Most people's introduction to hub motors began with electric bicycles, but recently many electric motorcycles are increasingly adopting hub motors instead of mid-drive motors. For example, Chunfeng's Extreme Core series of electric motorcycles has transitioned from mid-drive motors and side-mounted motors to now almost exclusively using hub motors. What considerations lie behind this trend?

Today we'll explore this from the perspectives of cost, performance, maintenance, and vehicle design.

From a cost perspective, hub motors feature a simple structure. They primarily consist of a stator, coil windings, housing, and magnets. Their production processes are relatively mature and inexpensive. Hub motors are available in a range of power outputs. These range from 350W to 2000W. The price of these motors typically falls between 100 and 400 yuan. You can get high-power versions exceeding 3000W for around 500 yuan.

In contrast, mid-drive motors require not only the motor itself but also complex components like belt drives and differentials, resulting in overall costs exceeding at least a thousand yuan. For electric motorcycles whose prices are steadily decreasing, the high cost of mid-drive motors is clearly difficult for the market to accept. Consequently, they are only found in a few high-end or high-performance models.

From a performance perspective, hub motors below 5000W can already meet daily commuting needs. Their high energy conversion efficiency at low to medium speeds helps extend range. Only when power exceeds 5000W do hub motors' heat dissipation issues become increasingly apparent. Because the motor is directly integrated within the wheel, the enclosed structure limits heat dissipation efficiency. Heat generated at high rotational speeds may cause tire overheating or even burnout.

Mid-drive motors achieve superior cooling through their external design, while also delivering greater torque output and faster acceleration response. They are suitable for electric motorcycles with higher performance demands.

Maintenance costs are also a significant factor influencing selection. Hub motors feature a simple structure. Common failures—such as internal water ingress causing rust, magnet demagnetization, or Hall sensor damage—typically require only minor component replacements for repair. Furthermore, damage usually occurs gradually and rarely leads to immediate motor failure.

Regular maintenance is required for mid-drive motors because of their complicated drivetrain systems. This includes tasks such as replacing the belt or chain and replenishing the oil.

Over extended use, their maintenance costs significantly exceed those of hub motors.

When it comes to the design and layout of vehicles, hub motors are integrated directly into the wheels. This allows for greater design flexibility across the entire vehicle. This allows for easy implementation of front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive configurations. It also increases ground clearance. This enhances off-road capability.

The idea behind putting the motors in the middle of the vehicle is usually to balance the weight up front and at the back. This means that when you go over bumps in the road, it's less of a shock for the motor, so the handling and stability are better, and it's better at going off-road too. However, you see, blueprints like these are not actually essential for everyday use of standard electric automobiles. In fact, there is even the possibility of a higher cost due to the complexity of the process.

In summary, the preferred choice for most electric vehicles is hub motors due to their low cost, minimal maintenance requirements and suitability for daily use, with a gradual transition into the electric motorcycle sector. The mid-drive motor's strength is in high-power, high-performance scenarios, but its high cost and complex maintenance limit its adoption.

The vast majority of users' needs are now met by hub motors thanks to technological advancements. The future of mid-drive motors is likely to be confined to racing applications. What are your thoughts on this?