Revonte's ONE E-Bike Drive System Has an Automatic Transmission Mode
Revonte are a Finnish company offering a complete drive system for ebikes, but with a twist. The company was founded in 2018 they launched their system in August 2019, collaborating with battery manufacturer BMZ for their development.
The Revonte ONE system is essentially a drive unit and gearbox combined, removing the need for a traditional derailleur and cassette.
The gears can be automatically changed with the continuously variable transmission, or CVT, design. In the automatic mode the system adjusts to changes in terrain, like inclination and torque, changing down to a lighter gear by itself. CVTs have been around for a long time, perhaps known by many in car and moped transmissions.
There's also a traditional indexed gearing mode using the bar mounted, paddle shift control unit and the number of indexed gears available can be customized in their app. Revonte say this might be more applicable to a more technically varied terrain, where the system might struggle to anticipate the rises and falls in the terrain.
Their transmission uses a planetary gearset with dual electric motors, boosting the efficiency of the planetary system and allowing the motors to be independently tuned. It has been likened by some to the hybrid system used by Toyota and it would seem the first motor is directly applying torque to the output while the second motor is working as a modifier for the speed and torque. But Revonte are keeping tight lipped about a detailed description or look at the inner workings. Although, they have explained about how they arrived at their planetary dual motor system, citing the known downsides of derailleur gears and their view on the lack of differentiation in the other drive systems available to bike manufacturers.
The combined motor and gearbox design takes weight off the back wheel and puts it low and central in the bike. Something that could be interesting for full suspension ebikes.
The drive unit weighs 4.7kg and provides 250W continuously up to a maximum of 1,500W with 90Nm of torque. There's a 416% gear range at 60rpm. The battery comes in at 3.98kg.
Revonte are only offering a drive system, no actual bikes. Although they recently announced that three brands will be using the systems - Tunturi, Lavelle and the RS Development consultancy. The system is highly customizable, with Revonte even calling themselves a software company making hardware.
The bike manufacturer can determine the ride characteristics for the individual bike project, for example choosing something with more crisp and spritely acceleration or something with an abundancy of torque at low speeds for help with moving larger loads. The system is customizable by the rider too. Ride characteristics and assistance levels can be fine-tuned through their app. If you're a tinkerer you can take advantage of it, but you can also employ a set and forget rationale.
The system is operated by a simple and small controller. It has no screen and mounts to the right side of the bars, emulating the traditional shifter position and uses LEDs to provide the rider with just enough information about the system state. But you can also connect your phone to help display more information if required.
The drive unit has built in 4G connectivity and GPS tracking offering anti-theft options and bike tracking. For example, if someone steals your bike the drive unit can be programmed to be completely open or locked.
Revonte have even suggested at the inclusion of energy re-generation in the future, touting their system as already having the capability although you'd need to ditch the freehub in your rear wheel.
The Revonte ONE system offers a different take on the ebike drive system and it will be interesting to see if more, and which, brands use it in the future.
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Read the letter multiple times thoroughly, and you can begin to reverse engineer the concerns that Mr Meylor seems to bring up. Seems to be worried about it being classified under motorcycle, and the Director insists that there is no need to further differentiate, as it fits under a current definition without associated trade penalties. It's just a nomenclature thing.
There's a HTS code for two wheeled electric bicycle, but it refers to hoverboards and the OG segway, with two wheels not inline.
Just a bit a trivia. People can call them motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, or whatever. Shouldn't trigger anyone who recognizes the fact that they have low powered motors and are getting new laws specific to them. The 25% Trump tax was only recently reversed, last Sept.
P.S. mfgs pocketed the refund on backpaid tariffs, even after passing the cost onto consumers.
Terve from Keski-Suomi
Mika Hakkinen
I know Continental did a 3 speed version (and even test rode one) that got canned just before production. Why is it so difficult to achieve I wonder? Is it the high torque?
We need to embrace this new kind of thinking and step away from the incremental improvements of traditional bike design, just think of the money you'll save on cassettes, chains and smashed derailleurs!
So that same day I was in one of the biggest distributor's in the country and I asked him if he knew anything about forks. "I don't", he said "but our mechanic is an expert!" so this mechanic walks in, guy in his late 30s or early 40s and asks what the problem is. When he finally worked out I was talking about a suspension fork he said, "I'm an expert on bike forks, NOT motorbikes."
Sound familiar?
What would the acronym be for a traditionally powered bike? T-bike, L-bike, M-bike, Eff-bike, lots of options there.
I know this is gearbox output but it is huge amount... something is wrong here.
Another thing to consider is that the torque is measured at the crank, not the motors main shaft. That means a low torque motor is geared down a long way to get the torque and rotational speed correct. Car engines are measured at the crank which is then geared down hugely to get the torque up to a level that can actually move a car. Finally, at the end of the day torque measured in any arbitrary place is just a comparison tool, the only thing that really matters is force at the contact patch between the ground and your tire.
I could have made up an excuse like “it was my auto correction” or something but matter of fact is the explanation is even easier. I am a mecatronics engineer but not a native english speaker and I messed up the spelling. Happens every now and then...
Not sure I follow. They state the gear range at a certain rpm, because of the system design. If the second motor had unlimited power and torque the gear range would be the same at all rpm. If the rider puts in either too much torque or too much power the second motor just can’t modify the secondary input rpm enough to get to the same 416%gear range. System design looks like Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive. I think the patents around that system expired around 2010 or so.
Not sure where you got no chain stretch from because you still need a chain.
Also a considerable initial cost as well as maintenance savings with a system such as this removing the typical transmission from an e-bike.
Then you have less rear wheel weight, better ground clearance, centralized weight, no loss of momentum between gear shifts, etc...
The small weight increase over more typical e-bike motors is comfortably offset by these significant advantages.
For the e-bike faithful, this is the way forward. This segment is going to grow by leaps and bounds quickly. Regulators better figure this out quickly or bike riders are going to risk a lot of access as the e-bikes take over at trail centers followed by the inevitable reactions due to higher speeds, more novice riders, and so forth.
Anyway, when I read articles like this, it feels like a different sport, hobby, etc. I’ve actually requested all my friends to pledge a vow of solidarity, that being never to buy an e-bike.
I’ve seen families and other people who ride an e-bike and it makes sense, in certain situations. But e-bikes do, without question, change the vibe and stoke.
That’s all I have to say.
Easier said than done. Depending on the location.
I would drop any friend who made me sweet solidarity to their wishes of any sort.
This = no.