SRam Ebike drive hub.

[Hillhater]

http://www.sram.com/sram/urban/products/sram-e-matic
Is this the first multi-gear electric hub drive ?

SRAM incorporates an rear wheel e-bike hub motor which is special, very special indeed. That’s because it integrates the motor, an automatically shifting 2-speed gear system; a torque sensor as well as the motor controller. The built-in torque sensor measures chain movement as well as frame-flex and is a patented system.

The automatically shifting 2-speed gear system is not SRAM’s new Automatix hub.
The e-bike hub shifts automatically between two motor speeds but it uses a different gear system. Also, the shift point is adjustable on the Automatix hub, but it is not adjustable on the e-bike hub. Furthermore, the e-bike hub is built on a single-speed drivetrain (1 chainring, 1 cog) and even though the torque output shifts, the effective gear ratio is always the same, and it is whatever gear ratio that the bike is set up with (42 – 17, 44 – 17, etc.).

http://www.bike-eu.com/Sales-Trends/Business-trends/2011/11/SRAM-Launches-E-Bike-Drive-System-at-Taichung-Bike-Week-BIK005464W/

 

[Sunder]

It's simple and elegant, that's for sure.

Whether the power provided is going to be enough to convince people to get it is another matter. Being a single speed rear, it might not be suitable for more hilly terrain with a 200/250w output limit. No evidence on whether you can still use a three speed chainring on the front, though the quote you posted suggests that it's totally single speed.

If the price is right (and since when is anything from Sram priced right?) it might be a good product, but I still don't think it will drive people to cycling in huge hordes yet. Maybe just convince a few more commuters that they could do with some help.

 

[dogman dan]

Looks nice though, for the urban bike that needs to climb no single track trail grade hills.

Fixie simple, but a better take off from the stops. That high gear takeoff typical of a faster wind hubmotor in 26" wheel just kills your range in stop and go urban riding.

I think it's a great setup for the ride to school, or to work in a downtown city where traffic is not going 45 mph. Bopping around the campus, or downtown, it looks perfect. You don't need 1000w for riding in a crowd.