Ultra Motor 2 bring A2B 2 USA
Good news for those folks who want a gas-free smart looking urban commuter that can take you places with or without a work out. The very cool Ultra Motor A2B electric 2-wheeler we told you about a while back is coming to America this September. Said to have the heart of a bicycle and the soul of a scooter, the German designed/Taiwan constructed machine can get you 20 miles down the road at 20 mph before the need to pedal arises. If that's just not far enough, you can add a second lithium ion battery for double that distance. It's got front shocks, a rear swingarm and a nicely padded seat to make all those miles comfortable too. The Ultra Motor website already lists plenty of dealers so there's a good chance they will be available in your area. Price should be in the neighborhood of $2,599 with the optional battery costing about $399. Hit the jump for the official press release.
Gallery: Ultra Motor A2B
[Source: Ultra Motor via Green Car Congress]
PRESS RELEASE
Ultra Motor Introduces New Electric Bike to U.S. Market
The A2B Electric Bike Offers Urban Freedom for People Who Want to Get Out of Their Cars
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ultra Motor today announced the availability of its new A2BTM electric bike. Developed and manufactured by an international team of expert designers and engineers, the A2B is a state-of-the-art electric bike built specifically for urban transport across the American city landscape.
Increasing challenges are making urban transportation more costly and time-consuming: the Texas Transportation Institute reports that gridlock costs the average peak period traveler almost 40 hours a year in travel delay and wastes an annual 2.9 billion gallons of gasoline, which has climbed to more than $4.00 a gallon. In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that nearly half of all trips are less than three miles. The A2B is a clean, gasoline-free transportation alternative for the thousands of short trips Americans take every day.
"The A2B is unparalleled in performance, comfort and style," said Chris Deyo, CEO of Ultra Motor USA. "Whether it is a commuter who wants their journey to be fast and hassle-free, a college student looking to get across campus or an active senior looking to combine exercise with convenience, this is the ideal transportation method."
Unique Combination: Performance, Utility, Design
The A2B is built from the tires up for superior performance and comfort in a sleek design. It is powered by a proprietary motor that is highly efficient, producing more "torque" or force to enable riders to accelerate faster and climb hills more easily than other electric bikes. The lithium-ion batteries stored inside the frame provide more energy per pound than any other power source, and recharge just like a laptop computer. Ideal for city roads, the A2B has full suspension like a mountain bike, an upright, relaxed sitting position, and an oversized seat for extra comfort.
The A2B combines functions of an electric bicycle and a scooter – the construction is the design. The manufacturing material and surfaces, such as the welding and motor, enhance the A2B's industrial appeal in withstanding the demands of an urban commute. The colors and finishes underline the stylish appearance, while the brown leather seat and grips provide a touch of classical bike design.
Ready, Set, Ride!
No driver's license is necessary, just charge the A2B, unplug it, turn the throttle and enjoy the ride. The A2B can travel at speeds up to 20 miles per hour, without pedaling. Or, if riders feel like some exercise, they can use the pedals to increase their speed and distance. The A2B travels 20 miles on a single charge and riders can use a secondary battery to travel up to 40 miles without re-charging.
For commuters and "short trippers," the A2B is designed to carry the goods – computers, groceries, flowers or gear. Baskets and side bags are available separately for purchase.
Smart Transport in September
The A2B will be available nationwide through authorized dealers beginning in September. For more information on the A2B or other Ultra Motor Light Electric Vehicles, visit www.ultramotor.com/usa.
About Ultra Motor
Ultra Motor is a leading force in the innovation of personal mobility. With state-of-the-art technology manufactured in Taiwan and a design team in Germany, Ultra Motor is paving the way with emissions-free smart transport solutions for the global urban market. The company's global headquarters are in London, and its US operation is based in San Francisco, California.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Paul 6:26PM (8/13/2008)
$2599 seems a bit (well, not a bit, a lot) on the pricey side for a bike that only goes 20 mph and has a 20 miles range.
Doesn't the iZip do the same for about 400 bucks (I realize I am comparing lead acid to lithium ion, but still...)
