After the death-defying moments
astride the Zero S, and the claustrophobia experienced within
GM and Segway's P.U.M.A., we were ready for something a little more relaxing in the electric vehicle space: and
Ultra Motor's A2B electric bike provided. Not to say it doesn't have any pep -- we took it for a test ride around SoHo, and found plenty of juice to power past those other suckers doing their
own pedaling -- but there's something a tad more gentle to this bike than some of the other rough-around-the-edges EVs we've bumped into lately. The best news is that the A2B is available now at various dealerships, with an almost-palatable price tag of $2,600, 20 mile range and 20 mph max electric-assisted speed (limited due to regulations on bikes). Testing it out we found ourselves pedaling just a bit out of habit, and on the short city blocks we rarely got it past third gear, but there's plenty of power for urban transport. The front and rear shocks provide a well-cushioned ride (and are bouncy enough for some
easy wheelies), the small wheels keep the center of gravity low and maneuverability high, and the brakes are excellent. Catch the magic on video after the break.
posted May 1st 2009 12:46PM
all that gear and no gloves? crazy!
Is it just me or shouldn't an electric bike that only goes 20miles cost a lot less then $2,600?!?
The allready have them here in canada for $1,000
WTF?
What's really funny is all the scooters in the background that probably cost about the same price and go at least 15mph faster!
Yes, you can get cheaper ones, but not of such high quality. The components and materials on this thing are actually decent. In fact, the parts that they've equipped it with would be typically seen on a $1000-1200 mountain bike. Comparing this to the electric bike at your local walmart would be like comparing a Canon Rebel to a GeneralElectric P&S.
You get what you pay for.
The restrictions are there to keep the 'bike' classification as opposed to a motorized vehicle. I'm sure if the A2B takes off, a few intrepid modders will be working on ways to goose it. :)
@Jorvay
Not really; those components look more like a $400 walmart toy-bike thats trying to look like a real mountain bike. The rear suspension is just a spring, and the disc brakes are mechanical. I can't make out the fork, but its likely along the low-end like the rest. At least put some real suspension and brakes on there for $2600.
They sell these across the street from my office. They do appear to be well built.
@ John
Brakes are Avid BB5, typically considered to be the second-best mechanical disk brakes on the market (behind avid's own BB7s). They are fantastic brakes, and have even put some hydraulic offerings to shame over the years.
Fork looks like it's a marzocchi unit of some sort...quality.
Rear shock, though simple, is probably a tried-and-true closed unit that never needs servicing (unlike a lot of higher-end stuff).
Rear deraileur is only Shimano Altus. Though you don't need more for on-road applications, I'll admit it's a bit under-specced.
I'll admit, I might have over-stated it's value a little, but labelling it as "department-store quality" would be understating it as well.
it would be nice if engadget can enclose a bit more info on this bike, such as the time it takes to recharge, does it recharge if you pedal it... I can stream vids at work so making this "blog" post rather meaningless.
This A2B is not a very practical bike. It's more like a scooter and does not have the nimble handling of a bicycle. I just received my third Currie electric bike -- the new Izip Urban Cruiser enlightened model that is about $1000 less.I just love it. The two other Curries have been handed down to family and friend and they have been enjoying them since. The first one I purchased cost $400 which is a fantastic value for an ebike. www.currietech.com for more info.
yea, you see these things all over in China and they cost about 400 USD...with removable battery too haha
So when will you be offering one of these as a recession antidote? *wink wink*
This thing is an overprices POS...
$2,600? really?
Waaaaaaaaaaay overpriced....
But then again this is probably directed at people who buy Apple computers... so in reality the are use to blindly handing over $$$$ without doing any research...
FACK YOU APPLE!
Maybe you should do a little research of your own before you go spounting off about how over-priced this thing is.
It's easier to be a douchbag troll than it is to speak intelligently.
It only can go 20 when there is a 3 hundred pound load on it!!!
I would rather have a scooter like the XB-600......30 miles on a charge, $1,000
True, but I think most people will agree that you look like a tool on a scooter.
@bighap
True, but doing things based on what most people think of how you look makes you a tool.
and americans get lazier! yes!
sweet wheelies man......lots of air on those suckers
Wonder what the bike weighs? Pedaling a 75 pound (2.3kg) bike around after the battery runs out will certainly be a calf-builder.
