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If you would prefer to have simple assistance when you need it, regardless of other factors, the hub motor provides the extra power directly to the road. For those who prefer more control over their power, a mid-drive system powers the cranks, this allows the flexibility to apply power in each gear, more like a manual car.
Geared hub motors, such as those in our 250w and 500w Hub Kits, are great simple systems for lower power levels, as the Planetary Gear System within the motor assists with low-down torque (for acceleration and hill climbing) from a lower output motor.
The gears inside are made from a nylon composite material, to allow them to be durable and quiet. The main benefit of the geared motor is total freewheel ability (so, zero rolling resistance), meaning you can pedal the bike easily if you are not using the battery. They are also much less obvious than the larger Direct Drive electric bike motors, and weigh considerably less. Geared hub motors are independent of the bike’s gears, meaning they are easy to use, with the selected gear bearing no influence on the performance of the motor.
Motors which are centrally mounted at the bottom bracket are referred to as Mid-Drive. The motor is powering the front chain-ring, which turns the chain and then the wheel, pushing the bike along.
This system works in conjunction with the gears on the bike, so when different gears are selected, the motor gives a different level of performance. Just like a car with a manual gearbox, low gears are for high torque (for take-offs and hill climbing), and higher gears give higher speeds. Therefore, the performance of mid-drive systems are broader in their scope than hub motors of the equivalent power output. There are two alternative methods for Mid-Drive motors to provide power.
These motors sense how much effort, in terms of pedalling power, is being produced and add the motor power to the rider effort. More rider effort equals more motor power. They intuitively ease-off when rider reduces pedalling power, when changing gear for example. This flexibility of response combined with the torque available in each gear is why this system is particularly popular with mountain bike riders.
Pedalling speed or cadence sensing motors rely upon measuring the cranks being turned to provide additional power. So, you could spin the pedals without much force to almost trick the motor into providing more power. Cadence sensing motors offer a predictable power response which can be increased via a throttle for those days when the rider has less power.
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