Aspect – Agricultural Electric Motorcycle

The withdrawal of traditional quad bikes (four-wheels) from the Australian market due to safety issues including over 240 deaths from use, presents an opportunity for a suitable replacement in the rural setting for agricultural use. Motorcycles (two-wheels) are noted to be more stable and manoeuvrable, however limitations to current designs are present. These limitations include non-adjustable seating arrangements for varied user anthropometrics, lack of modularity and high level use functionality required to perform daily tasks such as paddock maintenance, lack of storage, as well as stability at lower speeds, particularly over uneven terrain.

The design solution successfully responds to the design challenges through six main innovations. The first innovation is the ability to adjust the seat height utilising a pivoting mount and linear actuator. Pairing this with the second innovation, an adjustable ride height, ensures the user can find the optimal riding position to maintain posture and avoid injury/fatigue. The third innovation is a gyro stabiliser that stabilises the vehicle at low speeds, important for off-road environments. The fourth, fifth, and sixth innovations, a storage box unit, quick release fastening panels, and a receiver hitch all enhance the daily functions this industry demands.

This product ultimately improves the quality of life for the intended users, including those working in the agricultural and rural service industry. Whilst majority of manufactures in the off-road motorcycle industry design for the common denominator, particularly concerned with height, this product allows for fine tune adjustment in ride height and seat height to ensure riders achieve a comfortable riding position, a vital factor in riding focus, reduced sustained poor riding posture, and ultimately safety. Furthermore, the electric powertrain and additional features including a gyro-stabiliser as well as modular components, assist in reducing the strain vehicles have on the environment.

In conjunction with the main features including ride and seat height adjustment, the additional key features provide a unique and practical solution in meeting the needs of the users. Primarily focusing on quick, highly functional storage and mounting solutions, through quick release fastening panels, a receiver hitch, and a removable storage box, the design provides unmatched versatility for a range of applications, a vital factor in the agricultural industry. Adapting to any environment and working condition allows this vehicle to perform effectively ongoingly. A key sustainable consideration, particularly with the increasing reliability of improving technology, is to ensure the product never becomes obsolete in the future. This is why the vehicle has been designed with modularity and removable hardware features in mind. This ensures technology such as the batteries or motor can be replaced/rebuilt as technology progresses. This repairability solution allows the product to remain highly functional for years to come.