New Zealand electric startup Switch has started collecting pre-orders for an electric bike in a classic scrambler format.
The electric scrambler concept was unveiled by New Zealanders in early 2020, and the bike looked very attractive. There was only one question: when the Switch eScrambler will start serial production. Official information finally surfaced: deliveries of the electric scrambler are scheduled for the first quarter of 2023. And now Switch has started collecting pre-orders for its creation.
During the time since the concept presentation, the guys from Switch have perfected not only the technical part but also the design. According to Matthew Waddick, the project’s founder and lead engineer, they were helped by former Danish Flat Track champion and former Yamaha Japan Advanced Labs industrial designer Michel Riis. The resulting bike successfully combines classic scrambler looks with an electric motor and modern technology.
The Switch eScrambler is equipped with a 50 kW (70 horsepower) electric motor and a 13 kWh LG 21700 lithium-ion battery pack. On a single charge the e-scrambler can cover up to 150 km, and 90% of the charge can be “poured” into the battery within 4 hours. The gas tank so necessary for the scrambler, which in this case would be more correctly called a false tank, hides the controller and other electronic components underneath.
The device differs by being surprisingly modest for an electric bike weight – only 170 kg. We managed to achieve this thanks to the use of aluminum in the design of the eScrambler: the frame, swingarm of the rear suspension, and several other components are made of “winged metal”. The running gear is on the level: there is an impressive “shifter” at the front and a mono-shock absorber at the rear. The torque to the rear wheel is transmitted by belt drive, the brakes are J. Juan, ABS is standard.
The Switch eScrambler has a retail price of $11,999, with a $500 pre-order fee.