Bafang is innovating for the shared
mobility sector, with a system designed to deliver both enhanced rider experience
and lower maintenance requirements for fleet operators
In today’s developing shared mobility
industry, Bafang – as a global supplier of complete drive systems – hopes to
bring some driving force to the industry through its own product technology. Combining
an understanding of the shared mobility market and its own technical and
product resources, Bafang has proposed a self-developed system technology
called the “auto-shift shaft drive system”, which utilizes an auto dual-speed
hub motor, shaft drive system and a torque sensor at the bottom bracket.
Bafang has integrated the gearbox into the
hub motor which will automatically adjust the gearbox ratio dependent on the
centrifugal force produced by the wheel speed. The clutch will change the gear
mechanically and the rider will get a better cadence without any manual
gear-shifting action, resulting in a smarter, smoother and safer riding
experience. Meanwhile, the patented torque-sensing technology improves the
system’s interpretation of the user’s intentions, ensuring the appropriate
level of assistance is achieved.
It is rare to see multi-speed bikes in the
shared mobility market, though many users would welcome the additional
functionality and flexibility. The reason typically lies with the high
maintenance costs associated with traditional multi-speed bikes. However,
Bafang’s high-integration dual-speed motor can help reduce the maintenance and
installation costs required to achieve this by eliminating the need for front
and rear derailleurs, gear levers and cables, and so on.
Shared mobility brings convenience, but
also means a higher frequency of use for the product, which can present
challenges. Therefore, instead of the traditional combination of chain and
sprocket, Bafang’s shaft drive system utilizes a main transmission shaft that
closely matches the front and rear conical gears to transmit power. This
directly eliminates the risk of the chain falling off and improves the
efficiency of the mechanical transmission so that “arriving faster” is more
than just empty words. At the same time, the entire transmission system is in
an enclosed working environment, which avoids the entry of external dirt and
debris and works to effectively reduce maintenance costs. From the perspective
of a bike’s design,the high integration of Bafang’s ‘auto-shift shaft drive
system’ offers greater opportunities for simplicity and differentiation.
The development of the industry should be
based on user needs, but bike manufacturers and bicycle-sharing companies also
need to consider product reliability and commercial value. True technological
innovation has the ability to meet multiple requirements within an industry, and
this is what we see in the combination of Bafang’s automatic dual-speed hub
motor and shaft drive system. On one hand, Bafang’s ‘auto-shift shaft drive
system’ enhances the travel experience for users, and on the other, it improves
service efficiency, propelling the industry to a higher level.
