Plant-Based Electric Bike Is Lighter Than All Others On The Market

You may have heard about plant-based foods, but have you heard about plant-based bicycles? 

Compact electric bicycles are great for zipping around the city, but this one by bike maker Hummingbird is lighter than usual—it promises to ease your load even more as it only weighs a mere 22 pounds. This makes the Hummingbird Flax the lightest on the market right now, outpacing the CARBO Model X and Brompton Electric C-Line.

While most bikes rely on carbon fiber for their sustainability and to reduce their weight, the Hummingbird Flax, as its name suggests, uses flax thread instead. 

Flax fiber comes from the flax plant and is extracted from the skin of its stem. The material is then created by weaving together long, thin filaments of the flax. 

However, if you intend to get to places fast, this may not be the vehicle for you. 

While it is half as light as other e-bikes, it also produces about half as much power. The Hummingbird Flax has a battery with a power of up to 250W. Its 158W battery and gears are also stored alongside the motor in its rear. This streamlines the bike a little, so you’ll at least be getting some speed advantage back. 

The electric bike also has a maximum range of 31 miles. 

The Hummingbird Flax is being sold at US$5,040.
  

[via Electrek and TechTimes, cover image via Hummingbird]