So the rumors were true: DJI revealed that it would officially enter the electric bike market by supplying what it calls an “innovative electric bike drive system” for a new brand of electric mountain bikes called Amflow.
The maker of the world’s best drones says the transition to electric bikes is a “natural fit” because of the battery and motor technology in its drones and gimbals. DJI’s powerful Avinox propulsion system will debut on the new Amflow PL, an e-MTB (electric mountain bike) that will be available later this year.
So what's so special about this new system from Avinox? It incorporates technology normally found in drones and smartphones. For starters, the frame has a 2-inch color OLED touchscreen that offers real-time riding data, the bike's estimated range, and configuration options.
You can also connect to the bike via the Avinox app, which allows you to set up an anti-theft mode and check its location in real time. Here you can also modify parameters such as power, torque and cadence to suit your riding style. Naturally, the bike can also power your phone in an emergency.
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But there's also some clever software on board that helps with the driving experience. DJI says its Smart-Assist algorithm leverages various sensors to automatically adjust the amount of electric assistance it provides, based on current driving resistance.
There are four riding modes (Auto, Eco, Trail and Turbo), plus a Boost mode for an emergency power boost. Like a drone or smartphone, the two battery options (600Wh or 800Wh) have the latest fast-charging technology, meaning the 800Wh battery can apparently be charged from zero to 75% in around 90 minutes.
The Amflow PL itself is also shaping up to be a high-end electric mountain bike, although we still have no idea how much it will cost. The carbon fibre bike weighs 19.2kg, which is impressive, although not as light as the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon (our current pick for the title of best electric mountain bike).
Still, the Amsive PL’s power-to-size ratio is up there with the best of them. It offers 105 Nm of torque with a peak output of 850 W – a pretty monstrous combination that will help riders tackle the toughest trails. The frame is also compatible with 27.5- and 29-inch rear wheels.
Amflow and DJI say all three versions of the bike—PL Carbon (800Wh), PL Carbon Pro (600Wh), and PL Carbon Pro (800Wh)—will be available in Q4 2024 from retailers in Germany, the UK, and Australia. There’s no word yet on US availability or pricing, but we’ve reached out to DJI and will update this story if we receive confirmation.
What about DJI and Amflow?
We asked DJI if it owns the new electric mountain bike brand Amflow; a spokesperson told us that Amflow is “incubated by DJI” and that the team is “a combination of former DJI tech experts and bike industry experts coming together.”
While DJI is helping Amflow get off the ground, the drone giant says that as it grows, the brand will “become increasingly independent.” DJI isn’t new to supplying its technology to startups: its drone tech is inside the Ryze Tello, one of the best beginner drones out there, while the new Anzu Robotics brand also licenses drone tech from DJI.
This could become an increasingly common strategy for DJI as the Chinese brand faces the very real threat of a US ban, a move DJI has called “a dangerous precedent for enabling unfounded accusations and xenophobic fears.”
Still, that US bill is called the Countering CCP Drones Act, so it’s unclear whether it would affect Amflow’s sale of DJI-powered electric mountain bikes in the US. The decision to introduce electric mountain bikes is a novelty given DJI’s issues with drones, and makes a lot of sense given its impressive motor and battery technology.
DJI is no stranger to foraying into new technological spaces. It has dominated the camera gimbal market, released the impressive DJI Mic 2, and taken on GoPro in the battle to make the best action cameras. The combination of its new Avinox system with Amflow’s debut bike looks exciting for users and we’ll be very interested in trying it out when it arrives later this year.
