Barq's Rena Max will be the first electric bike from the Middle East

Barq has announced it will become the first manufacturer from the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region to build an electric vehicle. 

Barq’s EV will be a scooter designed for use in the ‘last-mile’ delivery market, which Barq says suffers from “inefficient costs and low productivity,” which their bike aims to combat. 

To do that, the bike - called the Rena Max - will feature many technological innovations, including in relation to battery cooling, and an integrated software system that will regulate temperature in the bike’s storage to “improve the quality of deliveries,” according to Barq. 

For example, Barq says, “The insulated top box includes a food safe lining, configurable shelving and integrated thermometer.” Additionally, the bike will be able to record when the box is opened or closed.  

The scooter has been designed by Callum Designs, a design and engineering company. Callum Designs was founded by Ian Callum, who had worked as a car designer for brands such as Ford and Aston Martin. 

Barq say that, “The Rena Max features swappable battery technology, a range of up to 150km per charge from the 5.6kWh lithium unit and a 97kph (60mph) top speed from the 9kW electric motor.” The swappable battery is designed to “eradicate” the time wasted waiting for a battery to charge, according to Barq.

The bike will also feature a reverse gear, adjustable riding modes (not currently specified) and “an integrated 8-inch touch screen,” according to Barq. 

The founder and CEO of Barq, Abdallah Abu Sheikh, says that the bike and its technology have a global potential, “but we want to make the first moves with purpose-built vehicles for the middle east and Africa.”

Ian Callum, the founder of Callum Designs, says, “Production will start in late 2022 and Barq expects to manufacture 50,000 units within the region by 2025 to support the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the world’s largest commercial motorcycle markets.”

While the current objectives of the Rena Max are mostly irrelevant to road riders, since it is aimed at delivery riders, the apparent desire from Barq CEO Abdallah Abu Sheikh to make the bike a global product is encouraging from an European or Western perspective. 

The more manufacturers involved in electric vehicle technology is ultimately better for the consumers on the other end, because of the increased necessity for the manufacturers to develop to keep up with or surpass their competition. 

Recent announcements from established two-wheeled giants Yamaha and Honda confirm the electric future of motorcycling, but the involvement of smaller manufacturers such as Barq or Stilride - which we reported on last week - represents a change in the industry facilitated by the change from combustion to electric and which will be most evident in the small-capacity-equivalent markets.