CVT on an ebike?
10-17-22 | 08:17 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 819
Likes: 56
CVT on an ebike?
I've been turned on to the benefits of the mid drive recently. I've been thinking about a possible build. I would pair the mid drive with a Nuvinci CVT. they're pretty cheap on eBay now.
I've ridden a Nuvinci before and it was too heavy, but I think in an ebike it would make a lot of sense. It would be a clean straight chainline. The nature of the CVT drive would be such that there wouldn't be any danger of it falling between gears. This would be a problem given the power of the electric motor.
I think budgeted out, I could probably build a mid drive system with CVT for roughly...$1300.
I've ridden a Nuvinci before and it was too heavy, but I think in an ebike it would make a lot of sense. It would be a clean straight chainline. The nature of the CVT drive would be such that there wouldn't be any danger of it falling between gears. This would be a problem given the power of the electric motor.
I think budgeted out, I could probably build a mid drive system with CVT for roughly...$1300.
10-18-22 | 06:06 AM
#2
Half way there
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,967
Likes: 895
From: North Carolina
Bikes: Many, and the list changes frequently
A few Nuvinci hubs were available at my local co-op so I considered grabbing one to build up in a wheel. As soon as I hefted the hub, I dropped it back into the storage drawer. Man, those things are heavy. Their gearing range is a bit wider than the Alfine 8, but that Shimano hub is about 2 lbs lighter. Nevertheless, I'd be interested in your impressions if you choose to move forward with your project.
10-18-22 | 06:26 AM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,252
Likes: 70
From: Kansas
Bikes: This list got too long: several ‘bents, an urban utility e-bike, and a dahon D7 that my daughter has absconded with.
I used one on the solar eBike I built for extended cross country. I liked that I was able to precisely trim the gearing to get a specific level of power draw. I also have one on my eBike that I use for commuting. In the commuting application, I am thinking that a conventional IGH would be a better way to go. If I had it to do again I think I would have done without the NuVinci on the commuter.
That said, I really like the belt drive on the commuter. However, one can get a belt drive with an IGH also.
That said, I really like the belt drive on the commuter. However, one can get a belt drive with an IGH also.
10-18-22 | 10:35 AM
#4
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 140
Likes: 22
From: Arlington, VA
Bikes: '73 Raleigh Sports; 2025 Urtopia Carbon Fold 1
Earlier this year I had the shop convert my DIY ebike with an Enviolo Cargo CVT, I wrote a blog post about it https://ebikelovers.com/2022/03/28/r...t-for-e-bikes/
I recommend for ebikes one of the stronger models such as the Enviolo Cargo I have, they can handle the motor torque.
I recommend for ebikes one of the stronger models such as the Enviolo Cargo I have, they can handle the motor torque.
10-19-22 | 03:37 PM
#5
Clark W. Griswold
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,265
Likes: 6,631
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
We sell tons of ebikes with Enviolo for years, they are fantastic on ebikes and I highly recommend it especially with a belt it is a pretty much literally a no-maintenance drivetrain minus some cable replacements every once and while or more if you are rough with the shifter. I must also say the little orange figure is really fun (I know the new systems it is grey) but it adds some fun. I am personally not a fan of the Automatiq system as you cannot manually shift but the concept is pretty cool and can help open cycling up to a lot more people who don't want to shift or have issues with their hands or something so shifting is tough,
