What’s the Best Ebike Motor? Mid-Drive and Rear Hub Motor Pros and Con

With lots of competing information out there, it can be hard to sort out which ebike motor system might best fit your needs.

Luckily, Vvolt is a brand making quality ebikes with both mid-drive and rear hub motors, so we’re well-positioned to give you some unvarnished pros and cons of both systems. As for front-drive motors, we're concerned that they can be dangerous, as low-quality software can lead to a front wheel applying torque as you turn or ride across areas with low traction; a situation that can lead to loss of control and dangerous crashes.

Also note that motors are only one factor contributing to the ride feel and performance of an electric bike. The quality of the controller, firmware and software are also key! They interpret the data from sensors – like torque and cadence sensors – driving the motor according to pre-set parameters along with rider-selected assistance levels. Even the best motors can seem jumpy or rough if the power control system isn’t well-designed. High-quality control systems like those used across the Vvolt ebike line deliver the most natural ride feel and power, no matter what motor they are connected to.

Now to examine some of the most important benefits that these motor systems provide to riders:

Cost

Rear hub motors win the affordability prize, with good quality systems being available on bikes from around $1000 on up. With more complex construction, more sensors and (of course) dedicated frame designs, quality mid-drive motors are not found on many ebikes under $2000, making them out of reach for lots of riders looking at entry-level ebikes.

Power

Wattage is important, but don’t forget about the torque output of the motor system on the ebike you’re considering. There are plenty of rear hub motors with major wattage output in the 500-750 watt range that only output a nominal 50-60Nm of torque. Compare that to most "250w" mid-drives where 60-80nm of torque is commonly on tap. If you live somewhere hilly, or have lots of stop-start riding on your routes you should consider that mid-drive motors will be easier to ride in these conditions. *Also, note that motors over 750w (1hp) are not ebike legal in most US localities. If you live somewhere extremely hilly, you probably need a high-end hub motor or mid-drive as low-end "direct drive" hub motors may not provide you with the torque needed to climb steep hills.

Ride Performance

The natural and powerful boost available from mid-drive motors with torque sensors is their primary performance edge over hub motors. Most mid-drives (including ours) use a combination of data from torque, speed and cadence sensors. All this information allows the motor to respond in a more organic way, responsively adding more boost as you pedal harder, and rolling off the assist when you're pedaling more softly.

Additionally, all the motor power and torque from your mid-drive motor plus your own pedaling contribution goes through the belt (or chain) to the rear transmission. This is more efficient– when you choose a lower gear, you're routing all the power through that low gear rather than mid-drives where the power output is through the rear hub, and your gear selection doesn't directly affect motor power.

That additional torque we mentioned above pairs with responsive boost to make riding a mid-drive ebike feel very much like pedaling a "normal" bike, just with incredible power in your legs.

Combine that responsive feel, additional torque with the motor weight nicely balanced in the center of the bike and you can see why most ebike enthusiasts rave about the performance feel of a mid-drive motor system.

woman riding Vvolt Sirius electric bicycle

Maintenance

Mid-drives generally win, but as with all ebike parts, good rider behaviour is important to make things last! The electric motors themselves are generally quite durable– but all mid-drives and the vast majority of hub motors also use gears inside. Rear hub motors relying on cadence sensors (as most do) work slightly harder to deliver the same level of assistance, so over time they can be slightly more prone to failure.

We selected our hub and mid-drive motors because they are built for durability. We chose to focus on longevity as we’ve seen plenty of reports of failure in lower weight and less expensive motors of both hub and mid-drive types. We’d rather offer a better unit and a 3-year warranty than save a couple hundred grams! Our MPF mid-drives use all-steel internal gearing running in a self-lubricating oil bath, making them incredibly hard wearing (and quiet!)

Still, the key to minimizing system maintenance is to ride lightly. On many systems; including ours, the motor outputs peak assistance when you’re pedaling between 80-100rpm, so keep up your cadence and use use the assist function like a gear changer to cycle through different levels of boost from 1-4 (or 5) as you build speed, and you’ll reap the rewards with the best longevity and lowest maintenance for your entire powertrain– from motor to belt and gears!

We see the upsides of each style of motor and have models that utilize both types. Everyone’s transportation needs differ, but we have a couple recommendations to help you on your way now that you have a better grasp of the basics:

Mid-drives are known to have a better "feel," so if you're an experienced rider you'll be rewarded by the natural riding dynamics. If you know you'll be pulling cargo or scaling big hills you'll also enjoy the extra torque in the mid-drive motor. But if you're looking for the simplest and least expensive solution to get around, the hub motor is for you- there are lots of great-riding ebikes that use hub motors.

Vvolt Ebike motors By the Numbers

Ananda Rear Hub Motor (Slice Lite, Alpha II)

350W nominal output
45Nm max torque
Geared output (not direct drive)
Sensors - onboard speed and temperature, Cadence and Torque (Slice) Cadence (Alpha II)