What Makes a Good E-bike Drive System – And How We’ve Met the Demanding List of Criteria

Jukka Mäennenä on 2021-08-06

Even though the e-bike industry can be considered quite young, a considerable amount of maturation has taken place in just a couple of years. Gone are the days when a bike manufacturer can bolt a motor around the bottom bracket, place a battery on top of the pannier rack and call it an e-bike.  Besides more polished looks the assistance behaviour has improved by leaps and bounds – and the Revonte ONE Drive System is going to take it to the next level. 

Read further to learn more.

Ride Experience

When it comes to evaluating drive system performance, assistance behaviour rules the game. No matter how nice looking, light or easy to use the system is, it does not matter if the ride experience resembles that of a cheap scooter that gas water mixed in the gas tank. 

We’ve taken great care in developing the assistance behaviour of the Revonte ONE Drive System to the extent that it feels as if the bike is thinking already one step ahead. How is this accomplished you might ask? By refining the software with the aid of continuous and prolonged testing and by using high-quality sensors to detect even the smallest actions performed by the rider. 

A close second to the assistance behaviour is the ease of use. Conveniently the Revonte ONE Drive System scores the very top on this department, thanks to its automatic & stepless transmission. Just pedal – the bike will take care of the rest! 

Configurability – on more than one level 

It is already commonplace that a drive system has some level of inbuilt configurability by offering the choice between different assistance modes and possibly even more detailed settings. With the Revonte ONE Drive System, we’ve taken the configurability aspect to the next level. 

First, the bike manufacturer can configure the drive system according to their needs, whether it’s a commuter bike or a heavy-duty cargo e-bike. After the initial specs the end-user – meaning the rider – can configure the drive system according to their wishes or needs via our dedicated app. 

Inbuilt Modularity

What makes the Revonte ONE Drive System truly unique is that a single drive unit can be used in all types of bikes from a high-performance e-mtb to a commuter designed year-round daily use. From a bike manufacturer’s perspective, this is a very welcomed feature since it lessens the needed design considerations, product variants and stock overhead. 

And that’s not all. The Revonte AKKU is the smartest e-bike battery out there for a good reason. Both AKKU 5 and AKKU 7 share the same form factor, i.e., they have the same physical dimensions, hence making them interchangeable. This enables the bike manufacturer, or the rider, to spec his or her bike with just the right amount of energy storage capacity. 

The various inbuilt modular features make the Revonte ONE Drive System the ultimate choice both from bike manufacturers, but also from rider’s perspective.

Reliability

When it comes to power transmission, the century-old chain is still looking for a worthy rival. With the Revonte ONE Drive System, one can use a wide single-speed chain which is the most robust and durable type there is. Add to that the fact that the ingenious design of the Revonte ONE Drive Unit makes damage-prone derailleur obsolete, the reliability factor gets multiplied. 

As a nice bonus replacing the whole drivetrain costs only a fraction of that compared to a set consisting of a complex cassette, multi-speed chain and compatible chainring. 

Up to Date

Nobody likes to ride an old bike, especially if a newer or better model is available. There is no way to stop the ongoing technological development – which is only a good thing – but we’ve done everything in our power to keep Revonte ONE Drive System up to date and performing at its best for as long as possible.

How can this be done once the bike has left the factory floor then? By software updates which can be made swiftly and effortlessly, thanks to the inbuilt 4G connection which is a default feature in the Revonte ONE Drive System. 

In Closing

An e-bike drive system has to tick a lot of boxes to be a top performer in all areas. Revonte ONE Drive System does this with flying colours and goes even beyond that. The automatic & stepless transmission and the simple construction of the drivetrain itself take the e-bike ride experience and ease of use to an unprecedented level.

The one and truly smart drive system out there – Revonte ONE.

Lessons from the Industry

Jukka Mäennenä on 2021-04-30

The bicycle drivetrain started as a direct mount application where the pedals were attached directly to the hub. The use of a chain in the form of a single-speed drivetrain was the next phase of evolution. The possibility of changing gears rapidly while riding followed next with the aid of a derailleur. This is the phase we are now still, but this needs to change.

E-bikes create a whole new set of requirements for the drivetrain – which the Revonte ONE Drive System solves brilliantly. Read further to learn why that is.

A Brief Primer

The addition of electric assistance to the drivetrain creates a whole new set of design conditions and demands. When it comes to e-bikes, the technology used in traditional bike can’t be fully adopted – or not at least with the assumption that the performance will be flawless across the board. 

When it comes to other components, such as the frame, cockpit parts, suspension and even brakes, the current technology serves us well when it’s adopted e-bike applications. The drivetrain, however, is of special interest in this case. 

The addition of electrical assistance with the need for fast, reliable and shifting creates a whole new situation that hasn’t existed before the era of e-bikes. This leads us to the topic of loads. 

