Inside Ananda: The Quiet Powerhouse of the E-Bike Revolution

The relative silence, the seamless surge of power, the way the torque kicked in … it was quite an adrenaline rush and a lot of fun. Spending time riding Ananda-powered e-bikes around their carpark test track was certainly one of the highlights of a recent trip to China.

Visiting the Shanghai HQ and factory behind this under-the-radar brand, I was amazed by the quality, quietness, and sheer performance of the motors they are making.

The recent visit to Ananda – one of the world’s leading and most advanced micro-mobility motor manufacturers – revealed just how much is quietly unfolding beneath the surface of this industry giant.

I was fortunate to receive an invitation from Ananda to tour their research and development headquarters, followed by a visit to their sprawling factory in Wuxi. What followed was a rare opportunity to see where and how millions of e-bike, e-scooter, and electric moped motors come to life. We’re talking big numbers here with an annual production capacity of 10,000,000 motors, 2,000,000 controllers and 1,500,000 handlebar display units per year!

With more than 1000 employees, the company has 11 motor production lines and two production lines dedicated to motor controllers and displays.

Who Are Ananda?

Founded in 2011, Ananda is a relatively young company that has quickly established itself in the e-drive market, offering accessible, value-driven systems with a strong emphasis on quality. Its product line-up includes gear drive hub motors, mid-motors, controllers, sensors and HMIs for comprehensive eDrive systems.

“Our mission is to make e-bikes more accessible by offering excellent value without compromising on quality,” Chao Liu, Director Overseas Sales at Ananda told Ride On. 

“From our advanced in-house testing and specialised equipment to our experienced R&D team, everything we do is focused on giving riders the ultimate e-bike experience,”  Chao continued

A rapidly growing brand, Ananda powers many e-bikes commonly sold and seen in Australia, such as those used by Pedal and Reid

A quick look at stores such as 99 Bikes and Bicycles Online will reveal Ananda motors fitted to a wide range of models from e-MTB to commuters, step-through, flat bar roadies, and urban offerings. 

They also have well over 100 test and demo bikes on hand, and messing about with those was a major highlight of the visit.

Making (millions of) Motors

A full-circle manufacturer, Ananda manage every aspect of production in-house, from design to testing, production, quality control, packaging, warehousing and logistics and finally, after-sales service.

Let’s start in Wuxi where engineering concepts seem to magically morph into physical products. They seem to invest heavily in R&D, with more than 100 engineers on staff along with advanced in-house testing systems and numerous patents in place.

Ananda’s manufacturing floor is a showcase of automation and precision. More than 70 robotic winding machines take care of one of the most intricate tasks, laying copper windings inside motor cores. Unlike old-school hand winding, these machines never get tired or make a miscount.

Gear systems, too, are robotically assembled with equal precision, ensuring the quiet and efficient meshing of every tooth. But there’s still a human touch: workers oversee final assembly, run acoustic and function tests in isolated sound booths, and package every motor in eco-friendly, foam-free materials.

We were taken up to the rooftop to look out over what seemed to be endless factories. Like Ananda’s array of photovoltaics in front of us, a sea of solar panels filled the vista. Ironically, a crop-filled paddock is alongside the factory – a striking juxtaposition of tradition and technology.

Testing, Testing, Testing

Later in the day we toured the e-bike motor equivalent of a torture chamber and witnessed all manner of evil being inflicted on hub and mid mount motors.

From an e-bike fixed in a jig, hard-wired to power and running continuously for months, to simulate monsoonal rain, to thermal shocks, and mechanical stress that could only be inflicted by The Incredible Hulk, we saw it all. One test that particularly caught my eye involved simulated corrosion – motors being subjected to towers of saltwater spray and inundation.

At the Shanghai R&D facility, engineers were prototyping new drive systems. With a fleet of 3D printers and test benches, the team designs motors for every conceivable use case: from European-style pedal assist bikes to powerful mid-drive motors for hardcore Australian and North American riders.

Back at the showroom, my travel buddies and I had the pleasure of testriding a wide range of bikes fitted with Ananda’s latest systems. Some motors were still in the prototype stage and others about to go into full production.

‘Can I take it home?’

I quickly became enamoured with the M7600 mid-drive eMTB, weighing only 2.7 kilos and delivering 100 Nm of torque / 250W” waxing lyrical about how smoothly and silently it powered the bike and I how much wanted to take it home, Chao Liu insisted the motor still required more work before full production.

As Ananda expands into Europe and North America – and more of their motors are fitted to many e-bikes commonly available in the Australian market – the company is clearly on the leading edge of e-bike motor design, development, durability and dominance.

Aussie Applications

During the test riding session, we sampled several of the company’s standout motors, including the –

M100:  A high-torque motor boasting an impressive 110N.m of torque paired with 250W.  Primarily designed for eMTBs, this motor excels in providing the necessary power and torque for conquering technical hills. However, it also proves invaluable for e-cargo users, offering the strength needed to carry heavy loads with ease,

M5200:  This motor was designed as the ideal motor for touring cyclists and etrekking enthusiasts alike. This reliable and efficient motor offers smooth performance for a variety of riding scenario thanks to the compact size and lightweight build of only 2.5kg.

R900: It the best of both worlds: the simplicity of a hub motor and the intelligence of an integrated automatic 3-speed system. With 50Nm and no external gears and low system weights it offers a seamless riding experience. Ride On has written about here.

Having seen first-hand the attention to detail during manufacturing, the focus and concentration of those making components, and the subsequent levels of testing and quality control, I was blown away by all aspects of the visit.

A big thanks to the Ananda team for their time, and thank you to ECycleElectric for arranging the Ananda factory & HQ tours.