A year and a half ago, we talked about a completely new drive system for electric bikes, which did not have any mechanical connection between the pedals and the wheels. The Free Drive system, created in cooperation between the German companies Schaeffler and Heinzmann, is finally in production.
In the Free Drive system, there is no physical-mechanical connection between the pedals and the wheels. Instead, the electrical and mechanical transmissions are connected in series. Thus, the kinetic energy from pedaling with the help of a generator is transformed into electricity, which is then transmitted through wires to an electric motor that rotates the wheel (or wheels). There is no traditional bicycle chain in such a system. In this case, excess energy that is not consumed by the electric motor accumulates in the battery. The battery can also be charged through a regular electrical outlet.
One of the main areas of application of the Free Drive system, developers call cargo bikes. Most cargo bike designs are limited by the need for a long tunnel for the bike chain to reach the rear wheel or gearbox. But Free Drive allows cargo bikes to be built differently, lowering the floor and creating a much more stable platform that isn’t limited by the demands of a bike’s mechanical drivetrain. As electric cargo bikes are increasingly being used in cities to replace ICE delivery vehicles, improving the efficiency of such bikes will be in high demand.
Electric cargo bike manufacturers are already showing interest in the Free Drive system. It is expected to begin rolling out to new electric bikes later this year.
Source: electrek
