BERLIN: Abu Dhabi start-up Barq is set to start producing a highway-capable electric scooter with a seat designed to stay cool during long rides in the hot climate of the Middle East and North Africa.
Aimed at last-mile users such as food delivery services, the classy-looking Rena Max has been developed in collaboration with restaurant giant Americana and delivery platform Jahez.
Americana operates restaurants such as KFC and Pizza Hut.
Barq has announced production will start in late 2022 and expects to make 50,000 units within the region by 2025 to supply the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. These countries are among the world's largest commercial motorcycle markets.
Barq says the Rena Max was engineered to tackle the challenges of the region, with extra battery cooling and software which controls the temperature of the storage and delivery areas in the scooter panniers and rear luggage rack-box.
The scooter has a range of up to 150km per charge from the 5.6Kwh lithium battery unit and a top speed of 97kph from the 9kW electric motor. Also featured is a reverse gear, multiple riding modes and an integrated 8-inch touch screen.
The Rena Max has an improved rider position for comfort and even has a special textured seat to lower heat during prolonged use, as well as USB connectivity and LED daytime running lights, Barq says.
"Modern, simple and functional, Barq’s Rena Max is designed to solve tomorrow’s delivery challenges," said Ian Callum, founder of the Callum design firm responsible for shaping the scooter.
"Callum considered every functional aspect, factoring in the tough environment and demands of the working rider. From tubeless tyres to minimise punctures, through to a lightweight, responsive architecture."
The Rena Max joins Barq’s existing portfolio of mobility solutions including an electric bicycle for local delivery and the Guinness World Record-breaking YAS1, a drone capable of travelling 5km in 10 minutes.
