Brushless Geared hubmotors: BIG list & details

[voicecoils]

I'm hoping what's in the title is what we can create here. I'll get the ball rolling and hopefully member input can create good concise information. I plan to keep these top posts updated as info from member posts below comes in

Brushless Geared Hub Motors

As the name implies, brushless geared hubmotors utilise a brushless motor connected to a set of planetary gears which then drive the wheel.

These hubmotors have several advantages and disadvantages:

+ ~50% weight reduction compared with direct drive hubmotors
+ greater torque compared to direct drive hubmotors (translates into great hill climbing abilities)
+ freewheel for reduced rolling resistance (some may not have a freewheel, making regen possible, see the P2b below)
- cost/complexity
- moving/wearing parts (the gears, especially nylon ones)
- noise
- no regen possible on models with freewheel
credit:http://ebike.ca/hubmotors.shtml An excellent intro the these motors (under the geared hub motor heading).

(further write-up coming)

[voicecoils]

eZee


Weight: 3.8 kg
Gear Reduction: 5:1
Gears: Sun and ring gears are steel. The planets gears are Nylon and replaceable.
Freewheel: Yes
Position Front hub only
Disc Brake Yes, 6" included
Controller Compatibility eZee 20A, Crystalyte (w/ rewiring), (unknown: ecrazyman, Kelly BLDC?)
Rated Power At least 740W (standard kit comes with 37v battery, 20a controller).
User Power What's your experience guys? 1kW capable, 1MW?

Available: http://ebikes.ca/store/
Cost: Bare unlaced hubmotor cost unknown. Full Kit (w/out battery or charger) CDN$750

(more to come...)

[voicecoils]

BMC


Weight: 5.44 kg
Gear Reduction: ?
Gears: ?
Freewheel: Yes
Position: rear, 135mm, w/ 7 speed freewheel
Disc Brake: Compatible, no rotor included
Controller Compatibility: ?
Rated Power: At least 900W (standard kit comes with 25a controller).
User Power: What's your experience guys? 1kW capable, 1MW?

Available: http://www.texaselectricbikes.com/catalog/brushless-geared-motor-p-163.html
Cost: Bare unlaced hubmotor cost unknown. Full Kit (w/out battery or charger) USD$699

(more to come...)

[voicecoils]

Puma

[voicecoils]

P2b from SolarBBQ, Australia


Weight: 4.4 kg
Gear Reduction: ~4:1
Gears: Sun and ring gears are steel. The planets gears are Nylon and replaceable.
Freewheel: No
Position: Front hub or rear with modification (see website)
Disc Brake: Unknown
Controller Compatibility: kit comes with 18A controller (others unknown)
Rated Input Power: At least 864W (at 48v, 18a).
User Power: What's your experience guys? 1kW capable, 1MW?
Peak Efficiency: 82% at ~540W input power

(more to come...)

[Miles]

Link removed due to potential trojan risk.. - Ypedal

[Miles]

Tongxin

[voicecoils]

Aren't Heinzman still using brushed motors?

Fixed, Cheers. If you have info/personal experiences to add, bring 'em on!

[Miles]

I've edited mine, too

[Jay64]

Good timing of this post. I'm actually just starting to do some research on building an ebike and thinking of using a hub motor on it. Really looking for some input on the different types. Having it all in one thread would be helpful too, since we have so many different threads on this forum.

[docnjoj]

Solarbbq2003 has P2b which is brushless! The P2a is a great geared motor but has brushes. About 400 Aus $ delivered! Check the website for updates! Bretts a prince to deal with!
otherDoc

[voicecoils]

Solarbbq2003 has P2b which is brushless! The P2a is a great geared motor but has brushes. About 400 Aus $ delivered! Check the website for updates! Bretts a prince to deal with!
otherDoc

Thanks Docnjoj, I've added details of his motor above. Do you have one?

[voicecoils]

Really looking for some input on the different types. Having it all in one thread would be helpful too, since we have so many different threads on this forum.

No worries, hopefully this will allow people to differentiate the different geared brushless motors out there. They do have some additional mechanical complexity compared with straight brushless but increased torque and less weight as a benefit.

