E-moped roadshow will leave MOTAT piece

Wellington-based e-motorcycle start-up FTN Motion is on a nationwide roadshow introducing its beta model Streetdog.

After test rides in Wellington and Auckland for early adopters and wait-listed enthusiasts, the roadshow is in Tauranga on April 5 before returning to the capital – although one of the FTN Motion Streetdogs will later be housed at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in Auckland.

MOTAT has purchased one of the early-adopter bikes for display, recognising the innovation and design as part of a foundational moment in New Zealand’s transport and technology journey.

The Streetdog looks and rides like a classic cafe racer motorbike and has a 100km range, a 50km/h top speed and is classed as a moped so can be ridden on a car licence. It has 30 litres of storage and a removable battery that can be charged away from the bike.

MOTAT collections researcher Chelsea Renshaw says the museum has been developing its collection to include contemporary examples of New Zealand innovation.

“Acquiring these objects helps us tell stories that connect with a national audience and showcase the exciting transport and technology that emerges from Aotearoa,” she says.

FTN Motion co-founder Kendall Bristow recalls visiting MOTAT as a child and marvelling at the innovative machines on display.

“I never imagined that one day I’d be part of creating something that could be on display there.”

FTN Motion aims to reduce congestion, commute times and pressure on the planet, saying its Streetdog has seen huge demand, with the bike’s first release last year selling out in just days.

The waiting list for the second release this year continues to grow, and the company has raised $1.6 million since launching in late 2020, with both raises oversubscribed.

During the Christchurch leg of the tour, the Streetdog betas were booked for back-to-back test rides by early-adopters and attracted crowds wherever they were parked.

Click here for more information.