Just in case you need any reminder that first and foremost Xiaomi is not a smartphone company but a technology company, as they would like to be known, they have announced their newest product and it’s nowhere near a phone. What it is a pretty nifty folding electric bicycle, specifically called the Mi Qicycle Electric Folding Bike. It might seem a strange product for them to produce, but it is actually a great transportation alternative, especially in a country where traffic jams are part of every day life.
It is a fully functional electric bicycle with Shimano’s 3-speed gear hub and a 250W 36V high-speed motor. And of course, the bike’s battery should be something that should actually get you to your destination. With its 18650 20 x 2900mAh lithium ion battery cells, it should last you in a 45km trip on one full charge. Xiaomi is saying that this is the “same battery used by Tesla” and that it has its own Battery Management System that the company developed on its own.
And since it’s pretty much a bicycle for the digital age, it comes with a tech called “Trip Computer” which will be able to record your speed and distance and then send this information to a dedicated app. It will also be able to show you the power you exerted and even the calories you burned while biking and it also has GPS navigation. On the bike itself, you have a display on the left handlebar called WiCYCLE and it will show you speed and distance traveled, as well as how much battery still remains.
The Mi Qicycle is made from carbon fiber weighing at 14.5kg and is of course foldable and portable, in case you don’t want to ride it later that day. It uses its own Torque Measurement Method to assist the rider’s pedal power. It will cost you ¥2999 ($455 USD) but will only be available in China for now. Hopefully, it will even get a worldwide release later on.
VIA: SlashGear
if they can bring it to america and keep the price below $300, they would have a big hit.