Xiaomi just launched an affordable, foldable electric bike

 

Xiaomi’s latest gadget has a massive 5,800mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, IPX5 water resistance rating, a 1.8″ screen with 160 x 128px resolution and costs CNY 3,000 ($455/€400). Did I forget to mention it’s an electric bike?

It is. The Xiaomi QiCycle features a patented folding design that’s based around a main beam that stays in place and houses the battery. It’s a 208.8Wh battery, mind you at a much higher voltage than a phone battery (so the mAh rating is misleading on its own).

The battery lasts up to 45km on a full charge (which takes 3 hours). The 250W/36V motor can push you up to 20km/h and is coupled with a Shimano gear shift, which offers three modes – easy, standard and fast. It features TMM torque sensing technology, which keeps track of your effort and provides the appropriate assistance even on steep inclines.

The bike monitors its own readings (speed, mileage, power, etc.) but also how much calories you’ve burned. All of this is synced over Bluetooth with your smartphone.

So when you arrive at your destination, you can check your stats on the phone, fold the bike and pick it up – thanks to the lightweight aluminum frame, the whole bike weighs just 14.5kg.

The Xiaomi QiCycle is available in China starting today, but it has a European electric vehicle certification (but no word on a Euro launch).

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