Image Credit: Ultraviolette/ Captain Electro.
You've gotta love the optimism displayed by some EV companies these days. This time, a brand from India called Ultraviolette, decided it was time to spread their international wings. And the first stop on the "World Domination" tour is… Spain and Portugal. An interesting choice.
And they aren't just sending postcards, either. They're launching two of their top bikes, the F77 Mach 2 and the F77 SuperStreet. Honestly, those names sound like they were pulled from a bin of leftover 90s action-movie titles. "Coming this summer: Jean-Claude Van Damme is... F77 SuperStreet." But hey, I once named a ficus Robert Plant…
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
The plan is being handled by a group called Rhino Electric Motors. They've been tasked with the exclusive importer/distributor gig for both countries. And it won't be easy. The source material, which I read with my strongest reading glasses, points out that Spain and Portugal are totally different. Different incentives, different prices people are willing to pay, different charging setups. It's not a one-size-fits-all paella.
But what about the bikes? What's hiding under those flashy names? Turns out, the Mach 2 and the SuperStreet are basically twins separated at birth. Both of them are packing the same 10.3 kWh battery pack. For reference, that's a pretty hefty battery for a bike.
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
This battery feeds a motor that kicks out a peak of 30 kilowatts - that's a nice, round 40 horsepower. In the motorcycle world, 40 horses isn't going to win you any drag races against a fire-breathing superbike. It's sensible. It's adequate. It's a nice two-wheel cardigan. But combined with 73.76 pound-feet of torque — which is pretty zesty for instant electric get-up-and-go — it's more than enough to make you the king or queen of the traffic light grand prix.
In fact, Ultraviolette claims both bikes will go from a dead stop to 37 mph in just 2.8 seconds. That's quick enough to startle the Tesla in the next lane. Keep the throttle pinned, and they'll apparently top out at 96 mph. That's perfectly fine for a highway commute, though I wouldn't recommend trying to set a land-speed record on the German autobahn when they eventually expand there. You might get blown off the road by a mild-mannered executive in his electric Audi.
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
The main difference between those "twins" isn't in the specs, it's in the seating. The F77 Mach 2 is the "sporty" one, meaning you'll be leaning forward over the tank, looking very serious and fast, even when you're just going to buy milk. The F77 SuperStreet, on the other hand, is built for comfort. It has a more upright riding position, which your lower back will thank you for after about 20 minutes. It's the sensible sibling.
Ultraviolette says both bikes can manage 143 miles in the city on a single charge. That's not just "commute to work and back." That's "commute to work, go to the grocery store, visit your aunt, pick up a pizza, and still have juice left over."
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
Most electric motorcycles that give you this kind of range usually come with astronomical price tags, but Ultraviolette is playing a different game. They're aiming for the "sweet spot" - the actual, real-world commuter who wants a proper motorcycle feel but doesn't want to spend $30,000 or suffer from crippling range anxiety.
Ultraviolette's Iberian adventure is just the appetizer, apparently. After they've had their fill of jamón and pastéis de nata, the plan is to roll into Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Whew... Does this look like an expansion? This is an invasion, if you ask me. A very quiet, electric, but still an invasion. The big goal is to have 30 to 35 percent of their total company revenue coming from these export markets by 2028.
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
For now, the bikes will be shipped over as "Completely Built Units," or CBUs. It's the simplest way to start, but the company admits that once they get bigger, they'll probably look at building the bikes right there in Europe. Smart. People get nervous when their spare parts are on a different continent.
What's my takeaway from all this? The style looks sharp, the 143-mile range is fantastic, and the 40-horsepower performance is perfectly suited for city life. But — and this is a big but — it all comes down to two things the source material was very quiet about: price and service. If they can sell these things for a genuinely good value (and I mean good), and if they can build a customer service network that actually answers the phone? They might just have a chance.
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