As urban cargo solutions and last-mile delivery services rapidly transition to electrification, a unique entrant has emerged in the form of the PNY Ponie, an electric cargo motorcycle tailored for heavy hauling in congested urban environments.
Designed primarily for cargo and delivery applications, the PNY Ponie boasts a remarkable cargo capacity, capable of accommodating up to 120 kg (265 lb) of goods. It features a generous 400 liters (14 cubic feet) of onboard storage space, exceeding the storage volume found in many city cars’ trunks, which typically offer around 300 liters or less.
To put this into perspective, the PNY Ponie can carry three of the insulated food bags commonly seen with delivery riders, and it also offers an optional hardcase storage trunk that occupies the entire central section of the frame, while still leaving room for an additional insulated bag on the rear rack.
Despite its cargo-centric design, the Ponie retains the characteristics of a motorcycle, offering a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) and an impressive range of up to 150 km (93 miles) on a single charge, courtesy of its 6.7 kWh CATL battery. Powering this electric workhorse is a robust 4,000 Watt continuous-rated rear hub motor, which maximizes storage space within the frame.
Equipped with advanced features, the Ponie includes ABS brakes, a CarPlay-ready 7-inch color screen, and even a glovebox featuring a USB port for the convenient charging of electronic devices, such as a smartphone.
During the 2023 EICMA Milan Motorcycle Show, the founder and CEO of PNY, Netzah Sadeh, emphasized the Ponie’s suitability for scenarios where traditional e-bikes or scooters fall short, and larger delivery vans are excessive. Sadeh highlighted collaborations with postal services and supermarkets for grocery deliveries as notable applications for the Ponie.
While cargo e-trikes and pedal cars are commonly employed for urban deliveries, they are generally limited by lower top speeds, typically ranging from 15-20 mph (25-40 km/h), which restricts their operational scope. In contrast, PNY’s cargo motorcycles can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph), allowing them to navigate urban highways and swiftly maneuver through dense city centers, all while carrying substantial cargo loads.
The PNY Ponie 2, a two-wheeled variant, has received homologation for use in Europe under the L3e class for A1 license holders, while the three-wheeled Ponie 3 is currently undergoing testing. Production of the Ponie 2 is scheduled to commence, with deliveries expected to begin in the second quarter of 2024
