Xiaomi’s Cute Electric Moped Is Cheaper Than The OnePlus 7

Xiaomi is one of the hottest smartphone makers out there. While mobile phones remain its core focus, the Chinese brand has been trying to enter into other markets as well, including urban electric mobility. Now, Xiaomi has released a new product called the A1 (and its superior trim, the A1 Pro), the latest addition to the company’s cute, cost-conscious electric offerings.

Produced by Xiaomi’s sub-brand, 70mai, the A1 and A1 Pro are somewhat of a cross between an e-bike and e-scooter, kind of like a moped. You could use it with only pedal power but without any pedal assist function. You can even remove the pedals altogether.

Also Read: Xiaomi’s Qicycle Is Yet Another Foldable e-Bike

The A1’s styling is minimalistic. Its bare underbone chassis is visible and the body panels, covering the electronics and batteries, are rectangular and simple. The floorboard is pretty narrow, which forces your legs to jut out.

In terms of features, the A1 gets a colour screen while the A1 Pro gets a touchscreen unit. Voice-activated controls come standard on both variants and so does an onboard 1080p dash cam, capable of recording 90 minutes worth of footage.

Also read: Xiaomi’s New Himo C20 e-Bike Can Cover 80km On A Single Charge

The hub motor specs of the A1 haven’t been shared as yet. What is known is that the electric moped can reach a top speed of 25kmph and go 60km on a single charge. On the Pro trim, the range is bumped up by a further 10km. The batteries are removable as you can charge them remotely as well.

A simple telescopic fork and twin rear shocks suspend the A1 at both ends. The scooter uses a front disc-rear drum brake setup, running on skinny 16-inch rims.

Xiaomi is asking 2,999 yuan (Rs 31,800 approx) for the A1 and 3,999 (Rs 42,400) for the A1 Pro. The scooters, sold via Xiaomi’s crowdfunding website Youpin, have gone on sale in China. It seems highly unlikely that the A1 or the A1 Pro will make their way into the country. But as an urban mobility product, it has certainly piqued our curiosity.