2.3 kg? Try 34. :P
2.2 pounds = 1 kilogram.
Those are some heavy kg you got there.
Haha... serves me right for trying to perform a service to the metric crowd. GIGO - looks like I got too sloppy with the conversion software and didn't doublecheck my work.
google "75lb in kg"
or any other conversion, for that matter.
So they make technology for people to prevent losing weight from movement while cycling and you are still worried there might be a time people have to move anyway?
34Kg is what moms have on the backseat when they take the kids out, I'm sure that in the dramatic time that you happen to have to you can move long enough to reach the curb, and then you can use your iphone to call help.
Thanks for the try on metric support incidentally, appreciated.
I'd be curious how well it tackles hills, big or small.
Aha, but you know what you can do with these that you cannot with a scooter, perhaps?
1. might be able to box one in a bike box and put it on a flight, have it at your destination
2. ride on bike paths
3. put it on front of the bus, for those in areas where this is an option (e.g., Seattle area)
4. bring it onto a commuter train, again for those who have this option
Good points!
Right on Harlan! I didn't know about bringing bikes on planes, but 2-4 are the exact reasons I've been researching electric bike options myself. LA, CA public transportation usually sucks, but I'm luckily close to the light rail system, where I have a pass to bring any bike on during non-rush-hour periods. Most of the buses here also have the front bike racks, especially the Rapid lines that control the street lights. My office is only about 15 miles away, but the hills near my house make a regular bike a little daunting for daily use. I can pedal 30mph pretty easily on a downhill, so I bet I can pedal+electric an electric bike that allows both simultaneously well over 20mph, and match my freeway-with-traffic commute time overall.
Does this one have regenerative braking? I have a lot of downhill time I could use as generators. I've been thinking about a dual-wheel BionX type conversion on my mountain bike.
badass winner
dasdasdasd
First impressions - those are some NASTY welds on a bicycle costing over 2 grand. Second, that charging plug on the bike makes it look like you have to charge the battery in situ. Much better to be able to remove the battery and charge it indoors.
and exactly what do you see wrong with those welds? undercut?, lack of penetration? Huh? They look like normal bike/dirtbike aluminum welds...
and yes the charger connection looks weak
Actually they look like really good aluminum TIG welds.
Also, the welds have all been done in a consistent direction. It's not a structural thing, but it is a sign of a welder with some belief in good craftsmanship.
maybe you should be wearing a helmet... and some gloves... when testing this out?
They worst bike related accident I ever has was in my driveway testing something...
Helmets have been proven to be pointless on bicycles, and thus on such bicycle-speed light devices too.
Gloves won't do much either really, if you get in such a situation that you would need gloves you would be trying to break your fall with your elbow/lower arm (or knee) and so elbow protectors would be more useful than gloves.
Please explain how helmets are useless on bicycles? I've crashed more that once on my mountain bike, and in one case I'm certain I'd have had a concussion but for the helmet.
And, BTW, this comment has more to do with the author forgetting his gloves in another post...
Studies have shown that in areas where people were wearing helmets the casualties/injuries did not get statistically lower, and that the head in not something that gets hit on lowspeed vehicles unless a truck drives over it or something at which point a bicycle helmet only helps the cleanup crew scoop your remains up and doesn't actually do much protecting, but the head isn't something at that great a risk, more head injuries actually happen to pedestrians than cyclist I read (that bit surprised me too).
But it's your own choice if you want to wear one to feel safer of course, assuming they don't pass silly laws forcing people that is.
very nice
Paul, for a guy who apparently never leaves your house, you sure do play on the streets more than any of the other contributors.
Why is everybody so hard on you?
Nice design!! Looks really cool if you ask me.
But euuuh... lower the price a bit cause this is really steep.
all the comfort and protection of a bicycle, all the weight gain potential of driving to work. sign me up!
the end of the video where the guy totally dumps it was the best, made my day.
Ya call them wheelies?
Why, in my day, we didn't consider it a wheelie unless we cracked the back of our heads open at the end of it! And we liked it!
That explains so much about the state of my inherited planet.
Thanks.
Why are the weld points so gross? Couldn't they have buffed that down before the paint job? For $2,600 that frame should look seemless.
Seriously?