Low and High-Loads

The traditional bicycle drivetrain can be defined as a mechanism that’s subjected to low-loads, at least with the majority of use cases. A strong rider can without a doubt apply a respectable amount of torque and power to the pedals, but when compared to figures seen in industrial applications the numbers are meagre at best.

This makes the bicycle drivetrain a low-load application which the technology used so far has been able to cope with. 

The situation changes, however, when a powerful e-bike motor is added to the equation. In practical terms, it can double the torque and output that the drivetrain components are subjected to. Now we move on to the high-load territory. When talking about demanding applications like cargo e-bikes, this matter gets even more pronounced. 

A chain can handle loads like this without a problem, but the same can’t be said about the entirety of the drivetrain. As it’s often said, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Interestingly, the chain isn’t necessarily the weakest link in this scenario, but how it’s used. A chain will do its task diligently, but moving it sideways from one cog to the next under tension creates a set of problems – as most e-bike enthusiasts have surely noted.

Things That Used to Matter

Historically cyclists have been nearly obsessed with weight which has led to the use of “materials” such as drillium. When not taken to the extreme, making bikes and other human-powered vehicles responsibly light makes sense. The power to weight ratio does matter somewhat, whether one likes it or not. 

With the advent of e-bikes, the set of circumstances and limiting factors we are dealing with are quite different! First of all, when the assistance of the drive unit is added to the equation, the weight of the bike becomes almost a non-issue. Trying to make e-bikes as light as possible in exchange for performance and/or durability is an exercise in futility. 

The same line of thinking applies to efficiency. With traditional bikes, efficiency is best kept in the high 90’s or so, but with e-bikes, one gets a lot more leeway when the drive unit is churning with steady assistance of 250W – an output that will take a considerable amount of training to sustain for hours on end.  

Tried and True Solutions

Traditional bicycle drivetrains tick the boxes somewhat well when it comes to efficiency and low-weight. When it comes to e-bikes, these criteria become nearly marginal. Instead, reliability, robustness, easy shifting and low maintenance are things that are wanted.

A quick look outside of the bicycle industry gives obvious clues of the direction of what a winning drivetrain would look like. When it comes to automotive, industrial or even motorcycle applications, in none of these (or very rarely at least) you see a chain or a belt transferred from one cog to the next. Instead, gearboxes and other similar robust and oftentimes enclosed systems are more than prevalent. 

When it comes to e-bikes, we can do better than what’s available currently. This is where Revonte ONE Drive System steps in; a robust, reliable and low maintenance transmission. And we haven’t even mentioned the automatic stepless gearing feature which will provide an unprecedented ride-experience. 

In Summary

Until now bicycles have been optimized around weight and efficiency. Although still somewhat important, they are far from the top of the criteria list when it comes to e-bike applications. Traditional bicycles are in the low-load category when it comes to drivetrain characteristics. In the case of e-bikes, we are moving significantly closer to the high-load territory and its accompanying design conditions. 

This simple characterisation should be taken into account in the design of the whole drivetrain, and that’s what we are doing with the Revonte ONE Drive System while also improving the ride-experience significantly; just pedal and the bike will do the rest!

This simple characterisation should be taken into account in the design of the whole drivetrain, and that’s what we are doing with the Revonte ONE Drive System. It’s more than capable of handling the high demands of a modern e-bike power transmission while also improving reliability and last but not least, the ride-experience itself; just pedal and the bike will do the rest!

Video: Revonte ONE Transmission Explained

Jukka Mäennenä on 2021-04-16

How does the Revonte ONE Drive System actually work? 

That’s one question we get asked – a lot! The functioning principle behind our drive unit is surprisingly simple. The basic understanding can be reached rather quickly, even if one does not calculate gear ratios as a leisure pastime. 

In order to make things more simple, and save time on both ends – yours and ours – we made a video that takes a deep dive inside the Revonte ONE Drive Unit. With the aid of some neat animation work, one part of the 

How a complex transmission and an e-bike motor can be fitted in such a small package? Watch the video to learn more! 

If a written version is your preferred format in learning new things, a text version with some illustrative photos can be seen below.

In a typical transmission system, a lot of gear pairs are needed to provide a wide range of gears found on a modern bicycle. Until now, this has been accomplished by running one or more sprockets in front and a cassette in the rear which can have up to 12 sprockets. In the Revonte ONE Drive System, the whole complex array of sprockets has been replaced with simple planetary gear.

Components

A planetary gear consists of three parts:

  • 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.

Function

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 bicycle world. 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 or a belt. 

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.

The sun gear is rotated by the electric motor. 

The Automatic & stepless function

The secret sauce behind the Revonte ONE Drive System is found in the planetary gear and how its configured to the electric control motor. When the control motor is idle (e.g. it does not rotate), the drive unit runs on its lowest gear.

