A2B Electric Two-Wheeler

The A2B electric two-wheeler by Ultra Motor

Happy (almost) Independence Day!

Wouldn't it be great if more of us could break free from a dependence on gasoline and cars to get us where we want to go?

As I've mentioned before, I believe that bikes and particularly e-bikes are a big part of the solution. Previously, I had a chance to test an e-bike in Tokyo. Then just last week, Ultra Motor gave me the chance to test ride their A2B electric bike around New York City.

(Special thanks also go to Vespa SoHo, the store that actually sells the A2B in Manhattan and let me take one of their A2Bs out for a spin.)

First things first, how did A2B get its name? I assumed it was because the bike provided an awesome way to get from point A to point B. Logical, but incorrect according to Daniel R. Gonzalez, sales manager at Vespa Soho. Gonzalez says that the bike actually got its name thanks to capacity to carry dual batteries. The built-in "A" battery can carry a ride for up to 20 miles (without assistance from pedal power) at up to 20 mph. Naturally, that maximum range depends on terrain - expect to go further in flat Miami than in hilly San Francisco. If the "A" battery does run out of juice and if you've purchased a spare "B" battery, you can simply flip a switch from A to B and get another 20 miles or so of range from the backup battery.

Batteries apparently take 3.5 to 4 hours to fully recharge, so theoretically you could commute to work on A2B on a Friday morning, leave the bike charging and then commute home to get a head start on the weekend right after lunch.

Here are some more thoughts on the A2B -

Aesthetics - Vespa Soho's Gonzalez pointed out that lots of other e-bikes just look like ordinary bicycles with a (visible) battery attached. By contrast, A2B was designed especially to be an electric bike. The battery is hidden from view and built into the bike's frame. Gonzalez did assure me that it is easy to swap out the battery for a new one at the end of the original battery's lifetime.

Basically, the A2B looks sweet, minimalist and futuristic. It's the kind of bike that will get noticed. Don't be surprised if you meet a lot of people - pedestrians, car drivers and other cyclists - wanting to know what you're riding. People may stare and you'll probably get a few compliments. In fact, single gals and guys looking to meet Mr/Ms Right (or even Mr/Ms Right Now) might want to buy an A2B just for the conversation-starting benefits.

By the way, although Ultra Motor is based in the U.K., its design team is from Germany. Indeed, there is something about the look of the A2B that reminds me of the sleek work of Porsche Design.

The Ride - A2B does have pedals and can move just under pedal-power, but I don't see anything on the Ultra Motor website calling this machine an e-bike. In fact, Ultra Motor likes to describe A2B as an "electric two-wheeler". This is actually a pretty apt description. The A2B's twist throttle system lets you ride around town without ever actually pedaling your legs. It's kind of a stealth electric scooter, albeit one that only goes up to 20 mph.

The top mph rating is important because, according to Gonzalez, anyone can ride a vehicle that only goes up to 20 mph. You don't even need a driver's license (at least in NY State...not sure if the same laws apply everywhere). By contrast, scooters tend to go up to 30 mph and require a driver's license. Anything over that in terms of top speed and you'll need a special motorcycle license.

The A2B electric two-wheeler by Ultra Motor

Anyway, in a word, the ride is awesome. The shock-absorbing front and rear suspension eats up bumps like the Cookie Monster chowing down on a Gingerbread Man. The 36-volt lithium ion battery propels the e-bike away from red lights in a hurry. Disc brakes let you stop on a dime - important when NYC taxi cabs are cutting in front of you to pick up passengers. Frankly, the A2B put a big happy grin on my face for most of my test ride (except when I was dodging trucks and airborne trash on Canal Street).

Now, the A2B may be a beautiful machine, but that doesn't mean that it's faultless. In the spirit of constructive criticism, I'd like to offer the following observations on Things That Might Be Improved in version 2.0:

Weight - The A2B is solid and comfy, but it ain't dainty. The bike weighs more than 70 lbs. Which means that even with a 7-speed Shimano derailleur, you'll still huff and puff trying to propel the bike by pedal power. Since the A2B looks like a bike and has a controlled 20 mph top speed, you can apparently take it on bike paths and into parks, but I still think it works best as a stealth cruiser with a little pedaling from time to time on flat ground to get exercise or save battery power. For comparison's sake, this Elegance e-bike from EcoBike weighs only around 50 lbs. Those 20 lbs can make a big difference. In fact, it's even more impressive that the A2B's motor can move the heavy bike so quickly. Gonzalez says that 1/3 of the A2B's weight is in its battery, so hopefully that part of the weight will come down as battery technology improves. Since the rest of A2B is already made out of aluminum, it's not clear how the bike could get lighter without sacrificing some of its impressive stability and shock-absorbing power.

Battery indicator - A2B does have a three-light battery indicator in green, yellow and red, but I would have liked something a bit clearer that looked more like a gas gauge. Call me old-fashioned.

Twist direction - I like the twist throttle, but I believe you have to twist it toward you in order to accelerate. It seems like it would be more intuitive to twist away and there were several times that I tried twisting away the throttle forward only to wonder why I wasn't getting any oomph. But perhaps I'm ignorant of some universal code of twist-throttling that says throttles must be turned inward and toward the rider.

Bell - OK, some people might say this is silly, but I would have loved to see a bell incorporated into the design. Like any bike or e-bike, the A2B is quiet. A bell would help warn pedestrians and other bicyclists that you're about to overtake them and zoom by at an astonishingly fast speed without any apparent effort. :)

Price - The A2B currently carries an MSRP of around $2,699. When considering cost of ownership, you'll have to think about the battery too. The Ultra Motor warranty guarantees the battery will function for more than 500 cycles at 80% of original capacity. That sounds decent, but given the cost of batteries ($550 to replace the internal battery, $650 for the optional auxiliary battery), I hope that Ultra Motor can guarantee more charge cycles from its batteries in the future - or make the battery cheaper to replace.

$3000+ is a lot to spend on an e-bike when there are plenty of sub-$1000 alternatives. But...sometimes you get what you pay for. A2B is a high-quality machine that looks and rides like it is meant to last. If comfort, design and speed matter to you - and if you're OK with the weight issue - A2B seems like it is definitely worth the money. You'll still save a huge bundle compared to car ownership and you can relish riding one of the top e-bikes (OK, electric two-wheelers) in the country.

Where to Buy:

Check out the Ultra Motor website for a list of local dealers like Vespa Soho.

A spokesperson for A2B also told me that Best Buy will start carrying the A2B soon. Looks like Best Buy is solidifying its position as an e-bike leader...

An Ultra Motor spokesperson says that the company offers useful accessories such as front baskets and laptop bags. It would be nice if visitors to the A2B site could browse a selection of these accessories.