BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Continental has revealed a new ‘maintenance free’ electric bike drive system, based around a new mid-drive motor.
Shown to eurobike visitors in prototype form, as well as demonstarted on a bike build to a select group of 200 testers, Eurobike Award judges were impressed, awarding the development with a Gold Award.
Available OEM to e-bike labels, the drive system can be configurated to a manufacturer’s needs. For instance, batteries for installation on the luggage rack or lower tube can be ordered and are also available in various capacities.
Said to be smaller, more lightweight and with added to power over the market’s closest competitor’s product, the 250-watt motor itself weighs a mere 3.4 kg and supplies torque of up to 50 Nm. The motor was developed by automotive supplier Brose, optimized for the Continental system, and produced by Brose.
"The market response to Continental’s new drive system for e-bikes and pedelecs has been exceptionally positive. The technical characteristics and design won the experts over," explains Regina Arning, head of the Industry segment at the drive specialist ContiTech Power Transmission Group.
"We expect to see the first bicycles with this system already at Eurobike 2014. By 2015 at the latest, end-users will also be able to buy them."
Developed in collaboration with ContiTech’s cooperation partner Benchmark Drives, this drive technology replaces the conventional chain with a timing belt on bicycles, pedelecs, and e-bikes. The customised tooth shape and pitch of the teeth allows the drive to function at a lower belt tension.