Consequently, when the control motor rotates the sun gear, gearing increases. 

Running Double Duty

As you might have deduced already, 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 isn’t wasted, though. All the power produced by the motors is converted to a propulsive force moving the bike forward. 

The assistance motor is connected to the ring gear, and thus also to the chainring. 

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 cargo e-bike use, for example.

Now you have a basic understanding of what’s happening inside the Revonte ONE Drive Unit, and we hope the video, and the accompanying text managed to satisfy your curiosity.

Make sure to follow our YouTube channel and social media feeds to stay up to date!

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AKKU – The most Versatile E-bike Battery In the Game

Jukka Mäennenä on 2021-02-26

From the start, the Revonte ONE Drive System was planned to be a complete system that offers a one-stop solution for e-bike manufacturers. An essential part of this is the energy storage system, i.e. the battery. The Revonte AKKU complements the Revonte ONE Drive System exceptionally well, thus making the drive system complete.

Read further what makes the AKKU the most advanced e-bike battery in the market. 

Configurable by Nature

A high degree of configurability runs deep in the core of the Revonte ONE Drive System. Consequently, we wanted to keep this overarching principle in mind when designing our battery. It would make little sense to design the most configurable and advanced e-bike drive system on the market only to later limit its capabilities by an additional component.

Needless to say, we are very pleased with the final product and the Revonte  AKKU crossed all the boxes it was intended to, and even more. In the following, we cover the main features found in Revonte AKKU and why it’s the most advanced e-bike battery in the market.

Two models

From the start, it was decided that two models will be offered in order to fulfil match every use case and price point found in the market. 

Looking for a more affordable bike and long-range isn’t on top of your priorities? Then a battery with a smaller capacity will serve its purpose more than well and it makes little sense to pay extra for the energy storage capacity which isn’t needed.

On the other hand, if long-range and ample battery capacity is of the essence, then it’s best to choose a model with the biggest battery possible, and this is where the Revonte AKKU truly shines with its Smart Linkin Feature which is covered later. 

The two models are named according to their capacities. The AKKU 5 has a capacity of 530Wh, whereas the AKKU 7 boasts a capacity of 705Wh. Both models use the latest 21700 Li-ion cell technology which ensures long battery life, and excellent properties when it comes to charging and high discharge currents. The latter is vital for high power peaks and high-torque situations of which the Revonte ONE Drive Unit is capable of. 

Interchangeable Sizing

Lot’s of functions and configurations with a minimal amount of product variants. This is the ethos of the Revonte ONE Drive System and the fact that the ONE Drive Unit can be fitted to any type of e-bike, whether it’s high performing e-mtb, commuter bike or cargo e-bike, is a testament to that. All the finer tuning and configurations are done solely by software.

Both AKKU 5 and AKKU 7 share the same physical dimensions to keep the possible product and design variants at a minimum. This is especially beneficial from a bike manufacturers point of view since there’s no need to modify the battery compartment and interface of the frame depending on which AKKU model is used.

Besides this, the end-user has the freedom to upgrade to the larger AKKU 7 model later on, if more range or just longer timespans between recharging are to be desired.  

Smart Linking Feature

Last, but definitely not least is the Smart Linking Feature which makes the Revonte AKKU a true outperformer in the e-bike battery game. Thanks to the forward-thinking battery management system, BMS for short, up to four AKKU batteries can be connected in parallel, thus bumping the overall energy storage up to over 2.8kWh!

This amount of energy will keep a cargo e-bike going a full work shift will still leaving some “juice” in the tank. Ample battery capacity enabled by the Smart Linking Feature will benefit more conventional bike types as well. For example, embedding two AKKU’s in the downtube of a traditional e-bike produces a combined battery capacity of 1410Wh, which has been unheard of until now.

Sure, it does come with some additional weight, but in applications where exceptionally long ranges are high on the priority list, this is an option that can be built without any additional components or parts. All the “smarts” are already included in the highly developed BMS.

A Result of Collaboration

The Revonte AKKU was developed in collaboration with AKKU Vision GmbH, a leader in battery development from Germany.

The end product and especially the features it offers distinguish it in the market by a clear margin: latest Li-ion cell technology, easy customization for e-bike manufacturers, and the Smart Linking Feature which can be found only from the AKKU-powered Revonte ONE System.

One Drive System with many possibilities to power it. Choose the one that suits your needs the best.

Stepless Transmission Makes a Revolutionary Ride-experience

Jukka Mäennenä on 2021-02-11

Almost since the advent of a modern bicycle, the stepless transmissions – and internal gearing solutions in general – have been the subject of plenty of discussions. Until now, the practical applications have been far, and between which is related to the criterions bicycles pose the gearing system used.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the challenges the bicycle gearing systems impose to the design, and most importantly, the practical implications of the stepless transmission which the Revonte ONE Drive System enables. Hold on tight and enjoy!