Reply
Brent 6:44PM (8/13/2008)
I would rather get a carbon fiber road bike for that much money. Then you can go over 20MPH and further than 20 miles. :) Don't say that you can pedal this thing as long as you want.... it is heavy and upright.
Reply
George Krpan 7:42PM (8/13/2008)
It reminds me of Lee Iacocca's Charger bicycle.
A bike designed by guys in suits who actually no nothing about bicycles.
First of all, why design your own dual suspension frame when there are already so many designs that have been honed to perfection?
The wheels are too small. A large wheel (700c) with a 2 inch tire rolls with far less resistance and far more comfort and would need no suspension whatsoever.
The relationship of the height of the handlebar to the height of the seat is absurd.
A hub motor must run at a wide range of rpms but an electric motor is only efficient in a narrow rpm range.
A "through the gears" design is more energy efficient and has the potential for greater performance.
This bike is just plain old ugly and weird looking to this bike lover.
Reply
Chris M 8:27PM (8/15/2008)
Mostly right except for "electric motor is only efficient in a narrow rpm range". Sorry, but unlike an infernal combustion engine, a well designed electric motor and controller retains high efficiency through an extraordinarily wide RPM range, That is the reason why most EV designs can use a single fixed gear. While a multi-geared EV could get better low gear torque and a faster top gear maximum speed, the efficiency would not be improved.
Matt 10:43PM (8/13/2008)
Bring on the e-bikes... the more the merrier.
I won't sell my pedelec to buy one, but more choices is always good.
As to some of the previous comments...
Carbon fiber blah blah... this bike will do 20 miles at up to 20 mph with almost 0 effort which can't be said for ANY conventional bike, no matter how light. This would get many people to work in plain clothes with no sweating. The target audience is not people who want to huff and puff at 20mph+ or do centuries. It's a short range, low speed alternative to an electric scooter.
The vast majority of existing frames aren't designed with internal bettery storage and possible replacement in mind. As such, you get some tacked-on battery pack that looks dorky.
As to geometry, this is a comfort style cycle for which pedalling is an occasional/last-resort option. As such the handle bars are going to higher than the seat so you sit upright instead of laying down on a top tube.
Most E-bikes are borderline glue-on cranks and pedals (well, not that bad). All they have to do is be able to propel the bike to classify as an electric bicycle instead of a scooter. This means no insurance, no registration, ...
Absolutely no way I want 700c rims on a 73lb bike with 150+ lb of rider smashing into a pothole at 20mph. The rims wouldn't last a month.
Finally, part of the Prius' success was exactly because it was identifiable and different from other cars. Like it or hate it, I expect most hybids/EV's to attempt to be distinctive so people know it's something different.
Reply
George Krpan 12:07AM (8/14/2008)
I ride a mountain bike with 700c wheels, also known as a "29er".
The wheels take astonishing abuse on the trail. The street would be laughably easy by comparison.
They ride far more comfortably than the smaller 26" wheels usually found on mountain bikes. The wheels on this bike look like 20" to me. They would really crash into pot holes.
There is no need to reinvent the bicycle to carry batteries in the frame. I routinely carry loads that are heavier than batteries in my panniers.
The problem with the seating position of this bike is that it puts too much weight on the butt. The butt would go numb in a short amount of time. It is more comfortable and more efficient for pedaling to have the body's weight evenly distributed between the butt, feet, and arms. To achieve this the height of the saddle would have to be much nearer to height of the handlebars.
Will 9:48AM (8/14/2008)
I second George Krpan.
Reply
BlackCanary 9:37AM (8/14/2008)
Why not just buy an electric scooter for much less? I don’t really get the point of this thing. Heck a kids Razor can do almost as well. This is a nice engineering exercise but little practical marketability. The range is fine at 20 miles but 20 miles per hour is pretty slow. The only place this thing would make any sense a regular bike could do just as well. Riding a bike on flat pavement does not cause any one to sweat unless you are completely out of shape and in that case you should be pedaling and not riding an electric BMW bike.
