What is a Hub Motor?
Hub motor is an electric motor that’s integrated into the wheel hub, eliminating the need for chain, derailleur, or gear systems. It’s also smaller and lighter than central motor drive systems.
It uses brushless DC technology to make electronic commutation easier and more efficient than mechanical commutation. It also has low mechanical losses and is simple to install.
High Torque
Hub motors have a big advantage over other types of electric drive motor in that they can be easily mounted right into the wheel, and the torque is always available, no matter what gear you are in. This means that you can leave the bike in a higher gear and never need to shift, giving you more control and making riding easier. This is why E-BikeKit uses hub type motors in all our kits.
Another benefit is that the motor can also act as a generator when you decelerate, allowing for energy recovery and extending battery life. This is possible because the hub motor can take on more of the load than other types of motors.
While there are many different manufacturers of hub motors, the largest ones in the e-bike industry include Bafang, Sunrace, and Yami. These manufacturers produce a wide range of motors for various applications and performance parameters.
While hub motors are known for their high torque, they also have some drawbacks. For example, the hub motor’s enclosed design may restrict heat dissipation, which can lead to overheating. This is a significant issue, especially for heavy use or long distances. Additionally, geared hub motors tend to weigh more than mid-drive motors, and this can add a lot of weight to the bike. This can also make it more difficult to change the tire or replace the wheel if necessary.
Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking is one of the most exciting features that hub motors offer. It is a method of energy recovery that increases the battery life of your electric bike and reduces the wear and tear on your drivetrain.
Unlike the brushes that press against the axle of a normal motor, most hub motors are brushless and instead use half-a-dozen separate copper coils to create magnetic forces that cause the wheel to spin. These coils are powered by an electronic circuit that switches the power on and off to generate these magnetic forces. This eliminates friction and wasteful heat produced by the brushes in a traditional motor, making hub motors more efficient and quieter.
When you apply pressure to the brakes, the coils retract into the motor body, absorbing and storing energy in hydraulic accumulators inside the hub. This regenerative energy hub motor is used to recharge the battery, providing you with the same amount of power for your next ride.
This regenerative braking feature is only available with hub motors and makes e-bikes that utilize them more sustainable and environmentally friendly than those with mid-drive motors. The regenerative braking feature also contributes to the affordability of most electric bikes that incorporate hub motors as their primary drive system, as well as their lower maintenance requirements than mid-drive systems.
Simple Design
A hub motor is a motor that is built directly into the wheel. This makes it incredibly simple to install on an electric bike, and also allows for all the power to be delivered to the wheels to provide torque when you need it. Because the motor is drive wheel right in the wheel, there are no mechanical losses from drive components like clutches and transmissions that can eat up 15 to 20% of the power that is produced by the motor.
The motor is powered by copper-coiled magnets that are bonded to the rotor, and it turns when electricity flows through it. Depending on the type of motor, some will have gears to increase the torque output.
There are a number of different manufacturers of hub motors, but some of the largest include Bafang, Shimano, and SR Suntour. E-BikeKit carries only the top-of-the-line hub motors from these manufacturers, as they are reliable and proven performers for electric bikes.
Hub motors can be mounted on either the front or rear wheel, and they offer a great riding experience when used on hills or for speedy commuting. However, it’s important to remember that a hub motor is just part of the total package that makes an e-bike, and you should always consider your own personal riding needs when choosing an e-bike to purchase.
Easy Installation
Unlike mid-drive motors, hub motors integrate their copper-coiled windings directly into the axle of the wheel. This makes them much simpler to install and maintain, and they’re also far cheaper. For this reason, they’re widely used in e-bikes from small startups like Juiced and Pedego all the way up to major brands like Felt, Charge, Aventon and EVGA.
Like a gas-powered car engine, most hub motors work best by turning over quickly (making lots of revolutions per minute). But a normal gasoline engine requires a gearbox to convert high-rpm torque into useful power at low speeds. Electric hub motors eliminate the need for a gearbox, by integrating their motors into the wheels themselves.
Most modern e-bikes that use hub motors have them in the rear wheel. This allows them to handle the extra weight without changing how the bike handles or riding feels. However, there are a few e-bikes that have front hub motors. These are more likely to perform unintentional wheelies when accelerating, and they require careful handling to prevent the motor from pulling away from the rider.
When installing a hub motor, it’s important to make sure that there is a torque washer up against the shoulder of the motor axle inside the dropouts and an axle nut closed from the outside of the dropouts. This arrangement distributes the force of the motor’s axle shoulder evenly across the entire face of the axle washer, preventing the dropouts from stripping.