Bicycle Drivetrain

“If it would be easy, everybody would be doing it.”

This certainly holds for designing bicycle drivetrains since coming up with a good, and most importantly, an applicable solution is a tricky proposition. Since bicycles are (mostly) human-powered, a high degree of efficiency is of the essence. The oat-powered combustion engines, also known as humans, do not produce watts to spare. Therefore, high efficiency is needed to keep the bike moving in an efficient manner.

Not only that, there’s a weight limit – at least theoretically. Cyclists are notorious when it comes to making their vehicles lighter, and therefore anything that adds even a bit of weight to the bike is at least initially met with a cringe, even though the benefits would be otherwise clear. 

By now it comes quite evident why bicycle drivetrains have remained relatively unchanged for a long period. As the saying goes: long-lasting, lightweight, and cheap – pick any two. 

That is until now, however. The Revonte ONE Drive System is about to change that. with its ingenious design which combines a robust mechanical design and sophisticated control software all in the same package. To get an idea what the former looks like, refer to the previously published article at Pinkbike.

Pinkbike.com – A Look Inside the Automatic and Stepless Revonte ONE Drive E-Mtb System. 

The Human Element

Cadence is the speed of which the rider spins the pedals, and therefore the cranks attached to them. Cadence is quantified with rotations per minute, rpm’s for short. If the rider spins the pedals 80 times a minute, that would give a cadence of 80rpm and so forth.   

A lot of testing, spreadsheets, and sweat has gone into finding the optimum cadence when it comes to power production and efficiency. To make the (very) long story short, no perfect cadence exists. Instead, there’s a range in which the majority of the riders fall. Oftentimes the optimal range falls between 80-90rpm. Individual differences play a role as does riding experience; more experienced riders tend to favour slightly higher cadences. The preferred cadence is also task-dependent; riding on a steady pace is another matter compared to an all-out sprint.   

The most-honed pedalling motion has even a dedicated word for it – souplesse.

Riding with Indexed Gears

Anyone who has thrown their leg over a bicycle knows that keeping the pedals spinning close to optimal cadence is the ticket for enjoyable ride-experience and efficient locomotion. The optimal cadence range is largely determined by the function of the nervous system and the force-velocity relationship of the muscles involved. As anyone can surely attest, producing a good amount of force against the pedals gets quite challenging, especially if done for long periods of time. 

With traditional gearing, the rider goes through the gears to stay in her or his optimal or preferred cadence range. When accelerating, the rider goes through the gears since there’s a feeling of “spinning out”. An analogy of a traditional car isn’t far off. When accelerating after a stop in traffic lights, one needs to go into 2nd gear, then 3rd etc., to not to rev out the engine. 

The Stepless Revolution

The ingenious design of the Revonte ONE Drive System turns the ride-experience nearly upside down – and in a good way! When accelerating with traditional gears, the cadence starts from zero and increases to the riders preferred range which is followed by going through the gears in a step by step fashion.

With the Revonte ONE Drive System, the rider reaches the preferred cadence sooner, and can simply hold it almost independently to the speed of the bike. Riding has never been so easy – just pedal and ride! A schematic photo below illustrates the differences between the traditional gears and the Revonte ONE Drive System of which function is illustrated by the slashed line.

A schematic illustration about the differences between indexed and steeples gearing.

Configurable by Software

The goodness does not end here. Besides the sturdy and enclosed mechanical design of the Revonte ONE Drive System, the assistant characteristics and therefore the ride-experience can be tailored according to the type of the bike by the manufacturer, and later by the end-user, meaning the owner of the bike.

Cadence, which has been mentioned several times already, is just one of the many variables that can be tailored via our mobile application. 

Do you want your e-bike to behave like a sports car with poppy acceleration? No problem, it can be done. Or do you prefer to have a more mild-mannered bike which adjusts to the changing situations more calmly? That’s on the menu as well. On top of these, the Revonte ONE Drive System can be set emulate a traditional indexed-shifting mode as well if that’s preferred in certain situations. 

Advanced mechanical and software engineering are combined in the Revonte ONE Drive System, which brings a ride-experience with unprecedented features. 

Cargo E-bikes – What It Takes to Be a Winner?

Jukka Mäennenä on 2021-01-27

On our previous post, we took a look into EAV and their vast range of cargo e-bikes. We are especially excited to be partnering with a company who shares the same forward-thinking philosophy as us, and that they’re quickly established the pioneer status of the rapidly growing cargo e-bike segment.

In this post, we take a look at what it takes to build a market-leading cargo e-bike and what demands it poses to the drive system.

