good question: why should every electric motorcycle carry the same battery capacity on every ride?
A lighter motorcycle could be more fun around town, while extra capacity would make sense for a longer trip or a track day. Removable batteries could also help riders without a garage. And if you could buy the bike with fewer modules and add more later, you might not have to pay upfront for capacity you rarely use. That's the theory, anyway. It depends on the price of the modules and how easily you can add them.
Making that work in the real world is another matter. Removable modules need to be manageable by hand, secure when fitted, weatherproof, durable and affordable. The bike also needs to deliver the promised performance across different battery configurations. And eight modules mean eight potential points of complexity.
The Cellcius C-01 is a design concept, not evidence that those problems have been solved. But the underlying idea deserves attention. Electric motorcycles have spent years competing over battery size, range and power. Giving riders more control over how much battery they carry could be a brilliant way forward.
Now someone needs to build one.
Ride safe, folks.
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