MOTOR:

In 1895, the motor was born with the emergence of electric bikes. It has experienced countless evolution and upgrades in the history of more than a hundred years, and now it has become the "soul" of an electric bike. The motor is directly responsible for the mechanical transmission, acting on the force application part of the pedal, to complete the conversion of electric energy to kinetic energy, which is the ultimate tool to provide auxiliary motivation.

TWO TYPES OF MOTOR:

Nowadays, there are two types of motors in the mainstream market: One is the mid-drive motor, and the other one is the hub motor.

Many e-bike owners may receive such advice before purchasing: buy the one that has a mid-drive motor, not a hub motor!

The two have different gains and losses in the comparison, so we might as well take a look at their differences first:

Location Diagram of Bafang M600 Drive System

The mid-drive motor is installed in the bottom bracket position of the frame (integrated or not integrated), which makes a reasonable distribution of gravity center. The motor is connected to the rear wheel through a chain to transmit power. For the performance of output power, the mid-drive motor has absolute advantages, its conversion rate is more than 80%, more torque when pedaling, and more sensitive. It can give the e-bike a reasonable speed through gears.

In simple terms, the mid-drive motor can make the cyclists’ riding more unobstructed, and reduce the burden on cyclists. But relatively speaking, electric bikes with mid-drive motors are more expensive, so some manufacturers who aim to make mid and high-end e-bikes would choose to use them.

Location Diagram of Bafang H600 Drive System

Hub motors are usually brushless DC motor, which is installed in the position of the wheel hub and acts on the wheelset. Many cyclists would feel impetus clearly when they ride electric bikes with a hub motor, which makes their riding experience not so spontaneous.

But for non-mountain bike players, the hub motor has a more affordable price, more suitable for basic needs such as commuting.

 

HOW TO CHOOSE:

For mountain bike models, e-bikes with integrated mid-drive motors are the best choice.

First of all, the mid-drive motors system is installed in the position of the bottom bracket, which won’t break the weight balance between the front and rear wheels. And for the full-suspension models, e-bikes with mid-drive motors are more comfortable and natural in riding and have congenital advantages in cross-country riding.

Secondly, the replacement of the wheelset is more convenient. For those who like DIY, the hub motor is not so easy to replace the wheelset. But it does not exist for the mid-drive motor. Cyclists could use frame sets for DIY freely, which will improve playability greatly. Meanwhile, outstanding wheelsets will reduce transmission loss and improve battery life.

Thirdly, in cross-country riding, the shock you receive will be lighter with a mid-drive motor. So it is more advantageous in terms of protection, thereby reducing the risk of motor damage and the failure rate.

Frey touring e-bike uses a hub motor for commuting and travel

Frey Evolve uses a mid-drive motor for off-road riding

 

MOTOR POWER:

The rated power of the motor is the rated output power, which means the maximum output power for long-term regular operation under ideal conditions. ATTENTION, the rated power of the motor is not equal to the peak power. Many riders are using rated power to measure the performance of the motor, which is strictly wrong. The performance of the motor also can be measured by the structural design, rated voltage, conversion efficiency, output torque, and so on. Even two motors with the same rated power have completely different riding experiences.

Generally, the powers of the motor have 250W, 500W, 750W, and 1000W these several types. Some countries and areas have different mandatory legal requirements for the rated power of electric bikes. For example, the EU standard stands a maximum rated power of 250W (in practice, however, the standards are not quite the same in different EU countries), while in some parts of the United States, this standard will be relaxed to 750W.

Wikipedia contains laws related to electric bicycle in various countries

 

Again, We sincerely hope you can Free Ride& Enjoy Yourself!