Hummingbird launches folding electric bicycle

British bicycle manufacturer Hummingbird has launched a folding electric bike weighing in at 10.3 kg.

Claimed to be the lightest folding e-bike available on the market, the Hummingbird Electric is powered by a 250 W motor that has the highest power to weight ratio on the market.

With its 160 Wh lithium battery it has a top speed of 25 kph (limited) and a range of 30+ km. All this technology is packed into a discreet rear wheel hub that is just 180 mm in diameter and 120 mm thick. It can be fully charged in just two and a half hours, so there is no need for the rider to carry around a separate battery pack.

The motor automatically senses the need of its rider, delivering the power required to perform the task at hand, whether it be a boost to get away from traffic lights or to provide an assistive push up an incline. To start up the motor, riders need only cycle up to 8 kph and then back pedal three revolutions. The motor then provides the assistance needed and also turns off automatically after two minutes stationary.

Bluetooth connectivity allows the rider to connect their smartphone to the Hummingbird Electric to control power and monitor usage via the bitride app. The phone allows to access services such as online diagnosis, bike-oriented navigation, mobility stats and other social functions. An innovative security measure also allows the owner to lock the rear wheel, in the event of a bike being stolen.