The companies VSC.Bike and Pendix will be joining forces in the future. Pendix is now incorporating the former subsidiary VSC.Bike into its own group of companies.
Since 2020, both companies are already working closely together in the production of e-cargo bikes. Pendix supplies the corresponding ebikes for bikes built by VSC.Bike. Customers include well-known logistics companies from Germany, Austria and Scandinavia, especially in the mail delivery sector. VSC.Bike currently employs between ten and 20 people at its site in Allstedt in Saxony-Anhalt. In addition to the delivery bikes mentioned above, cargo bikes have been produced there since February 2017 for interested commercial customers and companies that maintain their own bike fleet on their company premises.
Three-wheeled e-cargo bike from VSC.Bike
Focus on growth market in recent years
The merger is very much in line with Pendix’s growing commitment to the e-cargo bike sector. With the eDrive1000, the Saxon manufacturer has always had a drive in its range that is primarily geared towards this type of vehicle. At the last IAA Mobility in Munich, Pendix presented a rear-mounted motor for the first time. Its concept is aimed in exactly the same direction.
Technically, Pendix is opening a new chapter for itself with the “eDrive In”. The development department has transformed the proven mid-mounted motor into a generator. With this serial hybrid drive, familiar components such as chains, sprockets, rear derailleurs and the like are eliminated without replacement. Due to the reduction of installed parts, the susceptibility to defects decreases. At the same time, in one fell swoop, bicycle manufacturers will have completely different options in the design of e-cargo bikes with two or three wheels. A classic drive train simply no longer needs to be considered in the design.
One motor, many possibilities
The integration of the drive is further facilitated by the way Pendix has designed the rotor, for example. It is not directly connected to the spokes, as is usually the case. Instead, it is located in an intermediate ring that remains permanently in the rim. This makes it easy to mount the motor on different types of rims, and only a few steps are required to mount and dismount the motor.
Rear motor “eDrive In” with special intermediate ring
The “eDrive In” with an installation dimension of 135 millimetres provides the usual 250 watts in continuous operation and a torque of 70 Newton metres. In the case of multi-track cargo bikes, manufacturers can install one motor in each of the rear wheels. In this way, the torque can even be increased to a maximum of 140 Newton metres. This is likely to be interesting for e-cargo bikes for commercial use, which allow payloads of 250 kilograms and more. When moving such massive bikes, the manoeuvring and starting aids should also pay off.
Energy in abundance
Whether private or commercial use, single or multi-track with one or two motors – everyone benefits from the rear-mounted motor’s recuperation option. According to the well-known principle, part of the energy you generate during each braking manoeuvre is converted into electrical energy. The extra power benefits the battery and extends your range.
For conventional pedelecs, Pendix provides a variant of the “eDrive In” with a classic drive by chain or belt in addition to the serial hybrid.
In order to leave all doors open to potential partners, Pendix opens up the “eDrive In” system and allows the use of third-party batteries. Until now, the manufacturer’s drives were necessarily tied to its own batteries. The same applied to the app. There, too, Pendix is adapting its previous approach. Let’s see what the response within the industry will be in the coming months. The manufacturer has set the sales launch for the “eDrive In” for the second quarter of 2022.
Pictures: Pendix GmbH