Kiwi electric moped due out 2021

Wellington-based FTN Motion plans to launch an electric moped later this year.

It looks more like a retro motorbike known as a ‘café racer’ and is designed for commuters with a 50km/h top speed from its 3kW rear hub motor and battery offering 100km range.

FTN Motion’s ‘Founder Edition’ moped is offered for pre-order at $100 deposit toward the price starting from $7950.

The moped has a huge 30 litres of storage under its faux tank, designed to hold a backpack but not a helmet.

FTN Motion was formed by Luke Sinclair and Kendall Bristow who both have mechanical engineering backgrounds and developed an electric moped prototype after several years of research and development.

They say that in 2015 they became fed up wasting hours in grid-locked traffic so embarked on their venture.

FTN Motion’s website says the moped is designed to cope with Kiwi conditions, such as Wellington’s hills and wind, and the production model will be able to carry two people.

It weighs 62kg and the battery is plugged in at home and charged up overnight.

The moped (categorised by the lower speed and avoiding the more stringent regulations associated with a full motorcycle) has already come to the attention of some overseas media like Electrek which wonders whether the bike will be available outside New Zealand.

FTN Motion is also seeking investors and has an “early adopter” scheme for the first 100 bikes.