Metrics Matter

The cargo e-bikes can be considered as a high-performance sector, even though this might not sound intuitive. Moving heavy payloads, and accelerating up steep inclines poses great demands on the drive unit. Even though Revonte ONE Drive System has a lot more going on than just performance metrics, it has plenty of brawn in the form of high torque and peak power to back up the promises. 

See a practical demonstration of the torque capabilities in our recent video.

To power a cargo e-bike, not to mention a heavily loaded one, an ample amount of torque is needed. The ease of use is maximized by our unique stepless and automatic assist mode – no need to change gears, just pedal and enjoy the ride!

Go the Distance

The demands of high torque situations and appreciable payloads come with a cost, and the currency in question is energy. In order to have a respectable range and a battery life which covers an entire workday, we’ve developed the Revonte AKKU – the most versatile e-bike battery in the market.

By using the latest 21700 Li-ion cells the AKKU offers excellent energy storage capabilities, high outputs to power even the most demanding situations, fast charging and long life. The AKKU was developed in collaboration with Akku Vision GmbH, a leader in battery development from Germany. 

Two models will be available: AKKU 5 and AKKU 7. The former has the capacity of 530Wh, and the latter 705Wh, respectively. Different capacities are provided to meet every price point and need in the market. Despite the different capacities, both models share the same physical dimensions, making them interchangeable. 

What makes AKKU a true powerhouse in cargo e-bike use is its unique Smart Connection feature which makes it possible to connect up to four AKKU’s in parallel, therefore giving a combined capacity of over 2.8kWh. Smart Connection function has the flexibility to the extent that it can be used with AKKU’s of different capacities, and charge states. All this can be done without any additional devices or electronics, thanks to the smart in-built battery management system AKKU has.

Special Requirements 

EAV has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the requirements specified from the industry – and by this, we mean some of the biggest players in the world of logistics. It goes without saying that we’ve listened carefully what they have to say.

Cargo tracking and inventory requires a high level of connectivity. We have met this criterion from the start since our drive unit has in-built 4G, GPS and Bluetooth. Whatever the task, provided the relevant software architecture exists, our drive system can log, track or sort it. 

Remote diagnostics is another feature we’ve had on our spec list from the start. Thanks to the powerful software humming inside the Revonte ONE Drive System it has more than adequate capabilities to recognize and communicate any detected problems to the user and further up the chain if needed.

Consider the End-user

When designing a product, it is imperative to consider the requirements posed by all parties in the chain: manufacturer, customer, and end-user. As can be seen from the broad range of EAV’s fleet, their products are directed mostly to professional use. When it comes to commercial applications, especially in the field of logistics, the three things surface themselves time and time again. 

Efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.

Since energy stores are finite (applies to both; battery and the rider), the drive system needs to highly efficient to prevail in the competitive market. Reliability is nearly self-explanatory; non-moving cargo e-bike does not transport any goods and is more of a liability instead of an asset, which holds true to any type of vehicle used in logistics.

The highly configurable nature and the fact that the Revonte ONE Drive System is compatible with any type of bike with no variations in hardware makes it a winning choice for cargo e-bikes. Our partnership with EAV will be a testament to that. 

The Bicycle Drivetrain – How Would It Look like If It Were Simple?

Jukka Mäennenä on 2020-12-14

“How would this look like if it were simple?” 

This is a basic question used in engineering which might spark much needed new approaches to the otherwise plateaued design process. When the question is applied to bicycle drivetrain, some interesting observations can be made, and difficult questions asked.

If It Was Simple?

When posing the question at hand to bicycle drivetrains, and especially on e-bikes, an answer including a protruding rear derailleur with a dozen or so chainrings hardly comes to the mind. This is further accentuated by the fact that there’s plenty of operating power available since the bike is already equipped with a battery of large storage capacity, such as the Revonte AKKU. 

Uniting the gears and the motor in one unit, and placing inside a housing protected from the elements make sense in every level. This is how an e-bike drivetrain should look like; simple on the outside while a lot of engineering has gone to make it so. 

This is what we have set out to do with the Revonte ONE Drive System and we are glad that the industry has taken note. Our first partners were especially fast to see the benefits our system has to offer. 

A Take from Lavelle

We established a partnership with Lavelle Bikes at the beginning of 2020. In this case, the collaboration is especially fitting since we share the same values and a strong will to make bicycles better. When it comes to drivetrains, and especially on e-bikes, we both feel that there’ is a lot that could be improved. 

Lavelle Bikes has a very clear stance on how an e-bike drivetrain should be built. “Gears should not be located on the rear wheel, and derailleur gears are a poor choice for any consumer bicycle,” states Paul Lavelle, the CEO of Lavelle Bikes.

He further adds. “We believe the best location for gears is at the bottom bracket, and that is why we are so delighted to team up with Revonte who is manufacturing a mid-drive motor and gear system all in one unit.” 

