Most electric scooter designs out there are very predictable, and most of the time very similar to competition in the market. Breaking the jinx with its unconstrained yet highly functional design is the offering by Abu Dhabi startup Barq. This is the Rena Max e-scooter which definitely shines out in the crowd with its radical design. The fully electric scooter is focused on the needs of the Middle-Eastern and North African delivery personnel. Given its origins, that strategy is absolutely understandable.
At the heart, it is an outright delivery platform, and Barq developed this last-mile delivery concept in collaboration with Jahez (A Saudi delivery platform), and Americana (a Kuwaiti food group). The latter has a strong presence in the MENA region with over 1200 food and beverage outlets. Since we are talking of delivery services, the focus is also on digitally lockable carry box that has temperature control, modular shelving and insulation. The climate-controlled environment ensured the freshness of the food or beverage being delivered.
Designer: Barq
According to Barq CEO and Founder Abdallah Abu sheikh, people have been “consumers of Western and Chinese built technologies that don’t cater in a holistic way for the precise needs and challenges of the region.” In order to make sure the ride is highly functional for the delivery guy, there are inclusions such as an IoT-enabled ecosystem, integrated software for custom-made storage, and battery cooling technology. The two-wheeler gets a large 8-inch touchscreen integrated into the body, with a camera and other tech embedded.
Speed and swiftness are going to be the key with the Rena Max, so it gets the removable 5.6 kWh battery packs capable of going 150 km on a single charge. This is mated to a 9kW motor which makes the electric scooter go at a top speed of 97 km/h. There will be a reverse gear, and multiple driving modes too which will be highly useful in urban scenarios. As for the looks, the e-scooter stands out with its single-sided swingarm, and a very iPhone-like glass windshield. The region where this fleet is going to be operating is very hot, so the makers have fitted the scooter with a heat-lowering textured seat.
There is no word yet on the pricing or availability of Rena Max, but Barq plans to make 50,000 units by the end of 2025 for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egyptian markets. The scooter will be leased out via a low monthly subscription model to courier riders who’ll scoot around the city in style delivering what’s required by the client.
