NorthForge Launches the Dispatch: Made in Canada All-Electric Tactical Motorcycle Ready for Trials
Made-in-Canada platform was presented at CANSEC in Ottawa in May to delegates of the international defence community, the Canadian Armed Forces and government.
NorthForge, a new Canadian defence mobility company, says the Dispatch, their fully electric light utility and tactical motorcycle platform, has completed the design phase and is ready for trials.
The NorthForge is a purpose-built, stealthy ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and light tactical motorcycle engineered for extreme climates and modern asymmetric warfare. Unlike other two-wheel defence solutions based on consumer vehicles, or which feature off-the-shelf powertrain components, the Dispatch was created from the ground up to meet the exacting needs of modern military use.
THE RESULT OF NEARLY FOUR YEARS OF CONSULTATIONS
NorthForge’s vehicle design solution comes from being in step with the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), through deep consultations at a variety of levels.
“The Dispatch vehicle didn’t start as some dream we had, or theories we derived from reading articles or watching videos. The design was developed over more than three years, working with active CAF members and other key stakeholders and advisors,” said Trevor Hayter, chief executive officer and founder of NorthForge.
“Some earlier iterations and concepts were tested and failed, just as most up-fitted consumer models we investigated. Our conclusions and final specifications came from military service members themselves and via real world testing.”
NorthForge is built for purpose, not repurposed.
The company’s approach dovetails with Canada’s first-ever Defence Industrial Strategy, pledging to transform defence procurement by prioritizing Canadian suppliers and materials. The strategy positions Canadian industry to access $180 billion in defence procurement opportunities over the next decade.
Central to the strategy is the new Defence Investment Agency, which will prioritize Canadian firms and manufacturing across the defence supply chain. Dispatch is more than 80% made-in-Canada, with offshore parts supplied by NATO countries only.
Key requirements met include:
- Silent electric propulsion to minimize acoustic detection to less than 50 Db
- Arctic-native operation across a temperature range of −45°C to +45°C
- 10-year military service life with field-repairable, modular construction
- 100% Canadian battery system, already proven with the Canadian Coast Guard
- Fully sovereign supply chain, with no dependence on far east-sourced batteries, motors or software.
A RELIABLE WARHORSE
The NorthForge Dispatch is engineered to work in the most gruelling environments and extreme temperatures and keep going, even when damaged. It is the first all-electric vehicle purpose-designed for military ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and light tactical operations — with a battery not adapted from a consumer technology, but created for defence.
The energy system is supplied by SysNergie of Magog, Que., who specialize in rugged, mission-critical battery systems that are already undergoing field testing in four-season navigation buoy deployments. Dispatch uses similar, proven technologies in a modular set up that builds in temperature regulation and redundancy. Even if two of the three battery modules fail, the vehicle can still operate. Batteries can be removed and replaced in under a minute, and recharge using any power source.
Dispatch is manufactured using an all aluminum monocoque construction methodology, that makes assembly, modification and field repairs easy using only hand tools. The entire vehicle can be broken down or built back up from a 5′ x 3′ x 2′ crate in minutes using only a single 17mm wrench. All power components share the same electrical quick connectors rated for extreme cold. The entire motorcycle can be disassembled using only three tools. Removing a single shaft allows complete replacement of the power unit.
Five dedicated hard points on the chassis — with two additional racks on the forks — allow Dispatch to carry 200kgs of cargo without hesitation. The highly ruggedized plate construction means it can take more without breaking, while the heavy duty solid girder front forks, suspended by CNC-machined control arms, can handle 3 times the stresses as conventional telescopic forks found on civilian motorcycles.
The NorthForge Dispatch was designed for use by soldiers. It’s easy to use, easy to transport, easy to repair and made to withstand the rigours of daily military use.
A THOROUGHBRED, NOT A SHOW PONY
Interactions with the CAF and other military advisors from the United States, Europe and Asia informed the target specifications for the NorthForge Dispatch.
Missions often succeed or fail based on the performance of military equipment. Dispatch is a rugged pack animal but one born to run. The vehicle is narrow, has a low profile compared to traditional off-road motorcycles, and is surprisingly light weight.
“Light weight has a massive, positive multiplying effect on motorcycle dynamics,” says Michael Uhlarik, Chief Product Officer at NorthForge, and the lead designer of the Dispatch. “Lightness makes it easy to steer, transport, improves range and cross-country performance, especially in really soft terrain. If the base vehicle system is lighter, the user can carry more stuff with the same battery on board. You aren’t wasting precious energy moving the frame.”
The NorthForge Dispatch tips the scales at a scant 140 kgs, including the three large battery modules, putting it at the same weight class as 300cc combustion-powered competition motorcycles.
“We achieved the seemingly contradictory requirement — a low weight but super strong vehicle — thanks to the aerospace monocoque construction methodology we employed. It was the single most important architectural decision in the Dispatch design process.”
Key specifications:
- Up to 200 km range
- 110 km/h top speed *optional with narrower rear tire
- 140 kg weight *including batteries; 92 kgs empty
- 780 mm low seat height to accommodate a wide range of users
- 200 kg cargo capacity
STRENGTHENING LINES OF COMMUNICATION
The NorthForge Dispatch is an ideal mobility platform for the new drone-infested battlespace, providing flexibility, ease of use, extreme durability and the ability to power other electronic warfare equipment remotely. Silent, resilient, and cost effective.
“A destabilized world demands safe, reliable and enduring defence machinery,” Hayter said. “NorthForge exists to contribute to that national mission — building silent, resilient and flexible mobility systems here at home, with Canadian partners, for Canadian and allied forces.”
