Revolute Hub1: This Hub You Can Install on Your Ebike Yourself

It’s been a good two and a half years since we first came across a gear hub for ebikes that didn’t have Rohloff, Enviolo or Shimano written on it. Revolute had an outdoor stand at Eurobico 2021 and invited visitors to test ride its Hub1 in Frankfurt. This month, the start-up from Kassel is now delivering the first examples of the shifting system – as a set for those who would like to switch from derailleur gears to hub gears on their ebike. However, you probably won’t have to wait too much longer for the first ebikes with Hub1 fitted as standard.

Revolute Hub1

Clear goal in mind

When developing the hub, the manufacturer had the exclusive use on ebikes in mind from the outset. This naturally imposes certain limits on subsequent marketing. At the same time, it simplifies the work of the engineers, as it provides a very clear direction. Revolute also balances out the restrictions to a certain extent by ensuring that the Hub1 is suitable for every type of ebike within the segment – from city ebikes to e-cargo bikes.

Among the competition, this hub is likely to find itself in the midfield. Featuring six gears and a gear range of 396 per cent, it does not come close to models such as the 3X3 from H+B Hightech or Rohloff’s Speedhub E-14. These have a range of well over 500 per cent across nine and 14 gears respectively. However, the Hub1 leaves the top Enviolo models such as the Enviolo Trekking and the Enviolo Heavy Duty just behind. The Italian manufacturer’s hubs only reach 380 per cent but offer the convenience of stepless shifting.

E-cargo bikes are among the potential application scenarios for the Hub1.

Angled thing

A double planetary gear with helical gears is concealed under the housing wall of the hub. Some of you may be familiar with similar designs from the automotive sector. And planetary gears have long been considered state of the art among ebike hubs, which many competitors also use. The helical gearing in the case of Revolute deserves a special mention. Due to the angled gears, the pressure builds up gradually as the teeth mesh. This results in quieter operation than with other designs. The disadvantage of this solution is lower efficiency. The teeth mesh less directly than with a conventional spur gear. They are also in contact with each other for a slightly shorter time.

Exploded view of the Revolute Hub1 gear hub

Shifting under load is kind of considered good form for a modern gear hub. In the past, while riding you had to briefly pause pedalling or stop to change gears on a gear hub. This was the only way to guarantee precise, reliable engagement of the new gear. Nowadays, such tricks are no longer necessary. To ensure that you can shift gears with the Hub1 in any riding situation, for example, some of the hub power is briefly diverted to provide the necessary shifting force. Revolute uses a double-cable system to enable this to work smoothly for both upshifts and downshifts. This ensures that the same shifting force is sufficient for each shift. This robustness is a plus in terms of stability, especially when used on ebikes with very powerful motors.

The manufacturer uses a grip shift for the actual shifting. Don’t be surprised, you will probably feel the steps between the individual gears more clearly than with the competition. In the lower gears, Revolute has deliberately made the step sizes smaller. This should give you enough options, especially when riding uphill, and prevent you from feeling like you only have one gear for such terrain. The differences in the higher gears, on the other hand, are greater. The idea behind this is that you can generate enough speed on the flat and downhill.

Riding backwards for the advanced

A second unique selling point, in addition to the helical gearing, is the fact that this hub does not rotate backwards. When the ebike comes to a standstill, it remains there for the time being. It sounds strange, but it certainly has advantages. For example, if you are travelling with a particularly fully packed ebike and have to stop on a climb, the bike will roll backwards if you do not hit the brakes. However, if a Hub1 is installed in the bike, the hub takes over this task. The hill start assist prevents you from unintentionally engaging reverse gear. In some cases, motors such as those from Bosch’s Smart System already perform a similar function. However, in order to activate the Hill Hold function there, you must first switch to the walk assist. The function also switches off again after a few seconds. Revolute’s hill start assist sounds like a better solution.

