E-bike with belt drive: these are the advantages

E-mobility is still booming. E-bikes are now also available with belt drives. We have summarized for you whether and which advantages the new development has in practice.

Belt drive on the e-bike - difference to the chain

The good old bicycle chain has got competition: The belt drive, also called belt drive.

• With a belt drive, the chain is replaced by a belt. Instead of the chain links, the teeth of the belt grip.
• Unlike a chain, the strap has to be more tailored to the bike. In addition, the belt must be tensioned accordingly so that the teeth can grip properly and the power can be transferred to the wheels.
• The Belt Drive is now made from stable carbon strands.
• A circuit with belt drive has not yet been possible. Multiple chainrings as with the conventional chain drive are out of the question because the belt is too rigid for a shift. There is only one pulley at the front and one at the rear of this drive.

Advantages of the e-bike with belt drive at a glance

If you now know a little more about the belt drive, the advantages of an e-bike will quickly become clear.

• Weight: A strap is lighter than a chain. But this only matters if you are sporty and really pay attention to every gram of your e-bike.
• Noise: You hardly hear a belt drive, while a bicycle chain naturally makes noises.
• Maintenance: The Belt Drive is extremely low maintenance. In principle, you don't have to do anything once the strap is in place and properly tensioned. The regular greasing, as you know it from a chain, is not necessary. Incidentally, this has the further advantage that you no longer have to worry about your trouser legs and any oil stains through the chain.
• Lifespan: Carbon is an extremely durable material. A belt drive lasts twice as long as a chain on average - and without any maintenance.
• Energy loss: With a chain drive, you always lose some energy because the links in the chain inevitably rub - and friction costs energy. There is no friction with Belt Drive, so the energy loss is significantly less.
• Gear shift: What can be regarded as a minus point in conventional bicycles is the fact that a belt drive does not work with several pulleys. However, this does not play a major role with e-bikes.
• Price: If you buy a conventional bicycle with a belt drive, you currently have to dig deeper into your pocket than with a chain drive. In the area of ​​e-bikes, however, the price differences between straps and chains are significantly smaller. Here, the purchase is well worth it because of the advantages mentioned.
• If you are looking for the right e-bike, you will find the best models from 2019 in our buying guide.

You can find tips and information on how to make your e-bike faster in our next article on e-mobility.