Why bolt a wear- and defect-prone derailleur to the E-MTB when the gear changes could simply happen directly in the motor? The idea of a motor with an integrated gearbox is as logical as it is exciting. But so far, none of the major motor manufacturers have tackled the subject. At least not for e-mountainbikes.
At the Eurobike, there was a prototype motor to marvel at, which realises exactly this theme. The power pack (max. 130 Nm!) comes from France. It was developed in a co-operation between Effigear and Valeo. Many mountain bikers are familiar with the French brand Effigear. With their gearstick they have been serving fans of alternative gearshift concepts for years. Valeo provides the engine expertise in the collaboration. The French automotive supplier is listed on the stock exchange and a true industry giant.
The facts about the motor from Valeo and Effigear
- 7-speed manual gearbox
- 450 % bandwidth
- max. 130 Nm torque
- Up to 2000 W peak power for cargo bikes, is limited on the E-MTB
- Automatic switching possible
- 4.9 kilos incl. chainring
- Open system for various battery, display and remote solutions
Cavalerie concept bike with new engine
Effigear also operates its own mountain bike brand, Cavalerie. The E-MTB concept bike from the French company gives an exciting preview of what a mountain bike with the new drive could look like. And the outlook is very promising.
Visually, the massive engine block blends in surprisingly well with the carbon frame. The low centre of gravity is striking. Particularly in combination with the high-pivot suspension design and the low unsprung mass of the rear wheel, the special weight distribution could result in noticeable advantages in terms of riding characteristics.
An important point for mountain bikers: When designing the motor, Effigear made sure that it has a compact geometry. The motor is short, especially towards the rear. This is how the French want to realise a chainstay length of 440 millimetres on their 29-inch concept bike. Paired with 170/165 millimetres of suspension travel, the bike should be a fun machine for demanding descents.
Theoretical advantages of a motor with gear shifting
- Low maintenance and less susceptible to defects (rear derailleur, chain, cassette)
- Low and central centre of gravity, low moving mass on the rear wheel
- Less chain slapping
- Belt drive possible
- Automatic switching function possible
Future and delivery
The condition of the motor, bike and software as seen at the Eurobike must still be described as quite raw. There is currently no rideable example of the e-mountainbike, and the sales launch of the series bike is not yet foreseeable. We will continue to follow the French company's approach and are already looking forward to taking this unusual concept off-road.
The Valeo motors are set to go into series production in April 2022. At Eurobike 2021, there were other manufacturers who presented a combined motor system with a manual gearbox. However, concrete projects and bikes with these drive systems are not yet in sight.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
