On a mid-drive e-bike, the motor is in the middle of the bike, at the bottom bracket, between the pedals. The cranks connect directly to the motor in the middle of the cycle. The mid-drive motor is built into the frame of the e-bike. It’s not like a hub motor, which is a separate unit.
Hub motors power the wheel directly, but mid-drive motors do not. Instead, the power comes from the motor in the middle of the bike. The motor sends power to the back wheel through the chain by turning the cranks and chainring. The motor makes it easier to pedal because it sends some of your pedaling force to the cranks. The name for this is “pedal assist.” Because it is part of the bike’s drivetrain, a mid-drive e-bike motor can use its gears. You can multiply the motor’s power using the gears’ mechanical advantage.
For instance, when you shift down, the motor has an easier time turning the cranks. This makes it easy to climb steep hills. The motor must work harder to turn the cranks when you shift up. Because gears give you a mechanical advantage, you can go faster.
Mid-drive motors in electric bicycles typically contain pedal-assist sensors as part of their design. A torque sensor is standard equipment on current mid-drive electric bicycles. This sensor relays information to the bike’s brain on the amount of pressure being applied to the pedals by the rider. The control unit will adjust the settings for the help it provides in response to the collected data. A greater force on the pedals will result in a more powerful motor. The less pressure applied to the pedals, the less power sent to the motor. Some mid-drive electric bicycles incorporate a cadence sensor into their design. In the next section, I will discuss cadence sensors further.
In most cases, the only available feature on standard mid-drive electric bikes is pedal assistance. It is impossible to slow them down in any manner. For the motor to create propulsion, the rider is required to pedal. It isn’t always the case, to be sure. The placement of electric bicycle motors in the frame’s center is a relatively new development in the industry. E-bikes with a mid-drive motor didn’t become available until around 2010. Most of the time, high-end electric bicycles come equipped with mid-drive motors as standard equipment. Mid-drive electric bikes are sometimes referred to as central hub or mid-motor electric bicycles.
Mid-Drive E-Bike Range
Because it has gears, a mid-drive electric bicycle can keep the motor running at the most efficient RPM possible, which enables it to travel further. Mid-drive electric bike motors are built to be most successful when used in conjunction with a consistent pedaling cadence. This is because of the way the motors are developed. For the average rider, this will translate to anything between 60 and 85 revolutions per minute. When the motor runs at the speed at which it is most efficient, the energy it consumes is at its lowest. It is best for the performance of an electric motor to have high rotating speeds.
When the cyclist is going slower and keeping a higher rotation per minute, electric bicycle motors generally use less energy than traditional bicycle motors do (RPM). The gears provide a mechanical advantage, which in turn minimizes the amount of work that has to be done by the motor. Take, for example, the circumstance in which you are required to bike uphill while utilizing the low gear. If this is done, the motor will have an easier time rotating the cranks. Maintains optimal RPM range for the motor as the vehicle ascends in altitude. The use of less energy can be reduced while saving money. Changing into a higher gear when traveling swiftly on flat terrain may prevent the motor from revving too quickly. Once more, the motor achieves its highest possible efficiency level when running at the ideal RPM.
Mid Drive E-Bike Handling
The bulky electric motor and bike battery pack make it challenging to handle the vehicle. A weight distribution spread evenly between a bicycle’s front and back axles are considered to have the best handling characteristics. Additionally, it is advantageous to have a low center of gravity.
Mid-drive electric bicycles offer superior handling versus hub motor electric bicycles because the motor and battery are located in the middle of the frame rather than in the wheel hub. When a bike has a mid-drive, the motor is situated in the middle of the frame, which places it near its center of gravity. The bicycle’s battery can also be mounted on the downtube, which puts it in a location that is not far from the bicycle’s center of gravity. The advantage of doing so is that the added weight is distributed uniformly between the front and back ends of the bike. When riding, keeping one’s center of gravity low and in the middle of the bike is essential.
Because of the changes made to the bike’s balance, the finished product is more straightforward and quicker to ride. You won’t be as aware of the additional heft when riding an electric bike with the motor in the middle of the frame. Bringing other mass closer to an object’s center of gravity brings it closer to a more balanced position.
Ride Quality of Mid Drive E-Bikes
There is a discernible difference in riding quality between regular electric bicycles and those equipped with Mid-drive technology. Multiple variables contribute to this outcome. Initially, the use of force is more intuitive. This is because mid-drive motors transmit power through a chain or belt. Because the power delivery matches the action of cycling, it is smooth.
Motor Weight and Size
Electronic bikes with mid-drive systems usually weigh 2 to 10 pounds (0.9 to 4.5 kilograms) less than those with hub motors. This is because hub motors are bigger and heavier than mid-drive motors. A hub motor weighs between 10 and 20 pounds (4.5-9 kg). Compared to hub motors without gears, hub motors with gears are lighter. A mid-drive motor usually weighs between 7 and 10 lb (3.2-4.5 kg). One of the least considered is about 5 pounds (2.3 kg). Addmotor e-bikes that weigh less are easier to ride, works better, and moves faster. Also, it’s lighter, which makes it easier to move. You shouldn’t buy a heavy electric bike if you carry it up several flights of stairs to get it into your house.
