This YouTube video was recommended to me: Chainless digital drive bikes are not something I was familiar with. Interesting tech, to be sure. Even with the drawbacks, I suspect it’s an emerging technology we’ll be seeing more of in the future.
It's interesting, but the video does point out that there are large electrical losses associated with an electrical generation and drive system, as well as a weight penalty for the drive motor (and presumably the generator too.) You might regain some of that from regenerative braking, but then there is a battery, and yet another weight penalty.
Nothing like adding weight and new failure modes to the simplest of mechanical devices (chain/sprocket). Solution in search of a problem. Even the modern wireless derailleurs from Shimano/SRAM have limited utility and have to be recharged somewhat frequently depending on amount of use and volume of shifts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_law_of_headlines I've been seeing electric motocross bikes lately, presumably they have pedals so they are legally considered a bicycle.
I can imagine a version of you a century ago: “Nothing like adding weight and new failure modes to the simplest of mechanical devices (horse/buggy).”
The difference is that on the digital drive bike by pedaling you are turning a generator to create electricity to power the electric motor, whereas with an electric bicycle there is a battery that provides the electricity to power the motor, and any pedaling by the rider is adding additional force mechanically.
So this device will allow for sustained average speeds of three times faster than a regular bicycle? Nice!
My bikes have a digital display. I use it often to alert cars and pedestrians. It's also useful in my car. Nauga, with built-in redundancy
If you stick digits into the spokes of a spinning wheel, you get a cool sound. Kids, don't try this at home...
