Xiaomi to unveil electric vehicle on 12 December 2016
The Chinese tech giant has shared a teaser image of what could be an electric cycle or car.
Chinese consumer electronics maker Xiaomi, known in India for its value-for-money mobile phones like the Redmi 3S and Redmi 3S Prime, has been planning to enter the fast-growing electric vehicle space for a while now. Those plans are now turning into reality, with Xiaomi releasing a teaser image for its upcoming electric vehicle. The teaser poster suggests that the new vehicle will be unveiled on 12 December and was shared on the Chinese micro-blogging website Weibo. Showing the tyre track of the upcoming vehicle, the teaser also includes text that suggests that it will come with an electric anti-lock braking system (E-ABS), perforated disc brakes, cruise control and a regenerative braking system.
The teaser poster was shared by the company s sub-brand Mijia, which covers smart home products under the Mi Ecosystem. Xiaomi already has an electric folding bike, the Mi Qicycle, which it released in China earlier this year for RMB 2,999, which comes to around INR 29,300 at the current exchange rate. It is not clear what the upcoming vehicle will be, but chances are high that it could be another bike. An electric car is also a possibility, especially since regenerative braking systems are most often seen in electric cars. In case of a bike, Xiaomi would likely unveil an upgraded version of its Mi Qicycle. But a car would be an altogether new platform for the Chinese tech firm and mark a huge step forward. Also Read: Xiaomi Diwali Sale: Redmi 3s, Prime, Note 3 and Mi 5 on great discounts at Mi.com from tomorrow
Still, Xiaomi has made it clear in the past that it will not be focusing its efforts on expanding its electric vehicle range to include a car, and would instead look at improving the products that it currently has. Xiaomi has been known to launch products out of the blue, like the Mi MIX. The electric vehicle to be unveiled may also well be a concept car, like the LeSEE from LeEco.
The current Xiaomi Mi Qicycle is powered by an integrated 250W-36V electric motor along with Torque Measurement Method (TMM) torque-sensing technology for supporting the rider s pedal power. It gets gear shifters from Shimano and can measure fitness parameters like distance travelled, speed and calories burned. For power storage, there is a Panasonic 18650 battery rated at 2,900mAh that can provide enough power to run 45 km. When not in use, the bike can be folded up and placed in the boot of a car. Also Read: Xiaomi Mi3 Review: Touted as the arch-rival of Nexus 5, launched at Rs. 14,999
Meanwhile, Xiaomi also launched a Yeelight LED ceiling light, expanding the smart home products range under the Mijia sub-brand. This comes a day after the company launched its 8H Latex Mattress M3. Priced at RMB 349 or around INR 3,400 at the current exchange rate, the smart ceiling lamp is available for pre-order from the Mi Smart Home crowd-funding platform. Featuring a 240-colour rendering index and up to 95 Lumileds/OSRAM LED beads, the lamp can run for up to 25,000 hours. Interestingly, it is certified dustproof under the IP60 standard.
In terms of smart features, the Yeelight LED will be able to connect via Wi-Fi to smartphones. A Bluetooth remote control is also available, though it has to be purchased separate from the lamp itself. According to Xiaomi, the Yeelight will be able to repel insects from flying around the light and can be assembled and disassembled quickly.
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