The Many Benefits

The advantages of a combined motor and gearbox built around the bottom bracket are clear and manyfold: 

  • Ease of installation and service. It is surprising how many bike owners can’t perform basic service operations because of the complexity of the rear derailleur and cassette. 
  • Elegant, and simple looks! A single-speed drivetrain consisting of a wide chain – or a belt – and one pair of sprockets is pleasing to the eye.
  • Robustness. A single-speed drivetrain is durable and care-free as opposed to derailleur-based solutions. The same applies to belt drive on which the Lavelle Bikes P2R uses. 
  • No parts that are easily broken. The Revonte ONE Drive System does not have any external parts that are prone to damage.
  • More mileage with lower costs. A single-speed chain or a belt drive will outperform derailleur-based drivetrains on durability and will give more mileage out of one set of components. On top of that, replacing the worn-out parts comes with a significantly lower price tag, especially if divided by the total mileage.

It is worth noting, that all of the listed benefits apply, no matter if it’s a regular commuter bike, a high-performance e-mtb, or a ground-breaking design as in the Lavelle Bikes P2R.

The Ride Experience

Besides the listed benefits above, one thing matters almost above all else – the ride experience. We have gone to great length in developing the hardware inside the Revonte ONE Drive Unit, but as much if not even more design work and engineering has gone into the control software. 

The resulting ride experience is something that is highly valued by our partners, and finally, the customers. “The Revonte system permits a fully automatic system – just pedal, that’s all there is to it!“, Paul Lavelle lists one of the major benefits of our drive system. 

The derailleur-based gears have hanged on for surprisingly long. The advent of e-bikes was the much-needed catalyst for the bike industry to move to the next level and we are doing just that with our partners. 

Ps. Interestingly enough, search for the simplest approach applies to all things in life, not just in engineering. 

Why Revonte ONE Is the Drive System of Choice for Cargo E-bikes

Jukka Mäennenä on 2020-11-09

E-bikes are taking an ever-growing share of the bicycle market pie. With the advent of new bike types that were not even on the map some years ago, such as cargo e-bikes, the need for a matching drive system is higher than ever before. Even the most conservative predictions indicate that the popularity and therefore the market share of e-bikes is growing at a fast pace.

Our drive system will power any type of e-bike with a single set of hardware. From the start we’ve designed our drive system to be highly adaptable. When this is coupled with the high performance metrics and unrivaled battery capacity, we have a true winner when it comes to cargo e-bike drive systems.

Enter the Revonte ONE Drive System. Read further to learn more about its unique benefits and forward-thinking that makes it the drive system of choice for cargo e-bikes.

The Versatile Powerhouse

The Revone ONE Drive Unit has a lot of going on inside its stealth black surface. The housing contains the motor, the gears and circuit boards – or smarts as we like to call them – all in one compact package. As all high-performance motors, the Revonte ONE Drive Unit is a mid-motor. For cargo e-bikes, this motor type is the superior choice in every way. 

From the start of the design we wanted to have “one hardware” to fit all types of bikes – hence the name, ONE. A testament to this is that the Revonte ONE Drive System can be easily adopted from a city commuter bike to an heavy-duty cargo e-bike. All of the configurations are done on the software side. 

Even though the raw performance metrics are just one part of ride characteristics, Revonte ONE Drive System is all but a wallflower in this game. Very high peak values in torque and power guarantees that an even heavily loaded bike will accelerate in a quick fashion, be it flat or uphill. How much are those numbers exactly? “Enough”, as one British car manufacturer states their engine power.

Staying Connected 

All the “smarts” aren’t packed into the Revonte Drive Unit for nothing. Besides withholding the control electronics needed for delivering the smooth and honed assistance behaviour, it includes all the connectivity technology that one could wish for. In-built GPS, 4G and Bluetooth enables not only efficient communication between the drive system and the rider via our app, but also brings other features to the table which are highly valuable in a professional setting, especially when it comes to cargo e-bikes.

For example, GPS and 4G enable real-time cargo tracking with pinpoint accuracy, therefore making pick-ups and deliveries possible even on a short notice, not unlike how Taxi cabs operate in current times. Of course, the final list of services and options are to be decided by the service provider. But most importantly, the Revonte ONE Drive System opens the door for possibilities that have been so far on a nearly uncharted territory. 

Tailored Battery Technology

The Revonte AKKU is the most flexible e-bike battery in the market, and for a good reason! Packed with the latest Li-ion 21700 cell technology, it provides state of the art features when it comes to battery life, capability of high power outputs, and charging properties. The AKKU is offered in two models to accommodate a variety of needs and price points existing in the market. The two models are named the AKKU 5 and AKKU 7. Their respectable capacities are 530Wh, and 705Wh, respectably. 

