Yadea, the world’s leading manufacturer of e-bikes and e-scooters, recently unveiled a novel small-format folding e-bike at the China Cycle 2024 exhibition, also known as the China Global Bike Fair.
The newly launched Yadea UFO S takes center stage at the display, representing a significant revamp of its predecessor, the Yadea UFO mini-folding electric bicycle.
The eUFO S, with its diminutive 14” x 2.125” tires, caters to urban cyclists seeking a sleek, foldable vehicle that can seamlessly transition from city streets to public transportation or storage, while still delivering a pedal-powered commuting experience.
Although the rear hub motor is capable, its true potential is somewhat limited by its relatively modest specifications: it tops out at a mere 420W of peak power, despite being designed to operate at a nominal 250W capacity. Notwithstanding its limitations, this vehicle will likely ascend inclines of up to a 17% gradient.
While it may not achieve a high speed quickly, this is due to its flat land velocity being restricted to 25 km/h or 15.5 mph, thus keeping it within the European and Asian speed limits for electric bicycles that are designed to operate at such velocities.
This unconventional approach won’t capture land speed records, yet it will still clear congested traffic while occupying the bike lane.
Scheduled to debut in China this summer, the Yadea UFO S is poised to enter the market with a competitive starting price point under 2,500 RMB, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers. Yadea has introduced a range of e-bikes and e-scooters to the North American market, leaving unclear whether its UFO S model will follow suit.
Although a potential move to the US market might modestly boost the bike’s value, Yadea’s ability to keep costs low with new product launches in this region could still yield favorable results.
The Yadea Artist, a recently unveiled electric scooter featuring a full-suspension design, debuted on the market at an attractive price point of $499 last month.
The electric scooter also boasts two larger, more powerful variants: the Yadea Elite Max and Yadea Elite Prime. The company’s latest offering in the US market comprises three distinct full-suspension standing electric scooter models.
The corporation offers two styles of electric bicycles in the US: the foldable Innovator with a 20-inch wheel and the fat-tire Trooper e-bike, featuring a moped-inspired design.
The Yadea Cocoa, a third mannequin, has been specifically designed for practical application and is poised to enter the US market rapidly.
While recently visiting Yadea’s global factory in Anhui, China, I had the opportunity to inspect several of these fashion designs up close.
Although the corporation didn’t have the UFO S mannequin available at the time, I still had the opportunity to examine three full-suspension electric scooters, as well as several e-bikes and e-mopeds.
Yadea’s large-format electric three-wheelers presented a unique proposition, engineered to accommodate multiple passengers or up to 1,500 kilograms (3,300 pounds) of cargo. While enthusiasm for trikes is understandable, it’s crucial to temper expectations given the corporation has no imminent plans to introduce them to the North American market.
Watch as we put our latest road test to the test by taking a look at this trip video below, where you’ll also get a glimpse into their factory to see how the cars are crafted.
