Does the Vela have a shock absorber?

No. Because most of the Vela's weight is concentrated at the rear (motor and battery),  vibrations coming from the front wheel are transmitted less intensely to the fork. Another relevant point for reducing the need for an active damping system is the passive vibration absorption characteristic that the material (Chromoly - Steel 4130) of the Vela frame has. The whole set works with some flexibility and contributes to a more comfortable pedaling.