E-bike mid-drive motor w/ automatic transmission ready for production

New electric bike mid-drive motor with built-in automatic transmission ready for production

Electrek.co by Micah Toll

[{"selector":"#anim-8fd43de0-70d1-4cab-a1a2-a4ffe641fc28","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Remember that time 14 months ago when French company Valeo announced the development of a new electric bicycle mid-drive system that included a built-in automatic transmission? Electrek remembers.

[{"selector":"#anim-4a2f30c8-d708-4914-a11a-a4d96aacf356","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] And now that drive unit is ready for production. It will soon be available on several e-bike models thanks to partnerships with over a dozen electric bicycle companies. Fourteen, to be exact.

[{"selector":"#anim-40966ad8-c2d7-4390-9fd8-1c530c014520","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] That’s the number of companies that have signed on to incorporate Valeo’s new e-bike drive into upcoming electric bicycle models.

The companies include players such as Fuell, Cycleurope, and VUF Bikes.

[{"selector":"#anim-6ce76f4f-bf94-4314-8f33-96a6e9939cb8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-6370f00c-359c-45f4-a8bc-b2043a6a6560","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Paris-based Valeo developed the new drive system with the help of transmission maker Effigear.

[{"selector":"#anim-4fd3108f-b333-4c57-84b5-160e143fe375","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Together, their technology combined to incorporate a seven-speed automatic transmission directly into the mid-drive motor, creating a single power and transmission unit.

[{"selector":"#anim-3077a4fc-f722-482c-8be7-e4c3bcdaff6c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The resulting powertrain can be incorporated directly into OEM e-bikes similarly to typical mid-drive motors like those from Bosch or Brose.

[{"selector":"#anim-2bb50d44-054a-416e-ac0b-279829a48393","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Its seven gear ratios are designed to operate on a 48V system, and Valeo offers a downtube-mounted battery as part of the complete powertrain package.

[{"selector":"#anim-1593bc06-2c76-4dd2-a935-c35fe285c1e8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Continue reading to learn more about Valeo's electric bike mid-drive motor and watch a video showcasing how it works at Electrek.co. Continue reading