This Is Air Carbon, the Lightest e-Bike in the World. Unstealable, Too

Carbon fiber on bikes, much like it happens in the automotive industry, is a premium feature. Carbon fiber is exceptionally lighter than other materials but still durable while also being difficult to work with.

Carbon fiber bicycles do exist, but they're always priced as premium products, which means they're reserved for diehard cyclists, athletes, and performance-focused riders.

In other words, it's rare to find a city bike with carbon fiber – unless, again, we're talking about a premium product. A more or less affordable city bike is even rarer, but here's a first sign that this is where the market is going: ADO has announced the latest evolution of its trademark urban commuter and it comes with an all-carbon fiber frame.

ADO, or A Dece Oasis, has been on the market of e-bikes for years, but it's relatively recently that it pivoted to a sleeker, more sophisticated approach tailored solely for city life. Through crowdfunding, ADO has established a name for itself on the international market, launching the Air lineup less than a couple of years ago.

autoevolution got the chance to test the Air A20, the first entry in this lineup, in May 2023 and offer a more detailed look into ADO's proposal for a city commuter. The concept has since evolved to include more models, but the approach remains the same: quality components and materials bundled in an affordable and easy-to-use package.

The Air Carbon will still be all these things, but even better. It is the most elevated version of the Air, which means that customers who already own this bike will immediately recognize the new addition as one: the 15-second folding frame, the same silhouette, the Gates Carbon Drive, and the same dedication to ease of use.

What the Air Carbon brings new to the table is – obviously! – the premium material. ADO says both the frame and the fork are made of carbon fiber, which makes the e-bike the lightest in the world at just 12.5 kg (27.5 lbs). That claimed record comes from ADO themselves, but as far as e-bikes go, this means a very lightweight form factor.

The motor is a Bafang one, developed as part of a new collaboration with ADO. Unlike the one on predecessor Air 20 PRO, this one is a single-speed to save even more weight, but powerful enough (35 Nm) to ensure smooth riding in all city conditions without an effort. A torque sensor delivers instant assistance.

The battery is still integrated into the seatpost and, while the exact details have not been revealed yet, it will offer an estimated range of 100 km (62 miles) on a single charge. With the first Air A20 e-bike, ADO introduced a Samsung-cell battery that claimed similar range – and delivered. We're not for judging a book by its cover, but we can judge an OEM by its previous releases, which is to say, there's no reason to doubt its latest claims.

Aside from the carbon fiber frame and fork, the Air Carbon also brings an anti-theft feature, which integrates a Smart Connect module in the bike. You get GPS tracking of the bike, so you will know where it is at any given moment by simply checking the dedicated app. You will also receive instant notifications on the app if the bike moves, even if that means falling unexpectedly. ADO says this makes the Air Carbon "unstealable."

This isn't a feature unheard of in the market of e-bikes, especially in EU countries. ADO says the combination of both these features, the frame and the anti-theft feature, makes the Air Carbon stand out, together with the folding patented frame.

"The Air Carbon is designed to meet the highest standards of urban commuting, providing a blend of style, performance, and convenience that caters to both daily commuters and occasional riders," Mr. Sen, CEO of ADO, says in a statement. "Its lightness, combined with our Anti-theft GPS technology, ensures a riding experience that's both enjoyable and secure."

The ADO Air Carbon has pre-launched on crowdfunding, so if you like what you've heard so far, you have to sign up for updates and a 40% discount on the launch price – which, in crowdfunding tradition, will still be smaller than MRSP.

ADO has yet to specify an exact date for the launch of the campaign, which should bring a timeline for deliveries, but that's probably because they're still ironing out the final details or are keen to avoid a situation in which they blow past an announced deadline. More importantly, though, there's no mention yet of pricing, even with the undertone in the presentation that this is a (relatively) affordable city commuter. Consider us intrigued.