A maintenance free ebike design could be in the horizon.

[Trail Cruiser]

A new design is on the horizon that has integrated motor-transmission at the bottom bracket that could be configured to be maintenance free.

https://www.emtb-news.de/news/en/mubea-konzept-e-bike/

We have seen the pinion bottom bracket transmission that offers a sturdy and very low maintenance design.

We also saw the Continental ebike planning to market a motor-transmission combo at the bottom bracket using the automatic shifting Nuvinci (continuously variable ratio transmission, CVT).

Mubea chooses a mechanical type transmission, similar to that of the "Pinion" transmission, but with the integrated motor attached to it.

Mubea is mentioned starting at 3:03 of the video below.

and also here.

 

[Diarmuid]

Looks like my ideal setup.

 

[harryS]

Overly complicated and expensive to me. On the other hand, we've all had the chain fall off, or worse, get jammed between the gears/frame. Bad news if you're clipping along in traffic with a cab on the left and a bus behind you. That's when a hub motor might get you out of harm's way.

 

[rich c]

With the gears in the mid drive, much higher chain speeds must not factor into that maintenance free claim.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

How exactly is this new? Pinion gearboxes, Rohloff hubs, Nuvinci hubs, and the Shimano Alfine system have all been around for a while. As have Gates belt drives.

How exactly is this maintenance-free? You still need to lubricate that chain. And you still (hopefully) have brakes.

 

[rich c]

Overly complicated and expensive to me. On the other hand, we've all had the chain fall off, or worse, get jammed between the gears/frame.

I've only been riding for less than 3 years, but never had a chain come off in 7,500 miles.

 

[Trail Cruiser]

How exactly is this new? Pinion gearboxes, Rohloff hubs, Nuvinci hubs, and the Shimano Alfine system have all been around for a while. As have Gates belt drives.

How exactly is this maintenance-free? You still need to lubricate that chain. And you still (hopefully) have brakes.

I'ts automotive grade oil bath lubrication and oil cooling design and use carbon belt to the back. You just change the oil after 5-10 thousand miles and that's about it.

 

[batmick1]

I'ts automotive grade oil bath lubrication and oil cooling design and use carbon belt to the back. You just change the oil after 5-10 thousand miles and that's about it.

Maintenance-free does not exist. However, low maintenance is achievable. Before I got my ebike I commuted on a Spot ACME with Gates belt drive and a Shimano Alfine 11spg IGH and it was fantastic. An oil change for the hub once a year that was doable at home was all it took. I put about 12.000 miles on the belt and it was still going when I sold the bike, even though I already had a replacement, just in case.

I seriously hope that a Pinion-style gearbox will be developed for an ebike, paired with Gates belt drive. It would be very high on my wishlist.

 

[jazz]

Will never be a thing!

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I'ts automotive grade oil bath lubrication and oil cooling design and use carbon belt to the back. You just change the oil after 5-10 thousand miles and that's about it.

You just described a Gates Belt drive and Rohloff hub.

 

[Trail Cruiser]

You just described a Gates Belt drive and Rohloff hub.

The weight distribution is better here and the possibility of using the oil to cool the motor could add to the advantage. Just wishful thinking.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

...
I also agree that it is needlessly complicated. It's not indestructible. When something goes wrong or breaks, I like to be able to work on my bike by myself.
...

Actually both Rohloff hubs and Pinion hubs are very nearly indestructible. You can find accounts of bike tourists riding tens of thousands of miles on them without any maintenance at all, often in quite awful conditions that would completely trash a derailleur-equipped bike.

My own opinion is that once you've used an internally geared hub you are going to find it hard to go back.

 

[Asher]

This kind of thing can work if the premium is modest, say 25%. Rohloffs and the like are what, 5x as much?

An integrated hub motor and IGH seems far more likely. And even that will probably take a few years to get to economies of scale to bring it's price down to an appealing level.

It's probably very cool mechanically what you've shown, just don't think it will be a mass solution.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

This kind of thing can work if the premium is modest, say 25%. Rohloffs and the like are what, 5x as much?
....

True that. Although I guarantee you if I let you ride a bike equipped with a Rohloff for a couple of hours you'd go home and furiously scheme on how to get one for yourself. It is that much better.

The premium over a regular derailleur system is usually $1000-$1500.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/rohloff-impressions.html

 

[Asher]

True that. Although I guarantee you if I let you ride a bike equipped with a Rohloff for a couple of hours you'd go home and furiously scheme on how to get one for yourself. It is that much better.

The premium over a regular derailleur system is usually $1000-$1500.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/rohloff-impressions.html

Fans say it's worth it because it's bulletproof for life, but theft risk kinda changes the picture.

Anyhow, if you're into hub drive ebikes, it's a non issue because Rohloffs aren't an option.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Fans say it's worth it because it's bulletproof for life, but theft risk kinda changes the picture.

Anyhow, if you're into hub drive ebikes, it's a non issue because Rohloffs aren't an option.

You just need to move somewhere where theft risk is lower.

 

[rannyv]

I've only been riding for less than 3 years, but never had a chain come off in 7,500 miles.

It's pretty uncommon, but it does happen sometimes when riding off road or if the derailleur isn't adjusted correctly. For commuting, I agree that derailleur and gears is pretty bullet proof and efficient.