Meridian deal on UBCO electric utility bikes

This story first appeared in the August issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

A partnership between UBCO and Meridian Energy will see more UBCO electric utility bikes on New Zealand roads and farms.

Meridian customers are eligible to purchase an UBCO 2×2 at 10% off the usual retail price from selected dealers throughout the country.

“This is a huge step for UBCO,” its chief executive officer Timothy Allan says.

“Meridian is the undisputed leader in the generation of clean energy in New Zealand – to have their endorsement of UBCO is recognition that we’re well on the way towards achieving our goal of designing the ideal electric utility bike for New Zealand conditions.
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Meridian agribusiness national manager Dave Greenwood says the partnership is another way the company is supporting the uptake of electric vehicles – including on the farm.

“UBCO has a great product and one that we believe will be of benefit to many of our customers,” he says.

“This partnership is another way that Meridian is demonstrating its commitment to electric transport, by encouraging our customers to convert to electric and take advantage of the benefits of renewable energy and provide our customers with the opportunity to reduce their emissions and help combat climate change.”

It has been an action-packed year for UBCO, with the company releasing a fully road legal version of their 2×2 now being distributed throughout New Zealand and Australia, with the aim of reaching the United Kingdom and Europe markets within the next year.”
The 2018 UBCO 2×2 is a game changer for the company.
Officially classified as a moped/scooter/motor-driven cycle, the bike can be driven on-road with as little as a learner car driver licence, and it can transition from off-road to on-road and back.

With no clutch or drive-train, no emissions, and no noise, and being two-wheel drive, with a powerful removable battery and digitally connected engine control unit, the bike is winning accolades and investors around the world.

The bike won the 2018 Fieldays International Innovation Award in June – an accolade to founders Daryl Neal and Anthony Clyde.
More than a decade ago they visualised an electric utility bike that would replace the ubiquitous two-stroke farm bike.
Judges praised the 2×2 for being e-smart, eco-friendly and safer than competing farm bikes and ATVs.

“It has been exciting to see this bike transform from the prototype we first saw at Fieldays four years ago to the internationally competitive product we see today,” Allan says.

“I think that the UBCO 2×2 has exceeded every expectation to date and we’ve only just begun.”
To give the UBCO 2×2 a real endurance test, the company is preparing for an off-road journey throughout the length of the country.

The journey will be an opportunity for the UBCO team to test every feature of the bike, including rider comfort, product strength and battery range – all in extreme conditions far beyond those usually faced by UBCO owners.

An announcement of the track riders will take will be made in coming months.

Visit ubcobikes.com for more information.