[Knuckles]

http://www.szbaf.com/en/home.asp

Yes. I like these motors. I ran the Bafang PMGR thru sand today.
Superior to a DD motor at low wheel rpm. Unstoppable torque at 72V and 20 amps.
The little PMGR motor does get warm (and I swear it sounds like a quite Dewalt power tool).
But the Grubee Direct Drive is faster max speed and accelerates much quicker than the Bafang PMGR.

Hey ... maybe use one of each!

Bafang PMGR: http://www.szbaf.com/en/product_detail. ... ductID=506
Weight: 3 kg
Gear Reduction: 4.3:1
Gears: Planetary
Freewheel: YES
Position: Front
Disc Brake: NO
Controller Compatibility: Old x-lyte analogue, crazyman 72V 30Amp with 20-mhz resonator mod
See ... viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4282&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=105
Rated Input Power: 250W @ 36V
User Power: 72V 30amps
Peak Efficiency: WTFK

Available: YES
Forum Contact: Knuckles
Additional Info: PMGR and DD are different motors than can do different things

Cost: I offer special deal ... $199 front Bafang PMGR laced into 26" wheel + $39 shipping

Wheel shown here ... viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4282&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=150#p72362

[voicecoils]

Yes. I like these motors.

Awsome thanks for editing in the details!
Bafang PMGR (QSWXB)
Here's a picture for those interested:
(edit, will talk to Keywin, for China --> Oz direct, thanks for all your legwork knuckles!)

[Knuckles]

Don't suppose that $39 shipping is to Sydney?

ha ha. Shipping from China to AU is actually the cheapest!

[voicecoils]

(more to come...)

[andys]

Doug at EV tech engineered and designed the geared hub motor over a period of many years. Too bad he didn't patent it, as now the manufacturers have sold his design to others who put their names on them. I have his hub on the rear of a bike and it is an 8 pound torque monster. One thing not mentioned much about these motors, is that they are very efficient. Quite a bit more so the the Crystalite ones. I can go 35 miles on a 48 volt 15AH Lifepo4 at an average speed of 20 MPH on a 20 inch bike.

http://www.texaselectricbikes.com/catal ... p-163.html

[voicecoils]

Doug at EV tech engineered and designed the geared hub motor over a period of many years.

Thanks for the history, AndyS. Was Doug actually the first to make them happen? I don't know how much good a patent would do in China. I've listed his motor towards the top of the thread.

[docnjoj]

Solarbbq2003 has P2b which is brushless! The P2a is a great geared motor but has brushes. About 400 Aus $ delivered! Check the website for updates! Bretts a prince to deal with!
otherDoc

Thanks Docnjoj, I've added details of his motor above. Do you have one?

Yeah! I ran it into the ground over about 1800 miles on my big trike! Great little motor, but brushed! I only do old tech!
otherDoc

[The7]

Yeah! I ran it into the ground over about 1800 miles on my big trike! Great little motor, but brushed! I only do old tech!
otherDoc

How often do you need to renew the brushes?

[voicecoils]

Solarbbq2003 has P2b which is brushless! The P2a is a great geared motor but has brushes. About 400 Aus $ delivered! Check the website for updates! Bretts a prince to deal with!
otherDoc

Thanks Docnjoj, I've added details of his motor above. Do you have one?

Yeah! I ran it into the ground over about 1800 miles on my big trike! Great little motor, but brushed! I only do old tech!
otherDoc

Just to clarify, you "ran it into the ground", so you've killed it? This is the P2a (brushed and geared) your talking about, yeah?

[andys]

Doug told me not only did he come up with the geared hub design, but he has upgraded it several times. the last changes he made was to have them built to take a standard mountain bike disc rotor as direct bolt on, and a larger diameter axle for more strength and to allow for bigger gauge wires. The ones he is selling are also built with US made bearings, and not the Chinese ones. He is supplying a CNC machined torque arm with each motor now as well.

I just ordered another one.

[shinyballs]

Is the axle of the Bafang motor hollow? What's the weight limit for the rear can it carry?

[docnjoj]

P2A brushed
Yeah! The axle spun and finally had to be rethreaded! Then the steel drive gear broke its bearings. Finally it spun 1 too many times (using CL torque arm they suck) and I retired it! May have to rebuild it, but the brushes are still fine! Its fairly quiet! Its agreat little motor but cant get them any more from Brett!
otherDoc