On the evening of December 5, at a Yadea e-bike store in Beijing's Tongzhou District, the owner pointed to models equipped with front baskets and rear seats, countering online claims that new national standard e-bikes lack these features.
Recent discussions about insufficient storage space and inability to carry children on new national standard e-bikes have sparked debate. To verify the situation, visits were made to six e-bike stores in Beijing's Dongcheng and Tongzhou districts, including Yadea, Aima, and Niu Technologies outlets. Only one model without a basket or rear seat was found. Despite price increases for new standard models, store owners reported minimal impact on sales.
"Models with baskets sell better than those without," noted a Yadea store owner in Tongzhou, displaying three new standard models priced between ¥2,699 and ¥2,999. The C09-G and C12-G models feature front baskets and rear seats, while the B10-G lacks a basket but has a foam rear seat. New standard bikes reportedly offer improved safety features, including Beidou positioning, with prices rising ¥500–¥1,000 due to upgraded materials like magnesium-aluminum alloy.
Yadea's "Mao Dou" model (single-rider version), which lacks baskets and seats, has drawn attention. Store owners clarified that while the new standards regulate size and weight, they don't prohibit baskets. Practical needs make basket-equipped models more popular.
At a Niu Technologies store in Dongcheng, only the U1 ONE model (priced at ¥4,399) was available—a compact lithium battery bike without a basket or rear seat, suitable for solo female riders but limiting storage and passenger capacity. A customer remarked it looked "like a kid's bike," highlighting functionality concerns.
All visited stores had phased out old standard bikes. Regarding speed limits (25 km/h, non-adjustable) and rearview mirrors, owners confirmed these could be optionally installed.
Sales data from a Tongzhou Yadea store showed 20 new standard bikes sold December 1–5, matching typical volumes. Seasonal trends—peak summer sales (~200/month) versus winter (~60/month)—remain unchanged. An Aima representative confirmed Beijing currently offers two new standard variants (lead-acid and lithium batteries), with more models arriving soon, all featuring rear seats.
Price hikes (¥500–¥800 for Yadea's new models) reflect added safety tech like Beidou and flame-resistant materials. Store owners noted most buyers are replacing aging bikes, with the market in a "wait-and-see" phase as manufacturers adjust production based on feedback.
Industry sources emphasized that e-bikes remain necessity-driven purchases. While higher prices stem from enhanced safety features, costs may stabilize with scaled production. On December 4, MIIT officials stated the new standards aim to reduce fire and accident risks while improving functionality, though some manufacturers initially overlooked consumer needs in designs.
Niu Technologies and other brands have released statements affirming compliance with new standards, optimizing features like child-carrying capacity and rearview mirrors. Yadea apologized on December 5 for inadequate model transitions and design oversights. By December 6, its "Mao Dou" model was delisted from official stores.
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