Since the launch of the Revonte ONE Drive System, there's one question that we get asked a lot.
| How does the Revonte ONE Drive System actually work? |
The functioning principle behind our drive unit is surprisingly simple, and the basic understanding can be reached rather quickly without the need for a degree in engineering. To ease the explanation process, we made a video that lists the components found inside the drive system and describes how they function in unison and produce an unprecedented ride experience.
See the video below to learn more!
In writing Instead?If you prefer a written explanation instead – with the aid of some illustrative photos – keep on reading.
In a typical transmission system, a lot of gear pairs are needed to provide a wide range of gears found on a modern mountain bike. Until now, this has been accomplished by running one sprocket in the front and a dense row of cogs on the rear in a form of a cassette. It's not a stretch to say that we are reaching the limits of this solution when the number of cogs is pushed up to a dozen, and the biggest one resembles a dinner plate in size.
In the Revonte ONE Drive System, the complex array of sprockets has been replaced with simple planetary gear which consists of the following components:
• Sun gear is located in the center.
• Planet gears are the three small gears that connect the inner and outer parts of the gear system.
• Ring gear is the outer ring. Opposed to the other parts of the planetary gear, the teeth profile is found on the inner surface. It's also the largest in diameter of all of the three parts.
But How Does it Work?In a typical planetary gear system, the ring gear is stationary while the sun and planet gears are free to rotate. This type of arrangement provides a fixed gear ratio.
In our system, all three parts of the planetary gear system are free to rotate, including the ring gear. Thanks to this, the Revonte ONE Drive System provides a continuously variable transmission which is unprecedented in the world of bicycles, mountain bike or not. The same technology has been used with a proven track record in automotive and industrial applications.
The ring gear (the big ring with the teeth on its inner surface) is connected to the chainring, and thus the cranks. The power produced from the drive unit and by the rider is transferred to the back wheel by a chain. Since the drivetrain is implemented with
a simple single-speed system, a belt drive is also an option if one desires to forgo the occasional lubing and cleaning procedure.
The planet gears are connected to the pedal axle with a clutch mechanism, which enables independent function between the two, and consequently engagement when pedaling. Consequently, the sun gear is rotated by the electric motor.
Double DownAs opposed to current e-bike drive units, the Revonte ONE Drive System has two electric motors: the control motor and the assistance motor.
For the drive unit to work, the power of the control motor needs to match the power of the rider. The power produced by the control motor is all but wasted, though. All the power produced by the motors is converted to a propulsive force moving the bike forward, and therefore upping the fun factor while tackling the trail.
Thanks to the unique construction and the two electric motors, the Revonte ONE Drive System can double the rider's power output and torque! On top of this, the peak outputs can be reached starting from 0rpm, which is especially beneficial for steep hill starts or when wanting to accelerate as aggressively as possible in order to grab those precious (e)KOMs.
Next Level Ride ExperienceAs one can see, the Revonte ONE Drive System makes the derailleur obsolete. Instead of having to rely on a fragile and rock-luring component for shifting duties, all the gear components are enclosed and well-protected inside the drive unit casing. Besides being protected and low maintenance, placing all the components around the bottom bracket brings some considerable benefits for
weight distribution and suspension performance.
Besides the benefits listed above, the automatic & stepless function is the real game-changer when it comes to the ride experience as a whole.
| What gear am I on? On the right ONE. |
With the Revonte ONE Drive System, one can concentrate on the essentials; line choices, sections to apply brakes, and having as much fun as possible. The amount of mental energy freed up by forgoing the constant shifting is considerable – something that is hard to realize before it's experienced first-hand. If on the other hand, you prefer the traditional way of doing things, indexed shifting remains an option; it's only a matter of choosing the type of assistance mode with a push of a button from the handlebar
Controller.
What's In the Works?"When will it be available?" usually follows in close succession after learning the functioning principle behind the Revonte ONE Drive System. And thirdly, are there going to be bike models that are capable of handling the demands of mountain biking, including gravity-focused disciplines?
No specific information can be given at this point, but we can say that development projects are underway with some household names in the industry. In addition to the traditional two-wheeled bikes, we have established a strong position in the cargo e-bike market by partnering with
EAV – a company from the UK with a similarly forward-thinking attitude.
Stay tuned, follow our media feeds, and
Revonte.com for future press releases to learn more in the future.
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