The unique smart linking feature makes it possible to connect up to four batteries in parallel with the combined capacity of over 2,8kWh! This is a truly competitive advantage in the cargo e-bike domain since large battery capacity will keep the bike and cargo running for a full workday or even more without the need to stop for a recharge or battery change. 

Adam Barbmy, the CEO of EAV, values this feature highly because of the increased  operating range which is one of the decisive factors in commercial cargo e-bike applications. “We want to offer a range from 30-120km per day depending on application.”, says Adam. 

Learn more about our collaboration with EAV from our previous press release.

Revonte ONE Drive System to Power EAV Cargo E-Bikes  

Best of all, the smart connection feature of the Revonte AKKU does not require any additional electronics or components. The battery itself and the battery management system (BMS for short) was developed in tight collaboration with Akku Vision GmbH, a German industry leader in battery technology, with the goal of creating the most advanced and user-friendly solution for storing propulsive energy for e-bike use.

ONE Drive System for Every Need

The Revonte ONE Drive System is the most versatile drive system in the market, catering the needs of every e-bike type imaginable, all the way from propelling an ordinary commuter to powering a fleet of cargo e-bikes which fill the last-mlle gap in the logistics chain.

The mid-drive construction, simple and low-maintenance single-speed drivetrain, top-of the line performance metrics and highly configurable nature of the Revonte ONE Drive System make it the smartest drive system around, no matter if the application is heavy commercial use or occasional leisure ride with heavier than usual carry-ons.

Get in touch with our sales team to learn more and have your cargo e-bike equipped with the Revonte ONE Drive System, the leading choice for cargo e-bikes.

Cargo E-bikes – From Latecomer to Industry Leader

Jukka Mäennenä on 2020-10-28

E-bikes are taking an ever-growing share of the bicycle market pie. In a short time span, the electric brethren has evolved from an absurdity into a market drawcard  – and this applies to every type of bicycle. Cargo e-bikes are a relative latecomer to the game, and interestingly this previously niché category is about to rise to the role of a major player in the e-bike industry.

One limiting factor that’s been handicapping the development of this highly potential industry is the lack of competitive drive system solutions – until now. As you can learn below Revonte ONE Drive System is the perfect match for the unique needs of cargo e-bikes.

Read further to learn more and how Revonte ONE Drive System fits into this picture.

The Last Mile

Much has been discussed about the logistic chain and especially the last part of it, also known as the last mile phase. What’s the best option to deliver goods, especially small to medium sized ones, commercial and industrial? 

A semi-truck? As cumbersome as an elephant in a porcelain shop, not to mention the nearly eclipse-causing diesel fumes.

A delivery van? Definitely a better option than a semi, but the same cons do still apply, albeit on a smaller scale.

A bicycle courier. A worthy and most importantly, a green option, but very limited in capacity.  

Do you see a missing piece somewhere in between? The cargo e-bike is the perfect option that fills the void that’s been left between the bicycle courier and a delivery van. 

Capacity vs. Maneuverability 

There’s always a trade off between capacity and maneuverability. A freight train has a tremendous payload capacity, but the manoeuvrability is limited to reach of train tracks. On the other hand, bicycle couriers can maneuver oneself to just about anywhere, but the capacity is limited to letters and very small items. 

Cargo e-bikes meet the payload capacity and manoeuvrability in a perfect spot! No other vehicle or medium of transportation can move relatively heavy items, up to tens of kilograms, in close quarters like the cargo e-bike. The feline suppleness and carrying capacity of a mule combined are combined all in one in a cargo e-bike, if a proverb from the animal kingdom is to be used. 

Colossal Market Opportunity

The size and scale of the logistics industry are hard to fathom. The number of daily deliveries worldwide is staggering and there’s a good reason to believe that it’s only going to grow from here side by side with ecommerce and general direction of consumer behavior, not to mention industrial needs.

If one would like to run the numbers in a very conservative way, let’s say that in the following years just 1-2% of the last mile deliveries would be done on a cargo e-bike, the number is still massive. Whoever gets here first and gets the process dialed all the way by the means of proper vehicle fleet, efficient control of the logistics chain and most importantly, by providing a viable green option beside the traditional means will certainly have the upper hand and the largest share of the market pie. 

For example, it’s no secret that one company which shares the name of a rainforest located in South America is looking hard into new last mile delivery options. And they are not the only one. The big logistic players with the three-letter names are taking part in the same race. 

