E-Bike Hub Motors and Conversion Kits
There are a number of smaller manufacturers that offer e-bike hub motors and conversion kits. Some of them are less well-known than others, but they still produce quality systems. They include Shengyi, Bafang, and Neodrives.
These small motors are rated for the amount of power they can handle under stress. For instance, a 350 watt motor can easily pull the 1000 watts needed to climb a steep hill, but it would quickly overheat.
Geared Hub Motors
Geared hub motors are more efficient than direct-drive motors and can run for longer on a battery. They also produce less noise than mid-drive motors, making them ideal for riders who want a quieter ride experience. However, they do have some drawbacks.
One disadvantage is that they don’t climb hills as efficiently as mid-drive motors. This is because the motor is spinning fast to create power, but not moving forward. Fortunately, this can be solved by selecting a motor with a max RPM that is 25% higher than your modal intended travelling speed.
Another downside is that they are not as durable as direct drive motors. This is because hub motor 36v 350w the motor uses a system of internal gears to create torque. This can lead to mechanical complexity and a shorter lifespan than direct-drive motors. However, a geared motor can still last a long time if you take care of it properly.
Direct Drive Hub Motors
Located at the rear of the bike, a direct drive hub motor doubles as the ebike’s rear axle. The shaft of a direct drive motor is fixed in place and the motor itself spins to create torque that propels the ebike forward. The motor is more simple than mid-drive motors, and because it does not require a gear reduction system, it is quieter when running.
Despite their simplicity, these motors are quite powerful and can reach up to 1000 watts of power. Unlike geared motors, they don’t add a lot of weight to the overall ebike, and they are also less expensive to maintain.
Several companies produce hub motors for ebikes, including Bafang. The company offers a wide variety of rear hub motors, front hub motors, and mid-drive motors for ebikes. In addition, it produces battery systems, sensors, controllers, and HMIs (human machine interfaces, such as displays and button pads) for ebikes. These products are used by a range of ebike manufacturers, including Pedego and EVGA. They are also used by a number of ebike ride share programs, such as Lyft.
MAHLE
MAHLE is a tech group from the car industry, but they have had their fingers in the e-bike pie for some time now. They supply high-end ebikes from manufacturers like BMC, Orbea, and SCOTT with their hub motor X20 drive system. The X20 is one of the most popular lightweight hub motors for road and gravel bikes. Unlike mid-mounted motors, hub motors do not require geometry adjustments or additional reinforcement of the bottom bracket area with motor mounts and offer an analogue bike look.
MAHLE counters that torque and weight are often the deciding factors in motor choice, but these parameters cannot adequately describe the actual experience of riding a motorized bike. They point out that their X20 motor is rated at 23 Nm, but this number is misleading because it includes drivetrain gearing and power transfer losses. The real torque output at the wheel is actually more like 55 Nm.
Besides the low weight, MAHLE’s X35 hub motor is also very quiet. They claim that it is so quiet that you can’t even hear it when it’s on.
Swytch
While they are less common than the motors on purpose-built e-bikes, hub motor conversion kits can be a useful way to give a regular bike some extra range. The Swytch is one of the most popular kits on the market, offering a good-quality motor that’s easy to install and doesn’t cost too much.
The kit comes with a wheel fitted with a 250W hub motor and a battery, which fits into a mount on the front of the bike where you would normally put a basket. The battery has a small display and control buttons, and the whole system is compact enough that it shouldn’t look too obvious.
The only negatives I found with the Swytch are that it can shake a little on rough terrain and doesn’t have a walk mode, but these are minor flaws considering that it’s an affordable solution for getting a little more mileage out of your bicycle. It’s also a cadence-based motor, meaning it doesn’t care how hard you pedal and will only add power when needed. That makes it a very practical choice for commuters or even off-road riders who just want to get to work without too much effort.
Bimotal
Bimotal’s unique in-wheel motor design integrates the motor into the wheel hub, offering a variety of power outputs and torque capabilities. This makes the system 12V waterproof motor ideal for mountain bikers seeking to preserve the geometry and performance characteristics of their existing bikes while incorporating electric power.
The brand also offers a front hub motor designed to attach and detach in seconds. It features internal sensors such as a gyroscope and tachometer to detect changes in terrain and provide appropriate support. It also features Bluetooth connectivity and an internal battery that provides a range of up to 35 miles.
Unlike some manufacturers, such as Globe (a subsidiary of Specialized), VanMoof, and Electra, Bimotal does not list details about its motor manufacturer on its website. This is likely because the company partners with several large manufacturers for its proprietary systems.
The company’s e-bikes typically use Bafang mid-drives, but it has also used Shengyi and other brands in its past e-bike lineup. However, it is important to note that choosing the right motor for an e-bike requires a thorough analysis of various factors, including technical specifications and ease of installation.
