Hummingbird has created a lightweight e-bike made out of flax fibres that it’s billing as the lightest folding electric bike in the world.

Several manufacturers claim they produce the lightest folding e-bike.

Carbo somewhat optimistically made the claim a few years back with a 12.9kg bike, while Vello reckon their latest titanium model comes in at 9.9kg.

The Hummingbird's 10.9kg (as measured by us) has long been the benchmark in our eyes and the UK firm has now shaved a few grams off that by using flax fibre. The brand’s suggesting this new version comes in at 10.3kg.

Whether that’s 100 per cent accurate or not, the use of flax is nevertheless interesting.

“Flax fibre is a plant-based material capable of being just as light and strong as carbon fibre,” says the brand. “Already being used in the motorsport industry as an alternative to carbon fibre, flax is lighter than carbon and offers improved vibration damping. Like the carbon fibre range, the new flax model passed ISO standards with flying colours after being put through the industry’s rigorous stress tests.

“Flax is also a sustainable material, unlike carbon fibre, as the waste generated at the production stage is biodegradable. Flax is far less harmful to dispose of and recycle than carbon as it will break down.”

Flax is unusual but not unheard of as a bike material. Our sister site road.cc reports that Museeuw started producing flax bikes in 2007, while Schwinn had produced a flax concept bike in 2008.

The Hummingbird Folding Electric Flax Bike is a single-speed built around the ‘all-in-one’ Zehus motor system which consists of a hub motor with a 158Wh battery contained within. The bike’s available for £4,995.

The firm is also offering a number of unpowered versions of the bike, as reported on road.cc.