The Latvian company Oruga has created the world's first electric off-road motorcycle, the Oruga Unitrack, capable of driving through mountains, swamps, sand and ice. The first hundred motorcycles are expected to be available in the Baltic countries at the end of next year, with plans to enter other markets a little later, including particularly in Scandinavia and even in the USA. A queue of buyers who have pre-ordered is already beginning to form. Oruga Unitrack was developed by Latvian scientist and engineer Juris Klava. Although the idea for such a vehicle is not unique, Klyava is the first to create a viable concept with an electric motor. In June 2023, a team of five scientists and aspiring entrepreneurs gathered at the Ignition Event. The design and testing phase of the smaller prototype has now been completed, and work is underway to create a full-size prototype, which could be released in the next two months. Large-scale production is expected to begin in 2025, when the first 100 unique motorcycles could appear. The Oruga Unitrack is calculated to have 14 times more traction than off-road motorcycles. Combining the agility of a motorcycle with the performance of a tracked vehicle, this off-road vehicle is designed for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals who need a reliable all-terrain vehicle in any conditions. Initially, the tracked motorcycle will be equipped with an electric motor capable of traveling up to 200 kilometers on a single charge in the most powerful version. At the same time, additional batteries will be available that you can take with you and replace if necessary. The possibility of creating a hybrid unit is also being considered, but, according to company representatives, everything will depend on market demand. “Potential buyers could be hunters, foresters, people who like innovation and the ability to get anywhere quickly and easily. The military industry and rescue services are also very interested in the Oruga Unitrack,” says Oruga CEO Liene Vitola. “The Oruga team is actively involved in major industry exhibitions and is currently presenting the Oruga Unitrack at the MOVE:Mobility re-imagined exhibition in London. Oruga has raised initial funding for the idea through the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) and financial institution Altum, and is now seeking investors for further development to begin production. according to schedule. The focus is now on creating and testing a full-size prototype, which requires about 250 thousand euros, with at least another 2 million euros needed to start production. At the end of May, Oruga received a prize from Terranova Defense, as well as from the LIAA. a startup pitch competition at Deep Tech Atelier 2024, a knowledge-intensive technology industry conference, and the opportunity to participate in the WeMakeFuture 2024 digital innovation festival in Italy.