However, it would be somehow daft in everyday life without reverse rolling. Especially when it comes to manoeuvring when parking the bike or getting on and off the train. Fortunately, the manufacturer had the same idea in mind and has taken precautions. The Hub1 can be shifted into neutral gear for manoeuvring backwards. To do this, turn the switch to the “N” position and press a coloured button on the grip shift. This way you activate a freewheel on the crank, override the hill start assist and push your ebike backwards as usual.

Grip shift featuring the button for unlocking the hill start assist

Annual check is often sufficient

Another important aspect of daily riding is maintenance. Special oil ensures that the hub runs as smoothly as possible for as long as possible. According to Revolute, a first oil change is recommended after 1,000 kilometres, but at the latest after one year. Another year may then pass before the next change. Unless you have already covered 5,000 kilometres before then. Then the distance dictates the maintenance rhythm.

Apart from the oil change, the hub should hardly bother you with further service requests. After all, this is one of the main advantages over a derailleur system. The necessary stability of the hub in the wheel is ensured by a special form of spoking. On the brake side, the hub is spoked radially, while the spokes on the drive side run tangentially in the conventional way and are crossed at a single point. Radial spoking is intended to increase rigidity and improve the balance of the hub.

The hub is spoked tangentially on the drive side and radially on the brake side.

Requirements for mounting

You can consider installing a wheel featuring a Hub1 if the dropouts on your ebike meet one of the following standards:

• open dropout: 135 mm x 10 mm
• thru axle: 142 mm x 12 mm
• thru axle: 148 mm x 12 mm

If you ride an ebike with thru axles, the axle will be replaced by adapters. In the future, compatibility could be extended to axle widths of 150 millimetres. Revolute is currently investigating whether this is feasible.

In terms of wheels, the manufacturer already covers a wide range. From 20 inches to 29 inches, there is a green light for all sizes. The brake discs can measure 180 millimetres or 203 millimetres.

Another important point: Your ebike absolutely needs a freewheel on the crank or motor. Otherwise, the concept with the aforementioned hill start assist and neutral gear will not work.

If you order the Hub1 from Revolute as a conversion kit, the following parts are included:

• Revolute Hub1 gear hub incl. Bowden cable quick-release clutch
• grip shift
• Bowden cable set incl. cables, sleeves, tensioners
• adapter set incl. brake block adapter, torque arm, screw adapter, plug-in adapter
• brake disc
• sprocket or belt sprocket
• oil set for initial filling
• screws and small components
• manual

The hub will be available to buy from the Revolute online shop in February. The starting price for the set will be €1,198.

First ebikes with Hub1 as early as 2024?

Despite the instructions, switching from derailleur gears to hub gears definitely requires a certain amount of self-confidence and a good craftsman. If you would rather wait for a complete ebike with the Hub1 from Revolute, you can be patient. At the moment, there are no manufacturers who install the hub as standard. However, Revolute is in talks with various bike manufacturers. They have received corresponding specimens for extensive testing. However, Revolute is not yet revealing who these are.

Ebikes with an integrated Hub1 appear on its social media profiles from time to time. However, these are customised versions from Revolute itself and not previously shown studies for production models or something similar. Among other things, a Nicolai G1 Eboxx can be seen. Meanwhile, Nicolai has models of this e-MTB with hubs from Rohloff and 3X3 in its range. It is unlikely that another one with a Hub1 will be added. You can also spot a Raymon low-step bike from time to time. Who knows, perhaps this is a hint of where the journey could soon take us.

Nicolai G1 Eboxx featuring Revolute Hub1

Technical details of the Revolute Hub1 gear hub

• Number of gears: 6, additional neutral gear
• Gear ratio: 396 %
• Gearshift control: grip shift, manual
• Maximum input torque: 250 Nm
• Weight: less than 2 kg
• Compatibility: 135 mm x 10 mm for open dropout / 142 mm x 12 mm + 148 mm x 12 mm for thru axle

Pictures: Revolute GmbH