Hellobike boast of 300 million registered users and over 18 billion kilometres ridden since they were founded, and the newest version of their Yunqi e-bike comes with a smart voice system that is activated when users are about to miss a parking spot.
As China comes out of lockdown from the coronavirus pandemic, many residents are reportedly using e-bikes to keep safe distances from others in urban areas. The integrated Beidou satellite navigation system has a chipset that has precise navigation and positioning, and along with GPS and WiFi users can pick the safest routes or their trip – Yunqi is the first e-bike to feature the Beidou navigation service.
Other useful functions include automatic disabling of the unlock function when the battery charge is below 30%, which reduces the risk of the bike malfunctioning due to vandalism.
Hellobike’s co-founder and president Li Kaizhu commented: “Shared modes of travel, along with advancing technology and online platforms, have reshaped travel habits in China. Shared two-wheelers ease traffic congestion and take the pressure off public transportation, providing users with a convenient way to get from subway stations to their offices.
“However, shared e-bike businesses still face the problems of bike maintenance, limited parking. Efficient battery swapping is a challenge for e-bike providers.”
Should bikeshare firms in Europe look at similar technologies to keep us moving when the lockdown lifts?