18 speed Mid Drive

[Triketech]

Pinion P1.18 18 speed Internal Gear Bottom Bracket has an input force rating of 250 nM.

Has anyone tried powering a Pinion yet?

I recently ordered one from Europe to play with.

Its possible to add a crank drive to a P1.18, easier on a recumbent tadpole trike than a butt auger bike. Just make the P1.18 part of a consolidated mid drive - in the middle not at the boom.

Basic layout:

Thun BB electrically connected to Cycle Analyst with chain drive to Mid Drive Assembly. Requires dual idler under seat for chain.

Mid Drive assembly is located under seat just ahead of swing arm pivot point. Right crank spline shaft has an adapter with a sprocket and freewheel driven by Thun BB Chainring. Left crank spline shaft has adapter with sprocket (or timing belt pulley) driven by Bafang G01 front hub gear motor.

Phaserunner controller connected to CA3.

48V 10A Li-Ion battery pack.

Motor, gearbox, controller, battery are hidden in the monocoque shell under the seat. Bafang G01 is pretty quiet motor to begin with, so it may be near silent to all but the rider.

My current trike is an HPV FS26 with Thun, CA3, MAC10T, 48V 10Ah LiFePO4.

Over the last few years HPV, AZUB, and Carbontrikes have raised the bar on trike design for human power with electric assist an afterthought. A few daring individuals have built some really cool hot rod e-trikes. Some of us still like to pedal, and need some help up hills, and with the occasional boost to keep up with our favorite roadies.....

On my current setup under typical riding conditions, I burn about 5WH/Mile with up to 80 mile range. At 78 lbs this trike is a bit heavy, 35 lbs are in the full drive system. Using a gearbox rather than derailleurs may not be the best way to save weight unless its from a "package" perspective. May still go back to a mid drive derailleur.

Just something to keep me occupied for a while I guess.

 

[Ham]

Now you're talking...mid drive to bottom bracket gearbox...now that is a sweet set up. Been thinking of that for a while but the funds are directed elsewhere for now!
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[ferret]

In my opinion 18 ratios is too many even for pure human power. The rider will have to constantly change gears staying only a second or two in each one. In an e-bike it would be less necessary and more of a hassle. My bike has 10 ratios and I find myself clicking 2 ratios on most changes.

Avner.

 

[ColinB]

Not me; I say the more gears the better. Well, within reason. Then you can have the pedaling cadence you like at the speed you need, while managing your motor power output. It isn't necessary, but it is nice.

For example, if I have my motor set to say 300watts cruise and start going up a hill, I dislike shifting to the next gear and find it is too easy. If you are running maximum power in your highest gear all the time, then I can see how it would not be a priority.

Colin

 

[Triketech]

I like to pedal, my bone-on-bone knee doesn't like to exceed about 100 watts. Looking into correcting that.

On the trikes we generally run about 1000% gear range with 15-17% steps pedal only, and even with a boost its nice to have at least 750%. Not quite the range of the P1.18, just close. My current MAC is about 654%, and I could use a wee bit more.

Gearshifts are another point. In a perfect world motor speeds would rev match the next gear to be selected. Seamlessly. Takes a smarter controller than a Cycle Analyst, but that doesn't exist, yet anyway.