DJI’s Next Gadget Isn’t Just Another Drone – It’s a High-End Electric Bike

DJI may dominate the drone market, but the company wants to transfer its successful formula to the electric bike market.

The drone maker has released a vague teaser for its next major X product. While it’s not an official reveal, the video shows a mid-drive motor for an electric bike with the text “Power Your Ride.” We’re not sure if DJI plans to reveal the entire electric bike or just the motor system under the Avinox name, but it’s still a major departure from the typical drone product category.

Building an electric bike might seem like a no-brainer for DJI, but the company has already expanded beyond drones. Its current product lineup includes action cameras that aim to compete with GoPro, gimbals, microphones for vloggers, and even portable power stations. But of all of these devices, electric bikes are the ones that can take full advantage of DJI’s technology.

A serious set of sensors

Paying attention to recent releases, it’s clear that DJI has been trying to expand and connect its ecosystem recently. We can see this with the introduction of power stations, which are designed to quickly charge their own batteries. There’s also the possibility that DJI could offer seamless connectivity between its drones and Avinox, so that footage can be easily captured.

Alternatively, since DJI drones are equipped with a ton of sensors to help them avoid obstacles, the company could use a set of sensors designed for e-bikes. Imagine something that could avoid crashing into things, or something that understands areas where e-bikes aren’t allowed, similar to No Drone Zones.

So far, leaks have shown that DJI plans to include a number of sensors on the Avinox, including an IMU, barometer, compass, and ones that can measure wheel speed, torque, cadence, and ambient light. Early leaks also indicated that the Avinox will have two battery options, either a 600Wh or a more powerful 800Wh. DJI has reportedly built its e-bike with an 850W motor that can produce 105Nm of torque, but it can be boosted to 1,000W of power and 120Nm. According to the leaks, the Avinox has a top speed of 20 mph in the US, in line with federal legal limits, but all of these leaked specs scream premium e-bike to us. That’s not a bad thing, though, as DJI should be planning on making a big splash with its first e-bike, considering how crowded the market is.

Full disclosure coming soon

With specs like that and so many sensors, there’s a good chance the Avinox won’t be an entry-level e-bike. Don’t expect Lectric-level pricing from DJI’s first e-bike, but it should be closer to the more premium models from brands like the Aventon. With a launch scheduled for later this week, we should learn more about the Avinox when DJI officially reveals it.

Given the pressure DJI is under over a potential ban in the US, this move into e-bikes makes a lot of sense. The market seems to be booming right now, and DJI could transfer its solid reputation and sensor technology to e-bikes. The real question, though, is whether it can transfer the same dominance it has with drones.