Supplies 100,000 ‘Centinel Wheel’ controllers to MXUS
Korean’s startup technology, which changes a normal bicycle to an electric bicycle if its wheel is changed, is being exported to China. It has automatic transmission and regenerative braking function while one is riding a bicycle. It is projected that it will become very popular since it’s price is competitive too.
Hanyang University’s engineer company called Hicore (President Park Dong Hyun) revealed on the 19th that it has signed a contract to supply 100,000 of its Centinel Wheel control to Chinese motor manufacturing firm called MXUS. Amount of its export is 4.4 million dollars and the duration is for 3 years. MXUS is a motor supplier for robot-like electric scooter ‘Ninebot’ and it is planning to enter into a market for complete electric bicycle by equipping it with Hicore controller.
Centinel Wheel, which looks just like a normal bicycle wheel, is comprised of 2 brushless DC electric motor, cylindrical battery (standard 18650), and controller. Excluding ready-made goods such as motor and battery, its controller is Hicore’s patent technology. There is dual motor synthesis technique in a controller. Instead of one giant motor, there are two small, inexpensive, and high efficiency motors that are lined up parallel, reverse, forward, or in other variety of ways. One motor does talk function and the other does speed function, and they work together to produce 22% efficiency regenerative braking and 3-gears automatic transmission functions. There is usually a resistance in motor drive when two motors are working together, but this was overcome by planet gear and power control technique.
Its battery efficiency is 30% better than a normal battery since its base electricity is minimized. A bicycle can go for 65km on electricity alone just by charging it once (battery capacity 336wh), and it takes about 2 hours to charge it completely.
Unlike the previous motors that were able to change its energy only, this new motor can change its speed without any specific transmission by providing energy efficiency segment that is optimized for driver’s driving condition. Along with variety driving modes, it provides stable driving condition by motor overload, heat prevention, and etc.
Centinel Wheel can be easily charged at home or an office since its battery pack is detachable. Wheel’s weight is about 8 kg and when it is used for bicycle purpose, it is only 4 kg without the motor and the battery. One can also use Smartphone to check battery’s remaining life and as an antitheft lock by connecting a phone to Bluetooth.
“Electric bicycle technology such as this dual motor that has talk and speed functions is world’s first. We are also able to enter into North American market by having this motor registered at a world’s biggest social funding site called ‘Kickstarter’ that supports startups. President Park Dong Hyun of Hicore said about its functions and what it did for his business.
Staff Reporter Park, Taejoon | gaius@etnews.com