There is no doubt that the future belongs to the auxiliary motor on bicycles. Which shifting system belongs to the future of e-bikes is less certain. Today, mid-drive motors with derailleur gears are popular. This system shifts perfectly, especially under load, but the chain wears extremely quickly and the rear derailleur is exposed and therefore prone to defects. The alternative to a chain on an e-bike is a belt. This is practicable on everyday e-bikes and accepted on the market, but such solutions are extremely rare, especially on e-mountainbikes.

This is why the marriage of gears and transmission could not only be a solution, but also a game changer. By marrying the engine and transmission, for example, automatic shifting is made possible. Exposed and wear-prone components are eliminated and virtually disappear under the cover of the mid-engine.In order to realize a mid-engine with integrated transmission, automotive supplier Valeo has brought transmission specialist Effigear on board. It remains to be seen whether automotive industry player Valeo is simply greenwashing marketing with the e-bike system it is presenting, or whether it is serious about entering the world of e-bike mobility.valeo.com
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