UBCO electric ag bike hits Oz

A New Zealand company has switched onto the agricultural bike market with an innovative two-wheel drive motorcycle that is light, nimble, cheap to run and able to act as a mobile power unit in the field.

The UBCO – for Utility Bike COmpany – started making its electric motorcycle in 2016 and now exports to Australia and the US. It has recently appointed a WA distributor, which loaned a bike to Bikesales for a spin around a farm near York, 70km east of Perth.

Two models are available: one equipped for more off-road work and the other more for on-road duties. The differences aren’t huge and either will serve faithfully on a working property and have the bonus of being comfortable enough for a ride to a (nearby) town.

Both models – priced at around $7900 depending on equipment and location – are road-registerable. In many states and territories, the UBCO is classified at the same level as a moped and may require only a car licence to operate.

For the uninitiated, ag bikes are traditionally sturdy, reliable, user-friendly, low-maintenance and a lot of fun. The UBCO is all those except noisy. Even starting out for the first time produces an eerie sense that something is not right. The lack of noise and vibration, exhaust smell and heat are tell-tale signs that it’s a different game.

Stock may welcome the change. The silence of the UBCO is one of it big attractions, and being able to approach stock in almost total silence has dividends.

The quiet operation also has secondary benefits for the rider: no clamour from an internal combustion engine, and the ability to search for lost animals and know well in advance of approaching vehicles.

The UBCO also appeals with its user-friendliness, particularly the step-through design and its light weight. It’s 63kg and, including rider, can haul 150kg when the optional front and rear racks are brought into the equation.

At such a diminutive weight, it’s easy to load onto a trailer or ute.

Electric vehicles are inherently safe because they carry no readily flammable fuel and are not affected by exposure to heat.

They are also simple and the UBCO reflects that with dash control consisting of a speedo, battery gauge, USB and 12-volt plugs and a start key.

Turn the key to connect the power, twist the handlebar throttle – that’s it.

The brakes are controlled by the two hand levers, and the bike will crank up to 50km/h in a whirr with acceleration that is far quicker than most first-time riders expect.

However, the bike is better at its designated walk pace work where it will herd, crawl up dam walls, glide through plantings and deliver some hefty cargo.

Above all, it is the two-wheel drive that makes it very stable to ride and reluctant to slide when turning in wet or poor-traction conditions. That obviously has significant safety benefits.

It is also less sensitive to payload because the driven wheels tend to equalise the balance between front and back.

Above all, it invokes a lot of confidence because it is easy to ride – great for people who rarely engage with powered two-wheelers– and so light and narrow. The seat is relatively low, too, which combined with the light weight improves rider confidence.

Initially I thought the ground clearance was low, but it never grounded and in fact took to rocky inclines with ease. It can be manoeuved into tight spaces and along thin tracks with ease.

The two motors are rated at 1kW apiece and fed by a 48Amp/hour lithium-ion battery mounted in the frame.

Much of the test work was done at slow speeds where the motors are at their best regarding torque delivery. It was also a bonus not having to fear the power source stalling, especially on the inclines.

Though it has much to commend it for farm duties and even urban commuting, it is no performance bike. The pace is quick and quiet up to about 30km/h at which point a conventional motorcycle – of almost any capacity – will pull ahead.

For people who like the cleanliness and light weight of an electric bike, the UBCO is certainly worth considering. One of its better points is the lack of need to visit a petrol station and get a lungful of fumes.

Petrol-fuelled bikes have power and riding range in their favour, but the UBCO has a trick.

To extend the bike’s range (though most farm bikes generally operate around 40km a day) there is regenerative braking that uses the motors as generators when coasting or braking to put some extra charge into the battery. This function requires no input from the rider.

The suspension is plush, while it’s only a single seater – reflecting its work ethos.

However, UBCO note that the bike is being picked up – literally – by holiday makers because it is light enough to load and unload from the back of a 4WD or caravan or ute.

UBCO claim that the bike will run for 120km when fully charged. The company says one charge costs less than $1.00 The charge takes about six hours and can be done, albeit at a slower charge rate, via a plug to the vehicle’s electrical system if the bike is aboard.

It can also be a power source. The plugs on the bike can mean power for an electric drill in the field, or to top up electrical equipment including a mobile phone.

An app from UBCO can turn the phone into a display and diagnostic tool for the user. The app allows the mobile phone to change the bike to on and off-road settings that do things include:

• Maximising regenerative braking;
• Reducing the power output in a learner-rider mode;
• Updating motor-control software via the internet;
• Acting as a secondary instrument panel with more features; and
• Checking on the bike’s condition.

UBCO has a range of accessories to suit the needs of the operator. For example, there are tow-bar mounts for a bike carrier, extra luggage racks and panniers, and GPS units.

The bike has distributors and agents around Australia and New Zealand. The product has a 12-month warranty.