The electric mobility sector has grown by leaps and bounds over the last several years. In addition to plenty of conventional electric bikes and e-scooters, that growth has included several unique and innovative additions to the world or personal electric vehicles. The A-Ride from Canadian company Alpine Riding definitely fits into the latter category, and I think you’ll see why.
We had the chance to check out the A-Ride in person at CES 2022, where Electrek’s Seth Kurkowski and Derek Wise got an up close and personal demonstration and snagged the photos and videos below.
It’s not the first line-blurring personal electric vehicle we’ve seen, but it’s surely one of the most capable.
From head on, you’d think you’re looking at a fat tire electric mountain bike. But then as you come around the side, you realize the frame is nothing like a bike.
In fact it’s technically a standing scooter, though it doesn’t look like any scooter I’ve ridden.
The giant wheels give it handling and capabilities closer to a mountain bike, as does the full suspension set up. A suspension fork up front and swingarm suspension in the back provide a mountain bike-like full suspension design.
When I write about other powerful electric scooters, one of the most common comments I get is that the small wheels look dangerous for real world use. Here though, the A-Ride’s 24″ tires seem to tackle that idea head on.
Interestingly, the A-Ride is designed for more than just trails. Commuter-level accessories like cargo racks with pannier options, fender sets and even a bolt-on handlebar kit for child-sized passengers turn the two-wheeler into more of a utility vehicle.
You could drop a kid off at school and then do some light grocery shopping on your way home. That’s more than I can say for nearly any other electric scooter out there!
But that was the point of the A-Ride, whose design is meant to offer the best of both worlds by drawing upon advantages of multiple forms of two-wheeled transportation. The result is a versatile ride, even if it looks rather shocking at first.
As the company explains:
“Its dual suspension, powerful motors and robust design make for an adrenaline-packed, fast, safe and controlled ride over anything — making it the ultimate joy ride and versatile year-round commuter!”
The A-Ride gets powered up by a 50-mile range battery (80 km) and comes with either a 500W or 1,000W geared motor, which can help it fit into various regulations for different states and countries. The 20 mph (32 km/h) speed limit is also a nod to regulators, but can reportedly be removed when the bike is put into “off-road” settings.
A thumb throttle on the handlebars will control the motor’s power and a color screen provides a realtime readout for ride data like speed, distance, battery charge and more.
It’s not cheap at around US $4,700, but I guess that’s what innovation costs.
What do you think of the A-Ride? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
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