The ONE Benefit

When it comes to drive systems for cargo e-bike use, the Revonte ONE Drive System is very – or even the most relevant option in the market. Instead of just taking our word for it, consider the following benefits our drive system offers:

  • Mid-drive drive unit. The hub motor isn’t relevant for high-performance applications which is even more relevant in cargo e-bikes. The mid-drive design gives the ultimate design freedom and flexibility for the engineer in designing the most efficient drivetrain, whether cargo e-bike or not. 
  • High torque and wattage. The Revonte ONE Drive Unit has class-leading performance metrics, even though the ride experience isn’t only about the numbers. Peak torque of over 100Nm will suffice moving a cargo e-bike of any type up the steepest of hills – assuming that loading (amount of payload) is done in a somewhat sensible manner.
  • Revonte AKKU – the most advanced e-bike battery system. We are confident in saying that the freshly launched Revonte AKKU is the most advanced e-bike battery. First, it uses the latest Li-ion cell technology and the smart linking feature enables unprecedented battery capacity and range. 
  • Other inbuilt features. The pros do not end here. The Revonte ONE Drive System has other inbuilt connectivity features that are very relevant for cargo e-bike use. These will be covered in our next article. 

It’s worth noting that with the exception of the mid-drive feature, pros listed above are unique to the Revonte ONE Drive System. Currently, no other drive system can offer similar features. 

Utility Vehicle of the Future

The fast-changing landscape of urban mobility is getting even more crowded, but still, goods and people need to move even faster and ever-tightening schedules. The new and increasing demands ask for new solutions. Cargo e-bikes are among those which has have been noted all the way in the mainstream media (e.g. Fully Charged show published on the 20th of October).

We are proud to be at the forefront of the green-colored technological advancement with the Revonte ONE Drive System, no matter if it’s about moving people, cargo, or both. Stay tuned for our next article about the subject.

The Case for a Belt

Jukka Mäennenä on 2020-08-20

A belt can be a part of one’s attire or in the world of bicycles, a belt can take the place of a chain to transmit the power from the rider and the electrical motor to the rear wheel. In this case, the belt is often referred to as a belt drive.

Conveniently, the Revonte ONE Drive System is a rarity among e-bike drive systems since it can be used with a belt drive! Read further to learn what this means in practical terms.

A Different Tool for the Job

As said previously, a traditional chain can be replaced with a belt. Using a belt to transmit force is not exactly breaking news since you have most certainly sat in a car that has had one or more located in the engine compartment. Besides automotive and industrial applications, belt drives are gaining traction in bikes on an ever-growing basis. 

If this is the first time you hear a belt drive mentioned in the same sentence with bicycles and you’re skeptical about the strength of such a solution, have no doubt. According to Gates – the undisputed leader in the market – their carbon reinforced belts meet the EN 14766 industry standard, and exceed a regular chain when it comes to tensile strength. 

To summarize, belts are more than capable of transmitting all the power the rider and the drive unit can produce to the rear wheel, and most importantly, it happens in an efficient and reliable fashion – with some added benefits, which we are about to cover next.

(Very) Low-maintenance 

To choose a solution, especially something differing from the tried and true industry standard, it must offer some notable benefits. This is very much the case with belt drives. Not only is it different to chains, but also better in some aspects. 

“No grease, no rust (and no fooling!)”, is the slogan that Gates uses which holds a lot of truth. 

As opposed to chains, there’s no metal on metal contact which means no need for lubrication. Indeed, belt drives thrive on very little maintenance and will keep on ticking from miles to an end with very little care. The absence of regular lubrication also means that the drivetrain will remain very clean with just regular washing. Another neat feature of a belt drive is that the belt does not stretch – a thing that can happen with chains over time. On top of that, the mileage that can be had from a belt can be as much as twice the amount compared to a chain.

First-class ride experience and worry-free riding are what we are all about here at Revonte. Therefore, a belt drive offers a neat option that accompanies and fits the ethos of the Revonte ONE Drive System splendidly. 

Compatibility Considerations

When purchasing and installing a belt, it needs to be of a correct length and tightened to proper tension to provide the desired function. Gates offers comprehensive instructions for this, including a length calculator.

So, my bike is just short of a belt-specific sprocket, rear cog, and the belt itself and I’m ready to rock? 

Well, almost, but let’s not go so fast there. Since a belt can not be cut and joined, the frame – more specifically the drive-side rear triangle – has to meet certain construction requirements. In practical terms this means that the rear triangle has to have a bolted joint or similar feature for installing the belt inside the frame. Another option is to have elevated chainstays, but this is a solution which is way less common.

Our partners have acknowledged this requirement and have proceeded accordingly in their designs.


A Common Goal 

The belt drive is an option that is very well worth considering since it offers some notable benefits in which the maintenance-free nature can not be overstated. The Revonte ONE Drive System and the belt drive serve a common purpose of making riding fun again! In our books that means more time spent on riding, instead of working on your bike. 

The smartest drive system got even smarter when it’s paired with a belt drive. Meet the future of e-bike drive trains with the introduction of the Revonte ONE Drive System paired with Gates carbon drive belt.