Hub drive vs chain drive BLDC motor: What's the difference

  • Both hub drive and chain drive electric motors have their set of advantages and disadvantages.
The belt drives power to the rear wheel in many electric motorcycles.
The belt drives power to the rear wheel in many electric motorcycles.

Electric scooters usually come available in two different types of powertrain options. While some electric scooters come available with hub motors, some are powered by chain drive BLDC motors. The hub motor is usually positioned at the centre of the rear wheel. In a chain drive motor, the power is transferred to the rear wheel via a set of chains and gears.

Also Read : How to check the brake pad condition of your car

Here are some fundamental differences between the hub motors and chain drive motors.

Hub drive motor - The hub motor is positioned at the centre of the rear wheel and rotates by drawing energy from the battery pack, and the wheel also rotates along with it. This type of motor has an advantage, where power output doesn't lose energy through the transmission system. Also, these types of electric motors come with fewer components that can break. In a nutshell, hub motors are simpler and more accessible in terms of functionality. On the other hand, these types of motors are heavier than chain drive motors, which increases the weight of the vehicle significantly.

Also check these Vehicles

Find more Cars
Lambretta G-special Electric Scooter (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
BatteryCapacity Icon1.8 kWh Range Icon120 Km
₹ 1.25 Lakhs
Alert Me When Launched
Compare
Hyundai Kona Electric 2024 (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
BatteryCapacity Icon64.8 kWh Range Icon418 Km
₹ 25 Lakhs
Alert Me When Launched
Hyundai Kona Electric (HT Auto photo)
BatteryCapacity Icon39.2 kWh Range Icon452 km
₹ 23.79 - 23.98 Lakhs
Compare
View Offers
Odysse Electric Odysse Electric Hawk (HT Auto photo)
BatteryCapacity Icon2.96 kWh Range Icon170 Km
₹ 73,999 - 98,500
Compare
View Offers
Compare

Chain drive motor - Chain drive motors are usually used in electric motorcycles. These types of electric motors are compact compared to their hub drive counterparts. Also, they offer a specific speed, but that can be increased by changing the controller. In this type of motor, power is generated by the motor that is positioned at the centre of the electric motorcycle and channelled to the rear wheels through a belt that is rotated by a sprocket fitted to the motor. In this type of motor, power loss is higher than the hub drive motors as it uses a transmission and during the transmission, some energy is lost.

Check out Upcoming EV Cars in India, Upcoming EV Bikes in India.

First Published Date: 26 Jul 2022, 13:04 PM IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS

Check Latest Offers

Please provide your details to get Personalized Offers

Choose city
+91 | Choose city
Choose city
Select a dealer

Want to get the best price for your existing car?

Powered by: Spinny Logo
By clicking "View Offers" you Agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy
Dear Name

Please verify your mobile number.

+91 | Choose city
Couldn't verify the OTP.
It's either expired or it's incorrect.