UAE garage startup bets on EB-One to kickstart local electric motorbike industry

Rashid Al Salmi, a young Emirati engineer, has turned a garage‑born idea into a nationwide industrial project that aims to marry home‑grown manufacturing with the UAE’s climate and technology ambitions. According to Al Etihad, Al Salmi founded Sulmi after years of research and development beginning in 2019, and in 2023 unveiled a prototype of the EB‑One — a locally developed electric motorbike the company says is designed for performance, safety and sustainability.

“Since my childhood, I have loved cars and bikes,” Al Salmi told Al Etihad. “My dream was not just to own a car or bike, but to manufacture them with Emirati hands and a local identity.” He said the first steps began in a small garage and that the project grew quickly into a company staffed by Emirati engineers and designers. Honestly, the origin story has that hands‑on flavor, you might say.

Sulmi presents the EB‑One as a smart micro‑mobility product. The company’s website and FAQ claim a driving range exceeding 320 kilometres, fast DC charging in under 30 minutes, and a powertrain delivering roughly 70 horsepower and 0–100 km/h acceleration in under five seconds. Sulmi also highlights a bespoke battery system — the Sulmi Energy Unit or SEU — and an onboard safety suite called SIRA, described as providing 360‑degree camera coverage, proactive alarms and matrix lighting.

Those technical claims have drawn early commercial interest. Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) says the bike was developed at its SoiLAB makerspace and has been presented as the first e‑motorbike entirely designed and built in the UAE. Sharjah Police were reported to have added Emirati‑made Sulmi e‑bikes in 2023, citing fuel‑savings and sustainability benefits. Sulmi says it launched a Founder’s Edition limited to 200 units; the company and regional press report a strong response from buyers and organisations seeking trials.

There are, however, differences between sources on some details. Sulmi’s own FAQ and homepage put the range at “320‑plus kilometres” and list pricing starting from AED 40,000, with preorder deposits refundable and deliveries planned from September 2025. Other regional outlets have reported a slightly more conservative 300‑kilometre range and suggested pricing that could approach Dh60,000 for the Founder’s Edition. Technical numbers such as top speed (reported around 150–155 km/h), battery specification (Gulf News noted a “10.4” figure that the outlet described as battery capacity), and curb weight (around 190 kg) likewise vary by account. The variance underlines that many claims remain company statements pending independent verification and mass production.

Sulmi and partner institutions emphasise local value‑creation. SRTIP said in a statement that the project aligns with national sustainability goals and with the UAE’s broader push to localise advanced manufacturing ahead of global climate forums. Sulmi’s founder told Al Etihad he is negotiating with industrial partners to open a factory in the UAE and scale production beyond the initial 200 units, with plans to expand first across the Gulf and then to export markets.

For climate‑tech observers in the UAE, the Sulmi story is notable on several fronts. First, it is a visible attempt to convert R&D in a national makerspace into a commercial product. Honestly, it also targets transport emissions at the urban and last‑mile level — a sector where electrification can deliver rapid fuel and emissions reductions if vehicles are adopted at scale. Third, the project claims innovations in battery packaging, fast charging and integrated safety systems that, if validated, could offer useful lessons for regional climate technology development.

But moving from prototype to impact will be difficult. Al Salmi himself acknowledged the sector’s capital intensity, telling Al Etihad that global entrants often require investments on the order of hundreds of millions of dollars — a figure he estimated at up to $500 million — and that Sulmi had implemented its early work for “less than 1%” of that amount. Industry observers note that mass manufacture of two‑wheeled EVs requires reliable supply chains for cells and electronics, certification to vehicle and safety standards, an after‑sales and warranty network, and charging infrastructure that supports high‑power DC charging without grid constraints.

Sulmi’s public materials say warranty and service arrangements are being established and that delivery timelines begin from September 2025. Those milestones will be important tests. Independent range and performance tests, third‑party safety validation and clarity on battery chemistry and recycling plans will strengthen the project’s environmental credibility.

There are encouraging signs. Local institutional backing, pilot purchases by public agencies and early interest from delivery firms suggest tangible demand. The company also emphasises use of recycled materials and 3D printing to reduce waste and speed iteration, approaches consistent with modern sustainable manufacturing practice.

For policymakers and investors in UAE climate technology, Sulmi is a micro‑case study of the trade‑offs involved in home‑grown mobility ventures. It shows how small teams and makerspaces can produce prototypes that attract strategic partners. It also illustrates the capital, certification and supply‑chain hurdles that stand between a convincing prototype and broader climate impact.

Rashid Al Salmi frames the EB‑One as more than a product: “We are not just making a bike; we are trying to solve a real problem people experience daily and offer a safer and more sustainable future,” he told Al Etihad. Whether Sulmi can convert that promise into an industrial‑scale, climate‑positive business will depend on the company’s ability to validate its technical claims, secure manufacturing partnerships, and deploy robust after‑sales support as it scales. For now, the EB‑One is a locally rooted example of UAE climate innovation — one worth watching as it moves from founder editions to the open road.

Source: Noah Wire Services