{"id":44090,"date":"2024-04-06T21:31:41","date_gmt":"2024-04-07T04:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/?p=44090"},"modified":"2024-04-06T21:31:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-07T04:31:41","slug":"hub-motor-vs-crank-drive-motor-which-is-better-for-an-electric-bike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/hub-motor-vs-crank-drive-motor-which-is-better-for-an-electric-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"Hub Motor vs Crank Drive Motor – Which is Better for an Electric Bike?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here are the pros and cons of a hub motor vs a crank drive motor for an electric bike, so you can decide which would work better for your needs. This post starts with a chart summing up the Pros and Cons of Hub Motors vs Crank Drive Motors for ebikes. After that, we explain each point in more detail. By the end of the post, you most likely will have made up your mind about which to choose for your ebike – a hub motor or a crank drive motor.<\/p>\n

Most electric bikes have a motor on the hub or on the crank drive<\/strong>. The vast majority of electric bikes have hub drive motors. However, crank drive motors are readily available on many electric bikes, if you want one. Deciding which to choose is tricky, as both have advantages and disadvantages. The best advice is to be very clear on the pros and cons of each motor, and then decide which works best for your own needs.<\/p>\n

Chart Summing up the Pros and Cons of Hub Motors vs Crank Drive Motors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/td>Hub Motor <\/th>Crank-Drive Motor (also called Mid-Drive Motor)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Position of Motor<\/strong><\/td>In the hub of the wheel. Usually the rear wheel<\/td>In the crank-drive, that is, between the pedals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pros and Cons of Position<\/strong><\/td>\u2714 Highly efficient<\/td>\u2714 Highly efficient<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\u2714 Low center of gravity<\/td>\u2714 Low center of gravity; classic bike feeling<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\u2714 Easy to access for repair. Also easy to access other parts of the bike for repair<\/td>X<\/strong> Tricky for repairs to motor and to other parts of the bike too<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\u2714 Easy to retrofit to almost any bike<\/td>X<\/strong> Very difficult to retrofit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pros and Cons for Installation<\/strong><\/td>\u2714 Relatively easy; handy people can buy a kit and do it themselves. Easy to transfer to a different bike, too<\/td>X<\/strong> Installing a crank-drive motor is highly technical, and very few people could just buy one and install it to their existing bike<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pros and Cons for Cycling Feeling<\/strong><\/td>X<\/strong> A bit less natural, because you are being pushed along<\/td>\u2714 Very natural, as the power is integrated into the cranks that you are turning<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pros and Cons for Heating Up of Motor<\/strong><\/td>X<\/strong> Completely sealed system, so it is hard for heat to escape. However, with most units this is not a problem because of controllers<\/td>\u2714 Usually have a fanned casing to allow heat to escape<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pros and Cons regarding Weight<\/strong><\/td>X<\/strong> Hub motor and large battery add substantial weight to the bike<\/td>\u2714 Crank motor and sometimes lighter battery add less weight to the bike<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pros and Cons regarding Power<\/strong><\/td>\u2714 Due to the design, these can be extremely powerful<\/td>X<\/strong> Due to limitations imposed by the strength of chain and sprocket, these are usually limited to 250 W. However, this is mitigated by the fact that the fact that mid drive motors work in tandem with your gears<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pros and Cons regarding Maintenance<\/strong><\/td>\u2714 Sealed units, and therefore usually maintenance free<\/td>\u2714 Very hardy and resistant to elements. Can be hard to find parts as most are proprietary<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pros and Cons regarding Wear and Tear<\/strong><\/td>X<\/strong> Tough on brake pads<\/td>X<\/strong> Tough on brake pads and entire chain drive system<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Do they Work in Tandem with the Gears?<\/strong><\/td>X<\/strong> No, they operate completely independently<\/td>\u2714 Yes, the motor works in synchronicity with the bike\u2019s gears<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pros and Cons regarding Getting Up Steep Hills<\/strong><\/td>\u2714 Because there are few limits on their power, hub drive motors are better for steep hills<\/td>X<\/strong> Crank drive motors are not as powerful when it comes to getting up sharp, steep hills. On longer, winding hills, you can use gears and the motor together to get up long hills<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Hub Motors on an Electric Bike<\/h2>\n

Hub motors are by far the most common motors on electric bikes. These motors have been refined over many years into extremely efficient and reliable machines. As the name suggests, they are embedded in the hub, usually the hub of the back wheel. As such, they operate on the simple principle of pushing your bike along. Thanks to this simplicity, they can be extremely powerful.<\/p>\n

By far the majority of ebikes have hub motors.<\/p>\n

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