Chainless electric cargo bikes deployed in Germany for city delivery

BERLIN: In a development set to help make urban deliveries more sustainable and reduce wear and tear, chainless cargo bikes are being launched in Germany with an innovative new drive that needs no chain, gear rings or any other mechanical components.

The system uses a pedal generator which produces constant pedal resistance and provides electricity via cable for the motor in the rear-wheel hub.

The so-called Free Drive set-up means that pushing the pedals requires much less muscle power than conventional e-bike drives – a major benefit for cargo bike riders on long delivery routes.

Surplus electrical energy is stored in the bike's battery for later use. In this way, the Free Drive can deliver a total drive output of 250 watts.

Schaeffler and German engineering company Heinzmann first unveiled its chainless drive system to the public in August 2021.

Since then it has been extensively trialled and the first customer is Munich-based CIP Mobility, which markets a range of electric cargo bikes for commercial customers under its mocci brand. Other clients are in the pipeline.

The mocci bikes uses many recyclable components and can typically be used for delivering food, mail and medicines in urban areas.

"With Free Drive, replacing worn-out drive chains are a thing of the past," said Jochen Schroeder who heads Schaeffler’s E-Mobility business division.

"We need to rethink mobility for tomorrow's cities," said Matthias Zink, CEO Automotive Technologies at Schaeffler. "Electric cargo bikes fill an important gap here, particularly in last-mile goods delivery."

Schaeffler said the global electric cargo bike market was valued at 630 million dollars in 2021, nine percent up on the prior year, and is projected to grow to 2.14 billion dollars by 2032.