1. Looks stupid
2. Less versatility than a normal bike. Cant take this to the trail on the weekend, cant use this to train.
3. $2500 is insane. You could buy 1 really good Mountain Bike or an Urban Commuter or a decent roadbike OR a bunch of average bikes from a sporting goods store.
4. No real advantage over an electric scooter.
5. I would hate to need to use the pedal power (if the battery died early) to traverse any hill. How heavy is that thing?
Don’t give me range extender with the pedaling - who in there right mind would commute over 20 miles on this thing?
Reply
elena 1:06AM (3/01/2009)
I would. I'm about to buy one. Test rode one today, and let me tell you, it was divine! Your butt isn't numb, pedaling is highly optional, and for a non bicyclist like myself who doesn't want another car, it is truly ideal. The seat is so springy and soft. Your body feels relaxed and happy to be upright. I'm a short woman who never enjoyed cycling much because I don't like being bent way over low handlebars. You don't work hard on hills, don't sweat, and get to work in one piece, something I probably couldn't do on a motorcycle or scooter. The slower speed guarantees you never have to deal with the DMV, cops, traffic court, or GEICO ever again. Thank you God. Being green is a lovely bonus.
scott 8:15PM (8/15/2008)
Hi
You should check out these real electric bikes by Kalkhoff and Panasonic delivered to the USA.
Cheers
Scott
Reply
Lee 6:57PM (8/17/2008)
How can I get one of those bikes in the U.S.? Does anyone import them?
fab 1:55PM (8/18/2008)
I second Matt...
And the small wheels mean better hill climbing capabilities when using the electric motor!
I think the bike looks sleek and simple... not dorky and clunky like most of these bikes.
Electric scooters that don't suck (slow and cheaply made) are not less expensive.
I need a bike like this because when my girlfriend is using our car, I use my sweet road bike. It doesn't have fenders, is hard to ride with work boots, is uncomfortable unless you wear padded shorts and clip on shoes, and as much as I like biking I don't always like pedaling at 7am.
This is just what I need for all my short trips in the day. and inexpensive when you do the math!
I'll save my road bike for what it's meant for (I love it).
Reply
Rick 1:14AM (8/23/2008)
Ultra Motor the manufacture of this bike ((now has demo bikes)) ready to ride at its premiere dealers. Ultra Motor is the first company to bring a quality LEV to the market they will support their dealers with any necessary parts and have the industry leading warranty 2 years battery and motor. This bike has a 500watt motor 750peak watts 36 volt 12Ahr battery the most powerful motor and battery combination on the market today. This bike will do 20 miles fully charged and 40 with the second battery, I have done it riding this bike myself. http://javelinacycles.com/ We will be taking orders with the first run of bikes available for sale toward the end of September. The A2B has an MSRP price of $2599 and expected to be sold out. The Europa also electric bike is now available for sale MSRP is $1899 36volt and 400watt motor. Call Javelina Cycles 480-598-3373 or http://javelinacycles.com/
Reply
rustyevans 1:19PM (8/09/2009)
I just saw this "bike" in front of Best Buy in Marin Co. (SF Bay Area). Having read all the comments above I would say to anyone who doesn't like it that you have your right not to for all the reasons you list. I'm 60 yrs old and in good shape. I'm progressive in my thinking and work for a "green" manufacturing/product sales co. I do not want to get into traffic on a scooter or motorcycle (as I did many years ago). I also don't want to drive a car to everywhere I need to go. Short trips to the store, the wife still works in her salon and it is 3.5 miles into town uphill slightly and she has a hard time (sweating) getting to work in decent condition on a bicycle. Think for a minute please. Imagine all the people who don't go anywhere because of the cost (gas, insurance, VEHICLE). These and other types like it are here and they are here to stay for a long time. If you feel challenged by that then take a serious look in the mirror and the next time a Tornado hits San Francisco (did last year in Lincoln Park and took down about 15 old growth trees) or a Hurricane hits North Dakota or any other global warming phenomenon you can take credit for it! WAKE UP! Ride, ride safe and long life to all.
Reply