Revolutionising Urban Mobility

In recent years, the use of electric cargo bikes has been growing in popularity as the electric cargo bike market in the UK has seen rapid growth in recent years, with annual sales increasing exponentially between 2016 and 2019. The battery-powered cargo bicycles are ideal for quick, eco-friendly transportation and distribution of items such as food, mail, medicines and more in major cities.

Matthias Zink, CEO of Automotive Technologies at Schaeffler AG, has said, “we need to rethink the mobility of tomorrow’s cities”, and electric cargo bikes are the last piece of the puzzle when it comes to modern, sustainable mobility. With the aim of making e-cargo bikes more efficient, Schaeffler introduces the chainless free drive.  

Instead of using a mechanical chain and sprocket to transfer power from the motor to the wheels, the chainless drive uses a toothed belt. The belt, which is made of highly durable materials, is designed to be more efficient and requires less energy to operate. This means that the bike can travel faster, further, and with less effort.

In addition, the Schaeffler Free Drive uses bike-by-wire technology. It has four main components: a pedal generator, a drive motor, a battery solution, and a human-machine interface. The pedal generator converts the rider’s pedaling power into electrical energy stored and supplied by the battery solution.

The drive motor converts the electrical energy back into mechanical power to propel the rear wheel. The human-machine interface allows riders to customise their pedaling sensation and monitor their ride data. The system does not require a chain, belt, or gears, which reduces maintenance costs and improves durability, meaning less downtime for cargo bike fleet operators. This is a major plus as their assets will spend more time on the road and less time in the repair shop.

Its innovative design and engineering make it an ideal choice for an e-cargo bike, providing an efficient and reliable ride that can easily tackle various terrain. With its sleek design, reduced complexity, and improved performance, the Schaeffler chainless drive is an excellent alternative for those interested in an e-cargo bike.

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