At the end of May, shortly before this year’s Eurobike, Pendix announced its intention to produce its own mid-motor in addition to its retrofit kits for ebikes. The manufacturer has now provided information on the current status of the gDrive.
According to a press release, Pendix has now completed the first kilometres with the e-drive. The software and hardware of the ebike system had previously been installed on the bike for the first time. An unspecified number of samples are now ready for the manufacturer to carry out extensive test rides with immediate effect. “This is always an important moment. Even if we already have extensive experience with drives: It is always a major milestone to connect the subsystems for the first time. Riding and experiencing them as a complete drive unit is simply exciting,” said Pendix CTO Christian Hennig.
Pendix CTO Christian Hennig
Rapid progress planned
While the company from Saxony is now gaining a lot of practical experience with the gDrive, you will have to be patient. It could be the second half of next year at the earliest for you you to see it rolling. Then there would be the first opportunities for corresponding test rides. This is in line with the schedule communicated by Pendix in this summer. If everything goes as planned, the gDrive will be installed by ebike manufacturers in the first models in 2025. According to Pendix, it is currently in talks with various interested parties as well as with existing customers.
Ecological footprint as a sales argument
All the information available so far indicates that the gDrive could be used primarily in urban ebikes and trekking bikes. In addition to its design and the resulting technical features, the ebike system also has a special sustainability concept. This is due to the fact that production is planned in Zwickau and the majority of all required parts can be produced in the plants of partner Johnson Electric. In addition, the mid-motor is based on a modular design. If a particular part is defective, the entire unit does not have to be replaced, as is the case with many other motors. Instead, various components can be replaced, which means that a much cheaper repair could be the first option under certain circumstances.
Pictures: Pendix GmbH
