This bike could be the future of e-bikes

Imagine an electric bike motor that lets you choose your preferred pedaling cadence and automatically shift gears to keep your legs spinning at the same speed, no matter how steep the hill – all without a flimsy derailleur or heavy multi-speed cassette to take care of. Prefer manual control? No problem, you can have as many gears as you want in any ratio that makes you feel more connected to the environment. That’s the e-bike that was announced last week at the big Eurobike trade show in Frankfurt, by not just one company, but two.

Pictured above is the MG Concept. It’s a Motor Gearbox Unit, or MGU, from Avinox, a DJI spinoff upending electric mountain bike. Avinox made its debut two years ago with the launch of its impressive M1 machine that packed unprecedented power into a mid-size car, lighter, and more affordable than anything offered by competitors like Bosch or Specialized – and Avinox just launched. upgrade M2-series two months ago. The MG Concept takes things a step further by combining an electric motor with a brake system inside a single, integrated housing that allows bike manufacturers to eliminate derailleurs and cassettes.

Avinox was not alone. The concept of MG started with a lot of similarities X-series MGUs was also announced last week with the new Gobao. These next-generation motors could revolutionize the way e-bikes are built, though they’re all starting to drive low-cost e-bikes that can cost $10,000 or more.

Like Formula 1, eMTBs are a showcase of technology for manufacturers whose customers are willing to pay top dollar to benefit from them. The trend towards eMTBs will eventually trickle down to the entire bike market, as we’ve seen recently with new innovations. Amflow TL “eSUV” built around an Avinox M2 type motor, derailleur, and cassette.

Existing MGUs, as developed by Pinionalready include a gearbox inside the motor housing, but they still rely on a fixed number of fixed gears. The innovation behind both Avinox’s MG Concept and Gobao’s X-series motors is the integrated eCVT (Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission) which adds a computerized layer to eliminate mechanical shifting.

The new two-stage gearbox with integrated eCVTs has infinitely variable gears that change continuously and seamlessly, meaning there are no constant steps between gears (unless you need them). You can define as many gears as you want with your favorite gears. The system measures your speed, pedal speed, and position in real time. The motors also have an auto mode that keeps your legs in motion at all times, resulting in a consistent ride “Stepless” changes I was excited in 2023, when I first looked at a bike with a CVT mechanical Enviolo.

E-bikes built around these new gearboxes should benefit from a tight transmission that requires little maintenance, gears that can shift quickly when under heavy load or at a standstill, and better control by moving the rear wheels to the center of the bike.

The Avinox MG was developed in collaboration with Canyon, Commencal, Forbidden, and Mondraker, who all had eMTBs on display at Eurobike – three with chainrings, and one with a belt. Gobao used a self-made electric bicycle in the exhibition to demonstrate its previous products. Initial reports from the show found all of the MGUs to be very interesting, as well better and quieter than existing Pinion MGUs.

And looking at electric bikes right now, if the new MGU model looks reliable and affordable, expect the motors to migrate to commuter, cargo, and family e-bikes over the next few years.

Gobao says it will start mass production X1 (120Nm of torque / 1200W max power) and X1P (150Nm / 1500W) in February 2027According to Bikebizand is targeting eMTBs and categories of “urban, touring, cargo, and SUV.” Avinox offers limited requirements, committing to launch sometime in 2027. Its production MG motor is expected to produce torque and power similar to Gobao, and “easily adapted to eMTB, eTrekking, eSUV, eGravel and other types of bicycles.”

Me personally I’m in charge. I’ve done it by jumping and twisting derailleurs on rocks and urban bikes, and digging mud and grit out of cassettes. It’s time for people to be able to climb mountains or carry heavy loads, even if it’s just bringing the kids to school on a double-decker road.