The Core of the Electric Bike-Mid Drive vs Hub Drive
The core of the electric bike: a profound analysis of the differences between the mid-drive motor and the hub motor.
As the core of power output, the motor, one of the four components of an electric bike, has the ability to convert kinetic energy into mechanical energy. In the market share ratio of central motor and hub motor, hub motor has an absolute advantage.
How does this come from? First, let's get to learn the advantages and disadvantages of these two types.
Hub Motor
Advantage:
The hub motor is a motor assembly that integrates a reducer directly assembled in the hub. Electric bikes in the market usually use the brushless hub motor. The structure of it is simple-- under the action of current, a magnetic field is formed between the two magnetic steel sheets, so as to make the shaft inside start to work. And the failure rate is low due to the simple structure.
Disadvantage:
The hub motor is exposed to the outside environment, unlike the mid-mounted motor, which is normally covered by the frame. That is say, when an e-bike is parked in the sunlight, with the black metal cover of the motor, the temperature of it can easily increase to 50℃.
Mid-drive Motor
As the name suggests, the central motor is the motor that is placed in the middle of the frame( or at the crank set).
Advantage:
The advantage of the mid-drive motor is that it can maintain the balance of the front and rear weight of the whole bicycle as much as possible, and will not affect the movement of the shock absorber. The impact of the motor on the road is also smaller. The ultra-high integration can reduce the unnecessary exposure of the cables. In terms of off-road handling, stability, and passability, it has a better performance than a bike with a hub motor. At the same time, the rider can also freely choose the wheel set and transmission, and the daily disassembly and maintenance of the hub is also simpler.
Disadvantages:
Quick Overview
Hub Motor | Mid Drive | |
Cost | More Cheaper | More Expensive |
Best Terrain | Flat or very Small hills | From flat all the way to very steep hills |
Ease Of Install | Very easy - replace the wheel | More complex and in-depth |
Best Uses | Leisure rides, commuting, on-road | Off-road, commuting, mountain biking |
How do you like these two types of motors?
We’d love to hear from you and look forward to sharing in your cycling experience.
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