What is the difference between a mid-motor e-bike and other e-bikes?
At present, electric bikes on the market can be roughly divided into two types: mid-mounted motors and front/rear-mounted motors, each with its own advantages and disadvantages in performance and technology. So what is the difference between them?
Front/rear motor electric bike:
Most of the front/rear motor electric bike use hub motors.
The advantage is that the structure is compact, there are many models to choose from, and the entry model is relatively cheap. Some models can run purely electric, and the e-bike with a rear motor has a strong sense of pushing back when cycling.
▼ Rear motor electric bike ▼
Depending on the wheel size, the hub motor may be mounted higher or at the same height as the mid-mounted motor. While the center of gravity is about the same height, having a front or rear hub will move the center of gravity to the front or rear.
Secondly, the electric bike should be able to ride normally by manpower even when the motor is not working, and use the front/rear motor electric bike to overcome the reluctance of the hub motor when riding by manpower.
In terms of practical application, the price of hub motors is relatively low, but the cost of maintenance is higher than that of mid-mounted motors. Because the hub motor is attached to the wheel set, it needs to withstand many tests such as bumps, dust, and muddy water. Compared with the mid-mounted motor, the probability of problems is higher. However, when something goes wrong, hub motors are easier on the market to repair than mid-mount motors.
Mid-motor electric bike
Compared with the front or rear motor electric bike, the motor of the mid-motor electric bike is located in the middle and lower part of the frame. Since the weight is near the center of gravity of the bike, the impact on the balance of the whole bike is relatively small, and the resistance to human riding is relatively small, and the speed of the motor can be adjusted through a mechanical transmission. The mid-mounted motor has a good sense of control, and at the same time has a large torque and fast acceleration. When the bike is running fast, it can play a role in front and rear balance. This also enables the mid-motor electric bike to adapt to more road conditions.
▼ Central Motor Electric Bike ▼
The more advanced mid-mounted motor is a combination mechanism of internal transmission gears, and multiple clutch gears are used to form a transmission ratchet inside the motor housing, so that the output torque is increased, and the load and climbing power are higher. And its torque sensor is also more sensitive, sensing changes in the pedaling force of the crank, it will directly act on the bottom shaft, and the acceleration is faster.
Since the overall basic shifting and transmission structure of the bike is not changed, the rider can also cooperate with the original mechanical rear shifting mechanism of the vehicle and use it in conjunction with the mid-mounted power assist to achieve higher riding efficiency. Moreover, all the sensors of the mid-mounted motor are integrated in the mid-mounted box, and only one wire protrudes out to connect to the controller on the handlebar. Even the battery connection is a concealed way of internal wiring and contacts. This simplified the integrated design not only makes the bike with the mid-mounted motor easier to maintain, has a simpler appearance, and is more convenient to ride, but also makes the mid-mounted motor more dustproof and waterproof, and has a lower failure rate. But relatively, the price of the power-assisted bike with the mid-mounted motor is also higher.
ReAspire is a leading R&D and manufacturing enterprise in the electric bike industry. Its products include rear-mounted motor mountain bikes represented by Knight and mid-mounted motor mountain bikes represented by Hurricane, which can meet the different needs of users.
