We already know from last year’s Air PRO models that ADO is always on the lookout for innovative drive systems for its own e-bikes, where it combined a compact hub motor with an automatic two-speed gearbox for the first time. Now, however, the company are shifting up a gear in the truest sense of the word: with the ADO Air 30 Ultra, they are launching the world’s first bike to combine a compact hub motor with an automatic three-speed gearbox!
The advantages are obvious: thanks to the encapsulated design of the motor and gears in one housing, the drive is completely maintenance-free and optimally protected from the weather. Thanks to the automatic gear changes at 13 km/h (second gear) and 19 km/h (third gear), you don’t have to worry about a thing and there is no gear lever on the handlebars.
Just hop on and ride away is the motto here, as we know it from single-speed bikes without any gears at all. In contrast to these, however, the ADO Air 30 Ultra offers a significantly wider range thanks to the integrated gearbox, which should make the ride more relaxed: on steep climbs, you no longer have to pedal as hard thanks to a low gear and at high speeds, the cadence remains moderate thanks to the highest gear.
The new H730 motor-gearbox unit was developed in collaboration with Bafang, offers a torque of 40 Nm and is driven on the Air 30 Ultra by a modern belt drive instead of the conventional bicycle chain. A torque sensor is used to control the motor, which should provide a natural riding experience. The electric drive is completed by a removable battery with a capacity of 370 Wh, which is quite compact with a diameter of around 5 cm and a length of 45 cm. This becomes obvious when you look at the bike, which has a pleasingly slim frame.
Ready to ride, the new ADO Air 30 Ultra is said to weigh 21.4 kg, which is quite reasonable considering the integrated gears and extensive equipment. A lighting system, mudguards, kickstand, pannier rack and suspension seat post are fitted as standard. As with the ADO Air Carbon folding bike we tested here, the Air 30 Ultra is now also equipped with a GPS transmitter, which allows the position of the bike to be tracked at any time via a smartphone app. Current ride information is shown on the 3.5” centrally positioned color display. If you still want to use a smartphone, you can power it while riding via a USB-C port.
For the launch, the ADO Air 30 Ultra will be marketed via this page on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, where the bike will be available with a discount of up to 40 percent. More details will be available from February 20 when the bike will be released there.
