From drones to e-bikes: DJI aims to expand

Electromobility From drones to e-bikes: Chinese manufacturer DJI aims to expand

2024-10-01 From Henrik Bork Henrik Bork * | Translated by AI 3 min Reading Time

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"It’s a natural progression for us to build e-bikes," said a spokesperson for DJI, the Chinese drone manufacturer. They highlighted that key components like drive systems, batteries, and software are fundamentally similar to those used in drones. Whether it's a vehicle flying through the air or moving on two wheels, DJI is confident that the underlying technology remains the same, making this transition seamless.

DJI is positioning itself primarily as a manufacturer of drive systems for e-bikes and, for example, introduced its "Avinox" system at this year's Eurobike, which is used in the Amflow e-bike.(Image: DJI) — DJI is positioning itself primarily as a manufacturer of drive systems for e-bikes and, for example, introduced its "Avinox" system at this year's Eurobike, which is used in the Amflow e-bike.
(Image: DJI)

Although the ease of DJI’s transition into the e-bike market remains uncertain, the company's entry undoubtedly heightens competition for established players like Bosch and Shimano. DJI, primarily positioning itself as a manufacturer of e-bike drive systems, unveiled its "Avinox" system at Eurobike this year. Alongside this, DJI is developing a full e-bike under the "Amflow" brand, aiming to showcase its technological prowess. Despite this move, the drone maker has so far focused on the B2B market, particularly as a supplier of drive systems.

Also available in stores in Europe

For clarification, the e-bikes being discussed are bicycles with an electric assist motor that supports pedaling with electricity. They are popular in Europe primarily as sports devices, not to be confused with the "electric bicycles" prevalent in China, which are entirely powered by batteries. Thanks to the new Avinox electric drive, it has a maximum torque of 120 Nm and can provide up to 1000 watts of power when needed, allowing it to climb steep hills.

It is available with either a 600 or 800 Wh battery, with the latter being quickly rechargeable thanks to gallium nitride technology. The motor operates very quietly. A modern OLED touchscreen displays the route. And yet, the vehicle remains relatively light for such a high-end e-bike, thanks to its frame made of carbon fibers weighing only 2.27 kg (approx. 5 lbs) . It weighs a total of 19.2 kg (approx. 42.3 lbs). "Our expertise in battery and motor technology, which we have accumulated in drones and camera stabilization systems, led us to the development of Avinox," emphasizes Christina Zhang, who is responsible for strategy at DJI. "It is a natural step for DJI to expand into this field."

Chinese manufacturers can also be premium

According to unconfirmed reports, the price for the new Amflow PL is expected to range between 7,000 and 12,850 euros, depending on the configuration. This positions DJI as a direct competitor to manufacturers of premium sport e-bikes, including companies like Specialized, Bosch eBike, Trek, and also the e-bike offerings from Porsche, Lamborghini, or BMW. Until now, it had primarily been more affordable e-bikes from China beginning to capture the market in North America and Europe. Manufacturers such as Tenways, Aventon, Urtopia, or Velotric appeal to consumers due to their good value for money. In 2022, China already exported 9.66 million e-bikes.

Similar to the electric vehicle sector, where Chinese manufacturers are increasingly pushing into the premium market, their well-developed domestic supply chains for all components of electric mobility—from batteries and electric drives to control electronics—aid their progress. Currently, nowhere else in the field of e-mobility can such good quality be produced at such low costs as in China.

Semiconductors made in China

Additionally, the most powerful chips, which are currently the subject of boycotts in the USA aimed at keeping the unwelcome competitors from China at bay for as long as possible, are not required for e-bikes. The semiconductors that can be produced in China itself are completely sufficient for e-bikes.

The global market for e-bikes is growing so rapidly that it is becoming attractive even for internationally successful drone producers. In China itself, where the aforementioned electric bicycles have traditionally been popular as a means of transport, the sports market for high-priced e-bikes is also expanding.

By 2030, this market could grow by 10 percent annually to a global volume of more than 100 billion euros, according to a report by Allied Market Research. This is a very large market—even larger than the market for consumer drones, should these predictions come true. (se)

*Henrik Bork, long-time China correspondent for the German 'Süddeutsche Zeitung' and the 'Frankfurter Rundschau', is Managing Director at Asia Waypoint, a consulting agency specializing in China, based in Beijing.

From the vehicle to the cloud? Connected driving is an expensive affair in China. (Image:freely licensed on Pixabay)

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