DJI enters the eBike 100 billion market, what opportunities do chip manufacturer

In July of this year, DJI made its debut with the DJI Avinox power-assisted system for eBikes, officially entering the eBike market. This marks DJI's second foray into a new field after its venture into outdoor power supplies, further expanding its horizons.

The eBike market has rapidly grown into a billion-dollar industry in recent years. Since 2020, investments in the eBike market have reached a peak, with numerous new manufacturers entering the field, accelerating the penetration of eBike products in the terminal market and bringing new opportunities for upstream chip manufacturers.

What is an eBike?

An eBike, short for Electric Bicycle, is more visually similar to a conventional bicycle, featuring structures such as a chainring, pedals, chain, derailleur, and flywheel. However, it also includes an electric motor and a rechargeable battery.

The motor in an eBike primarily serves an assistive role, meaning it can apply force to propel the vehicle forward during cycling. For instance, when going uphill, it can be very strenuous to pedal, but with the assistance of the motor, riders can use the same effort as on flat ground to ascend, reducing the stress of cycling and making long-distance rides more comfortable.

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According to EU regulations, the maximum speed of an eBike is capped at 25 km/h, beyond which the motor will cease to function; the maximum continuous output power of an eBike motor is 250W. In China, power-assisted bicycles are currently classified as electric bicycles. As defined in the national standard "Safety Technical Specification for Electric Bicycles," an electric bicycle is a two-wheeled bicycle with pedal-assisted riding capability, capable of achieving electric power assistance or electric drive functions.

The core of an eBike, often referred to as the "three electrics," includes the battery, motor, and electronic control system. With DJI's entry into the eBike market, the DJI Avinox system it provides encompasses the "three electrics" of an eBike, consisting of an assist unit, battery, and on-board screen.

This also implies that DJI's Avinox is not a consumer-facing product but is targeted at the B2B market. Currently, DJI has partnered with AMFLOW, and the DJI Avinox system has been first launched on the Amflow PL.

Contrary to its seemingly simple structure, which can be easily understood at a glance, achieving a good user experience with an eBike is quite challenging. According to industry insiders, most eBike products on the market today are essentially off-the-shelf products combined with Bosch motors, indicating that the entry barrier for low-end eBike products is not high.To experience a high-quality eBike, it is essential to consider key performance indicators such as motor efficiency, torque, gear ratio, torque control, and feedback precision. This ensures that the electric assist can seamlessly integrate when pedaling and smoothly disengage when braking, with a smooth re-engagement after releasing the brakes. The riding experience should be as close as possible to that of a regular bicycle. The ultimate goal of technology is to be so integrated that its presence is barely noticeable.

Therefore, the coordination between the eBike's controller and motor is the most critical aspect. DJI, in their introduction of DJI Avinox, also emphasized the assist modes. In addition to the basic Eco, Trail, Turbo, and Boost modes corresponding to long-distance, off-road, uphill, and high-difficulty obstacle crossing electric assist modes, DJI has introduced an innovative riding mode suitable for mixed road conditions and long-range riding scenarios. Thanks to multi-sensor fusion technology, it can automatically adjust the assist support in an infinite number of ways according to the resistance of different road conditions.

Key Components of an eBike

As mentioned earlier, a good eBike experience requires consideration of motor efficiency, torque, gear ratio, torque control, and feedback precision. With so many indicators, it means that numerous sensors and a processor with sufficient computing power are needed to process this data.

Firstly, as a power-driven vehicle, a Battery Management System (BMS) is a must. The batteries typically used in eBikes need to be removed for charging, which requires the BMS to manage the battery. Taking DJI Avinox as an example, it offers a battery with up to 800Wh. According to the introduction, its battery health management system supports functions such as self-discharge of the battery, real-time estimation and reminders of battery health status, and active battery voltage reduction, which can assist in extending the battery life. Even after 500 charge cycles, the battery can still maintain 80% of its initial capacity.

In terms of charging, the charger equipped with DJI Avinox has a power of up to 508W, which is much higher than the chargers used in general consumer electronic devices. However, to reduce the size and fit into the bicycle frame bag, DJI has adopted GaN (Gallium Nitride) chips to reduce the charger's size while maintaining a high charging power.

To sense the rider's pedaling force, torque sensors are needed on the eBike's crank and chainring to sense the pedaling force and provide corresponding power support based on the human effort.

Of course, speed sensors are also essential. Some speed sensors are installed inside the front and rear forks to sense wheel rotation and calculate the bicycle speed. DJI's choice for DJI Avinox is a combination of an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and wheel speed sensors, leveraging a richer set of sensors to provide intelligent push-assist functions.

In the electric assist unit, it includes components such as the motor, power MOSFET, motor drive chip, and control MCU, which also determine the performance and experience of the electric assist bicycle.

In summary, the integration of advanced technology and user experience design in eBikes is crucial for creating a seamless and natural riding experience that rivals that of traditional bicycles. The key lies in the sophisticated interplay between the controller, motor, sensors, and battery management system, all working in harmony to deliver a smooth and efficient ride.After experiencing a period of unbridled growth in the past few years, the eBike market is also entering a phase of survival of the fittest. Mere public mold solutions can no longer achieve success in the market. Ultimately, the market will return to a stage where focus is on the product. However, in this process, upstream chip manufacturers will still have significant market opportunities.