There’s a lot of misinformation out there about mid drive vs rear hub drive motor. So, let’s tackle this issue.
The primary customers for MeloYelo e-bikes are seniors – older people who intend to use their electric bikes for riding urban cycleways, rail trails, and wine trails, for example. For these intended uses, an electric bike with a rear hub motor is completely adequate, is less expensive than a mid-drive e-bike, and comes fitted with a thumb throttle that can deliver motor power to the wheels from a standstill, which some riders find a very helpful aid.
If you intend to use your electric bike for more adventurous, multi-day trail rides that include steeper hills and the requirement of some off-road trail sections to cover 60 or 70 kilometres in a day, then a mid-drive motor will be a better choice.
Why Are Hub Drive Motors Less Expensive Than Mid Motor Drive?
Hub-drive motors have been around longer and have been produced in larger volumes than mid-drive motors, so the manufacturing cost per unit is less. Another reason is that producing a frame to incorporate a mid-drive motor is more expensive than producing a frame suitable for a rear hub motor.
Mid Drive Motors Are More Efficient Than Hub Drive Motors in Certain Situations
Mid-drive motors can use the energy in your battery more efficiently in certain situations—particularly hill climbing on backcountry trails. So, on a demanding trail ride, a 500-watt-hour battery on a mid-drive might deliver the same range as a 550 or 600-watt-hour battery on a hub drive.
The Gear Ratio on a Mid-drive Motor is Superior to Hub Drive Motors
The single largest advantage that mid-motors have over hub motors is their gear ratio. They allow the rider to power the rear wheel via the same chain and gear set as the pedals, which means that a low gear can be selected for powering up steep hills or accelerating from a stop with massive torque. A mid-drive motor in low gear can climb steeper hills than a hub motor of similar power and climb hills for longer than a hub motor. A mid-drive motor is also usually smaller and lighter than a hub motor of similar power.
Are Some Electric Bike Motor Brands More Reputable Than Others?
Yes. The most reputable brands of motors in e-bikes in New Zealand are Bosch, Brose, Shimano, Yamaha and Bafang. These are the brands that were reviewed by Consumer Reports NZ. You can read their review here.
What Does Torque Mean, and Why Does It Matter?
Torque measures the motor’s turning force. The more torque, the more turning force the motor has. Some e-bikes have as little as 40 newton-metres of torque, while others have 80 newton-metres or even more. The primary situation where more torque will make a big difference is when you’re riding steep, windy off-road trails. To learn more about torque and watts, read our article here.
A Final Note about Hub Drive Motors
Most bike shops do not carry e-bikes fitted with hub drive motors. There are a couple of key reasons for this:
- Historically, their customers have been younger cyclists who are more apt to want to tackle steeper, off-road cycling adventures.
- There’s less profit to be made with a hub drive bike because they are less expensive.
However, don’t let this discourage you from considering an e-bike with a hub-drive motor. MeloYelo offers two models with hub drive: the MeloYelo Townee and the MeloYelo Town’nTrail. Both have been hugely popular among senior riders who want to experience the joys of biking but at an affordable price.
Conclusion
There are some performance and efficiency differences in certain situations, and if you expect to find yourself in off-road situations that involve long, steep hill climbs, then a mid-drive may be the answer for you. For the city rider or the recreational trail rider (urban cycleways, rail trails, etc.), a hub motor will do just fine.
