An innovative new chainless drive system could be a real game-changer for e-bike designs.
German company Schaeffler, which specializes in manufacturing ball bearings, invented a new type of chainless drive system that could revolutionize the e-bike design.
The system, dubbed Smart Free Drive, consists of a specially-designed gearbox, a reduction gear, and an electric motor.
The gearbox replaces the traditional chain and sprockets, while the reduction gear sits between the gearbox and the electric motor. The reduction gear turns the electric motor’s power from the gearbox into a torque that drives the wheel.
An e-bike with a chainless drive system is capable of reaching speeds of up to 48 km/h (30 mph) and the electric motor is capable of producing a torque of 0.25 Nm.
According to the company, the system is designed to be easy to install and service. The e-bike can be equipped with a trigger shifter or a thumb shifter and it can be built with a single or several reduction gears.
Schaeffler’s chainless drive system is an innovation that could change the face of e-bike design forever. It could enable e-bikes to be sleeker, lighter, and more powerful than ever before.
Read our introductory guide to e-bikes to learn more about electric bikes and popular e-bike brands.
Image courtesy of Schaeffler
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