Amy Robinson

At $2,500, it seems somewhat expensive, but Amy Robinson, Ultra Motor USA's vice president of marketing, points out that the company is positioning the A2B against high-end bicycles--which can easily run two grand--as well as against gas-powered commuter vehicles like cars, motorcycles, and mopeds.
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"We call it the Mini Cooper of electric bikes," Robinson said."It's sturdy and solid, but nimble like a bicycle.And it's a great alternative to getting in (a) car."

Plus, she added, the company hopes to attract commuters who like the idea of riding a bike to work, but who hate the idea of being sweaty on arrival.
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And with an auxiliary battery that's available, the bike's range can be stretched to 40 miles, Robinson said.

Of course, there are other electric bikes on the market.Among them are some that cost less than the A2B and which offer similar specifications.Some, like the iZip Express, from Currie Technologies, can go up to 25 miles an hour.

Robinson said that the A2B stands out because, "there's no other electric bike today built from the ground up as a commuting solution."

Perhaps.It's hard for me to say how the A2B's competition stacks up to it because I haven't ridden them.

I do know, however, that the A2B is a show stopper.

"One of the main attractions," said Robinson of the A2B, "is the reaction when people see it and experience it when they ride it."
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On the other hand, because it does have pedals, it is possible to ride it like a regular bicycle, and Robinson said that, based on feedback the company had gotten, some A2B buyers might well choose to do that on their way home from work when arriving sweaty isn't a problem.

Ultra Motor is ramping up to the September launch of the A2B.

Amy Robinson, 415-290-4868amyr@ultramotor.com