A company called Ultra Motor has released a new electric bike called the A2B. This bike looks great – I like the functional, minimalist style. The A2B is designed for urban or suburban commutes. According to Ultra Motors, the A2B offers unassisted power on demand for up to 20 miles at a cruising speed of 20mph. At that speed it’s still categorized as a bicycle as opposed to a scooter, moped or motorcycle. No special license is required.

You can double the range by carrying an optional (and more visible) $399 secondary battery pack. You can increase its carrying capacity with the addition of baskets and rear carrier bags.

The 73-pound bike is constructed with aluminum, and it features full suspension, and a 500-watt motor. The lithium-ion battery is well-concealed under the down tube. It is available at Amazon for about $2600.

The CEO of Ultra Motors, Chris Deyo, says this about the A2B’s price:

If you compare the one-time price of the A2B to the ongoing costs of commuting by car, moped or motorcycle–given the cost of gas, insurance, maintenance, parking, and parking tickets–it’s not so steep. “We found, in talking to folks, that (at) $2,500, it’s a considered purchase, but it’s of value to them,” Deyo said.

Ultra Motor’s design team is in Germany, and manufacturing is in Taiwan. The company’s global headquarters are in London, with the US operation is based in San Francisco, California. Ultra Motor offers two other electric bikes, the Europa and the Portia.

The A2B is expected to be available in September, most likely from bicycle, scooter, and motorcycle dealerships.

Home Page: Ultra Motor

Available from: Amazon