TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s bicycle industry is entering a new chapter as Hyena E-Bike Systems blends hardware and digital services to make bikes smarter and more sustainable.
The Taichung-based company, founded in 2013, is focusing on motors, batteries, and controllers — the key components that define performance and safety — per CNA. Hyena Chair Chuang Yu-ting (莊侑頲) said the firm is also building an open platform and digital services to strengthen the supply chain.
Chuang said Taiwan rose to global prominence through contract manufacturing and standardized parts, but that model is no longer enough. The old approach let brands freely mix and match mechanical parts, he said, whereas e-bikes require electronic control and system communication.
Unlike suppliers that specialize in a single part, Hyena has invested in a “three-electric drive” system. The company also built a smart software ecosystem that supports the full chain from production to after-sales service.
Breaking into the bicycle market was not easy because annual model cycles mean suppliers face tough testing standards. One defective part can trigger costly recalls, so durability and regulatory checks are critical even as companies race to innovate.
Hyena’s workforce includes veterans from the electronics and IT industries, but they had to adapt quickly. Chuang said engineers needed to learn frame design, ergonomics, and drivetrains to ensure electronic systems could be fully integrated.
Beyond technology, Hyena has pushed for industry-wide standards and last year co-founded the Common Communications Protocol Alliance with the Cycling and Health Tech Industry R&D Center. The alliance aims to make parts interoperable across brands.
Hyena is also advancing its Digi-Eco System, which integrates smart manufacturing and ride analytics. The platform uses AI to provide real-time insights from user behavior, boosting after-sales service and sustainability.
Over the past decade, Hyena estimates it has helped brands worldwide produce more than 400,000 e-bikes. “Taiwan is moving from a bicycle kingdom to a smart bicycle hub,” Chuang said, adding Hyena will keep promoting global smart standards.
