After drones, this tech giant is launching into electric bikes!

The Chinese company DJI is entering the world of electric bikes; electric bike motorization to be precise. DJI, a company well known for their civilian drones in particular, presents a complete electric assistance system: motor, battery, software, under the sweet name of DJI AVINOX. We offer you a helicopter view of all this.

DJI, drones, cameras and now electric bikes

Created in 2006, the DJI company has become a reference in the world of civil drones. The brand offers a whole range for content creators, but also for professional uses. Building inspections, agriculture, mapping, this object has truly revolutionized shooting. Beyond the flying object, DJI has developed a range of products for content creators. The OSMO camera and tie-clip microphones are good examples.

You hardware au software

The brand’s success lies as much in the products offered (hardware) as in all the tool management software. Easy to use and intuitive. No more feeling of being like a chicken in front of a knife when you first pick up a DJI product. Even I can do it. To tell you how the ” UX experience ” is at the heart of the concerns.

From drone to electric bike

When you think about it, these are two fairly similar objects. Objects designed to move, in any environment, regardless of weather conditions. They need motors, sensors. There are rotating parts. Drone (or e-bike) owners demand from their equipment a reliable battery, low weight, and easy and intuitive handling.

The experiment will be successful if the software that pilots the machine is able to compensate for the pilot’s weaknesses. Compensate and anticipate. Compensate and adapt. The know-how in drones would, all in all, not far from that of an electrical systems equipment manufacturer to equip our bikes.

A bicycle is not a drone

Is designing a good drone easy? We know absolutely nothing about it. On the other hand, we know, we are certain of it, designing a good bicycle is not simple. If designing a bicycle were simple, we would know about it (should we ask Philippe Starck or Ora-Ito?). Wasn’t it Steve Jobs who said « simple can be harder than complex”.

When one moves without its pilot, the other moves the pilot. Beyond the safety issues, there are issues of comfort, dynamic behavior. Issues of assembly, choice of components and compromises¹. Finding the best compromises.

For its first bike, DJI partners with Amflow (or vice versa)

For its first bike equipped with the DJI Avinox engine, the Shenzen company has teamed up with a start-up, Amflow. For the moment, Amflow remains rather unknown. And for good reason, the brand will not be created until 2023. The press release announces it thus: ” Amflow is the creation of technology experts with a passion for mountain biking. “If they are passionate, we are saved.

Since there is no real information available other than on their website or their press release, we have little choice but to tell you what we read: “Amflow’s ambition for the e-bike industry is to make its e-MTBs the benchmark for all e-MTB enthusiasts looking to transform any terrain into a paradise of possibilities.” (source: Joint press release DJI / Amflow). A paradise of possibilities, quite a program! (Source, Weelz!).

The DJI Avinox Drive System for electric bikes

Given the lack of references on Amflow, we will focus on the electrical (and electronic) system offered by the DJI Avinox.

Engine

The engine is central (at the pedal). It is equipped with a ” planetary gearbox with epicyclic gears »² (source Press release). The company announces a mind-blowing power-to-size ratio: A torque of 105 Nm (the Valeo engine announces 130 Nm; the most powerful Bosch engine displays 85 Nm for comparison). The power of the DJI Avinox Drive System in boost mode goes up to 1000W (the nominal power remains at 250 W). The weight of the bagpipe? 2.52 kg.

The batteries

The DJI Avinox system battery is announced at 2.87 kg. The press release puts it this way:[la batterie] features ultra-high energy density, ensuring uncompromising autonomy ” In view of the lack of compromise, we refer you to the bottom of the article.¹. For the rest, we take the side of believing them. It would still be necessary to agree on the appropriate measure around “ultra-high density“.

Otherwise, the charger is announced 12A/508W 1 and would be able to charge the battery from 0 to 75% in just 1.5 hours. The onboard electronics would, according to DJI, allow to offer ” a durable and reliable battery that still retains at least 80% of its capacity after 500 charge and discharge cycles “. Who to test 500 cycles?

The user interface

The DJI Avinox system features a 2-inch color OLED touchscreen control panel, directly integrated into the Amflow PL frame (on the top tube). You can choose which information is visible: real-time driving data, estimated remaining range, and the ability to adjust the driving mode with a simple swipe.

Don’t worry, like you, we doubt the ease of controlling a 2-inch touchscreen on an e-MTB. Like you, like us, DJI has anticipated this. By offering Bluetooth-compatible wireless controllers. Thus, the menus can be scrolled manually while taking care of your trajectory, holding your handlebars firmly.

Also, the application will allow you to customize the bike settings. Find all your data (outings, calories, mileage traveled, etc.). You can also synchronize all this with your Strava account. Please deactivate your KOMs however.

Aiming for Everest?

In April 2024, DJI demonstrated its know-how by delivering, via drone, 15 kilos of equipment from Everest base camp (5,300 m altitude) to camp 1 (6,000 m altitude). The drone left with 15 kg of waste. With this Amflow e-MTB and the DJI Avinox System, you now know how to go to Everest camp 1. By pedaling! A challenge worthy of Steven Le Hyaric’s talent?

Electric mountain bike in Weelz!?

Yeah, VTTAE in Weelz! This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about it; it certainly won’t be the last. As you’ve noticed by carefully reading this post, we don’t tell you much (a euphemism for “nothing” about the Amflow brand and their bikes).

For us (and you, we hope), we find it interesting that a player like DJI is investing in the world of cycling. It’s a real indicator. The motorcycle (Ducati, Harley, Yamaha, etc.) and car (Toyota, Bugatti, Audi, etc.) industries are investing in the bike. It’s time for the tech industries to get involved (Acer for example, DJI now). We’re eagerly awaiting the bikepacking bags from Delsey and Samsonite! And the loop will be closed.

This week we are at Eurobike 2024, the European cycling event in Frankfurt. The opportunity to go and have a look at the DJI stand. They invited us to come and see this new motor. It is not certain that we will be able to try it.

¹ Speaking of compromises, have you ever been told not to believe bike (and component and accessory) manufacturers who promise you a product without compromise. Proposing an industrial product, in our case, a bike, a helmet, a hub, a wheel, a pair of shorts, the final product offered is always, all the time, a story of compromise. A choice made between two options. Weight / reliability. Production cost / sale price. Comfort / performance. Ad lib…

² Eager to learn more about planetary gear technology? Join us and click here. Weelz! an infinite resource for knowledge and science.