That was pretty quick. Only a few months after announcing its intention to develop its own integrated mid-mounted motor, Pendix is showing off just such a motor. The associated components for a complete ebike system even come on top.
Having previously focused on private customers, Pendix is now also turning its attention to bicycle manufacturers with the gDrive. And the offer of the company from Zwickau in Saxony could well make one or the other brand think twice. After all, the manufacturer has many years of experience with e-drives and has certainly made a name for itself within the industry. Moreover, the profile of the actual product, the motor, seems quite interesting. A mid-mounted motor with an apparently quite compact size definitely meets current trends. The power with a maximum torque of 85 Newton metres at a maximum support of the rider of 320 percent opens up many possibilities. From urban ebikes to the large group of trekking bikes to an e-mountain bike, a number of applications are conceivable.
Study of the Pendix gDrive mid-motor on an e-trekking bike
The sensitive one
The gDrive also has integrated sensors that measure both torque and cadence. They are intended to provide the most natural riding experience possible. Pendix even says that when riding without electric assistance, the pedalling resistance is completely eliminated. Incidentally, the drive unit is a geared motor that translates the speeds of the motor in a certain ratio to the speeds of the bicycle’s bottom bracket axle. At 3.3 kilograms, it weighs a few hundred grams more than a current Bosch Performance CX, a Yamaha PW-X3 or a Panasonic GX Ultimate Pro.
Pendix gDrive mid-mounted motor
The complete package
In addition to the motor, which supports speeds of up to 25 km/h, Pendix has also developed suitable batteries. Bike manufacturers can probably choose between different capacity sizes. Unfortunately, it is not clear from the information available to us exactly what these are. What is certain is that Pendix has limited itself to intube batteries. They can be locked and removed from the bike for charging. If desired, they can also be charged directly on the bike.
The drive can be controlled in the classic way via a control unit. This offers a certain basic set of the following functions:
- Switching the system on/off
- Operating the walk assistance
- Selecting riding modes
- Switching the lights on/off
According to Pendix, this is not the end of the story. Interested bicycle manufacturers could also add additional functionalities at a later date.
Components of the complete ebike system
Nowadays, of course, the obligatory app is a must. However, Pendix includes it together with the display in the list of extras that can be added. In the app or on the display, for example, this information can be read:
- Average speed
- Route length
- Navigation
- Assistance level
- Battery charge level
- Remaining range
Thanks to a Bluetooth interface, over-the-air updates are also possible with the gDrive. In addition, the riding modes can be changed according to personal preferences.
German-Chinese co-production
Being part of a major global company opens up completely different possibilities for Pendix than before when it was independent. The idea of a fully comprehensive ebike system speaks for itself loud and clear. It is hardly surprising that the majority of the individual components are manufactured in Johnson Electric factories. One exception is the motor, which is made in Germany. Pendix has announced that the gDrive will actually appear on the market in 2025. Let’s see with which bicycle manufacturer.
Pendix gDrive drive system at a glance
- Motor type: Integrated geared motor
- Rated voltage: 36 V / 48 V DC
- Rated continuous power: 250 W
- Torque (max.): 85 Nm
- Weight of drive unit: 3.3 kg
- Support factor (max.): 320 %
- Walk assistance: up to 6 km/h
- Supported cadence (max.): 120 rpm
- Sensors: torque, cadence, speed
Pendix gDrive in exploded view
Pictures: Pendix GmbH
