Ratio zero variable transmission hub
 

What do you think is the probability of the ratio zero variable transmission hub becoming available for bicycles in the near future?

There is a YouTube video from 8 months ago showing the internals of the working prototype designed for bicycles, with a claim that a better more compact version is being worked on. But I haven't seen any further updates on it.

It goes from 0-600% gear ratio, but all gears are rotating so there really is no real 1:1 with minimal friction, at least from my probably incorrect understanding of how it works. So I'm wondering how much efficiency is lost due to friction and how much that increases as a higher ratio is selected.

Would it be less or more efficient than the dual drive, SA, schlumpf/ATS , efneo, rohloff?

The video also mentions the output power isn't consistent, it oscillates, but there's an elliptical gear meant to stabilize the output, but the chart shown comparing the output before and after the elliptical still indicates some oscillation after.

I'm assuming the 600% claimed is a ratio of 1:6. I don't think it was meant to be the gear range because the minimum is zero ratio and you can't get a range by dividing by zero.

But if you can always dial your ratio to zero, does that mean you have an infinite number of possible gear range from zero to whatever maximum you want? Because whether you choose something like a 44t chain ring or something ridiculously high like 72t, with an 11T rear cog, you can always dial it down to zero.

I am assuming though at the very low gear ratios below something like 0.5 that perhaps the amount of movement in the selector arm is so incrementally small that it's impossible to set and effectively drops to ratio of zero. Let's assume the effective ratio starts at 1.0.

I have 12-34t and 24/44 on my Dahon, so I've got a gear ratio of 0.706 to 3.667. I really only ever need at most 4.2. since the hub would have a max ratio of 6, I would need a rear cog and chain ring combination to reduce that to 70%. So if I have a maximum 50 tooth rear cog then I would need a 35t chainring. And I would have an effective ratio of 0.70 to 4.2 which would give me the 600% range.

A 16 inch wheel would need an equal rear cog and front chainring for 1:1. 33t/33t.

The video showed a remote that operated a battery powered motor to move the selector arm that controls the variable ratio. And also claimed that it can be made automatic, I guess through a power meter, but I wonder if there's a manual operation such as with a pull cable.

Zero ratio: Hmm, I'd have to examine the hub.

This sounds like back in the day, a variable ratio zoom telescope, never had 1X as the low, it had to be like 1.25X or 1.5X, because evidently trying to magnify a 1X was a problem, at least that's the reason given to me. Nowadays, I'll see "1-5X" and others starting at 1, all the time. Something must have changed in the designs.

The NuVinci CVT hub with angled surfaces on the balls, it could go from reduction to overdrive and right in the middle was... wait, that's not zero, that's one, so direct drive.

I'll be curious to see a true 0X, without simply disengaging the transmission, also known as Neutral.

Are you talking about the classified electronique hub compatible with wheeltop or Lwtoo and shimano?