Domino’s goes electric thanks to Kiwi company

Domino’s has teamed up with Kiwi motorbike builder Ubco to electrify its pizza delivery fleet.

Ubco is supplying Domino’s with 2x2 electric motorbikes to replace some of its petrol-based solutions.

The pizza maker already has a couple of 2x2s in its fleet and it looks like they have performed well in the real world.

Domino’s chief executive, Cameron Toomey, said the bikes had ‘‘several advantages over cars when it comes to deliveries’’.

‘‘They are faster through heavy traffic, parking is not an issue, they are cheaper to run and more environmentally friendly.’’

Ubco boss Timothy Allen agreed. He said it was ‘‘pretty satisfying watching the bikes growing in use within the Domino’s fleet ... Our bikes are reducing Domino’s environmental footprint and, at the same time, delivering pizzas faster and safer.’’

Domino’s delivery fleet averages between 10,000 and 20,000 kilometres each year, and Ubco’s latest iteration of 2x2 comes with ‘‘Telematic’’ hardware and connectivity to the Fleet Portal, a cloud-based vehicle management system.

This allows both Domino’s and Ubco to monitor each bike individually and service them as needed.

Being electric, servicing as a whole should be cheaper and less time-intensive than an equivalent internal combustion machine thanks to fewer moving parts.

Toomey told Stuff that 25 Ubco bikes were currently operating across the Domino’s fleet nationwide, with another 25 on the way. By the end of the year, all corporate stores will have replaced their petrol scooters with Ubco machinery.

Allen told Stuff that Ubco had a global supply chain with all design, engineering and testing done in New Zealand. The electronics and controls are made here while two ‘‘tier one’’ assemblers in China are tapped for the bike and battery.

Range is anywhere between 65 and 120 kilometres, depending on carried weight, incline, terrain and ground cover.

Finally, the 2x2 can be classified as a moped, so anyone with a car licence can ride it legally.