A new e-bike drive system in development is aiming to do something pretty radical: get rid of the mechanical connection between your pedals and the rear wheel entirely and replace it with a copper wire. Or more accurately, a few copper wires. Spanish startup Niche Mobility has unveiled a prototype it calls the ADTS (Automatic Digital Transmission System), a pedal-by-wire setup that replaces traditional gearing with a fully digital drivetrain. Instead of turning a chain, your pedaling effort powers a generator inside the motor unit, which then feeds electricity to a second motor that actually drives the wheel. In other words, you’re no longer mechanically connected to the bike’s drivetrain at all. If the system is off, pedaling doesn’t move the bike. It’s not the first time we’ve seen pedal-by-wire concepts, but this version is trying to bring a more refined, production-ready approach that can be integrated into countless e-bikes by major manufacturers. And the big pitch here is simplicity: no gears, no shifting, no drivetrain maintenance in the traditional sense. Advertisement - scroll for more content The system continuously adjusts its “gear ratio” digitally based on speed, cadence, and terrain. Riders can choose between different ride modes like Easy, Flow, or Sweat, but beyond that, it’s essentially a set-it-and-forget-it experience. Performance-wise, the early numbers are fairly solid for a mid-drive style system. Niche Mobility is targeting around 120 Nm of torque and roughly 80–90 km (50–56 miles) of range depending on battery configuration. Assistance would be capped at 25 km/h (15.5 mph) for standard markets, with a faster 45 km/h (28 mph) speed pedelec version planned. If it comes to the US, you better believe that riders are going to be interested in that higher speed version to take full advantage of Class 3 e-bike laws. Where things get more interesting is in the extra functionality this architecture enables. Because everything is electronically controlled, the system can offer regenerative braking both when you pull the brakes and passively while coasting downhill. There’s even a reverse mode, activated by a button or by pedaling backward. Reverse might sound like a strange or unnecessary feature on a bicycle, but imagine parking a heavy cargo e-bike, where a bit of assistance backing into a spot could be particularly useful. And that’s exactly where Niche Mobility sees the biggest opportunity. The system seems to be targetting urban, trekking, and cargo e-bikes, where ease of use and low maintenance often matter more than maximum efficiency or rider control. Electrek’s Take There’s a long history of companies trying to “fix” bicycle drivetrains, and most of them run into the same issue: bikes are already pretty efficient and simple. Chains and derailleurs may not be glamorous, but they work extremely well. Belts and internally geared hubs are a bit fancier and less efficient, but they still get the job done nicely. Replacing everything with electronics though? Now you’re going to ruffle some feathers, especially when it means the bike no longer works unless you’ve got a charged battery. That said, this approach isn’t really trying to compete with high-performance cycling or really anything traditional. It’s going after accessibility. For new riders or people who just want a frictionless commuting experience, removing shifting entirely could actually be a big deal. And for those massive, heavy cargo e-bikes and e-trikes, pedal-by-wire has several advantages. The tradeoff will likely come down to efficiency and cost. Converting human power into electricity and back again introduces losses, and more complex electronics rarely come cheap. But if Niche Mobility can keep those downsides in check, this could carve out a real niche (sorry) – especially in the growing cargo and urban mobility segments. via: New Atlas Stay up to date with the latest content by subscribing to Electrek on Google News. You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about Tesla, electric vehicles, and green energy, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow Electrek on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our YouTube channel for the latest reviews.
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