Alizeti?

[peterjd]

The Canadian company, Alizeti, had an interesting approach to pedelecs a couple of years ago. In trying to find out what had happened to the company and the ebike product I came across a relevant patent. If anyone is interested in such things, the patent can be found on the US patent database. Its number is 20190291815 (Friction Drive System for Bicycles, authors Primiani, Viglione, and Longchamp ). I think there are still lightweight pedelec/ebike systems waiting for future developments. Peter.
PS I haven't as yet found out what happened to Alizeti?

 

[flecc]

I've just read up on it, but it's just reinventing an old wheel. We've had numerous onto wheel friction drive systems over the last 75 years and they've all failed to last in the market. The only meaningful difference here is the variable pressure system to avoid friction roller slippage.

This still avoids the fundamentals though, that a friction drive onto the tyre tread has many disadvantages, such as:

Tyre wear even when there is minimal slippage.

Only fairly smooth tread tyres suitable.

Less easy to apply the legal control of power phase down and maximum assist speed.

The authors seem to be under the impression that existing pedelecs mostly use hub motors, often kit based, but in fact for over decade there's been a big shift in preference for ready made pedelecs with crank based motors at the bottom bracket. There's no doubt that this is the way the market is going, away from kits to convert ordinary bicycles into the supply of complete pedelec designs, whether with wheel hub motors or drive through the chain systems.

It's a repeat of what has happened before. For example in the late 1940s and early '50s there was a boom in little add on petrol cycle motors, but it didn't last, the only survivor for some 25 further years to 1983 being the one that was designed and sold as a complete i.c. motor equipped powered bicycle. Ironically it too had a friction drive, ultimately making it unacceptable. The French manufacturer has tried to introduce a modernised version using an electric motor instead, but that has failed in the market too.

There's still YouTube reviews of the Alizeti bicycle motor online, but it seems to have failed in the market like all the other friction systems. The only Alizeti company here online in Britain is a painting and decorating company.
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[peterjd]

Thank you Flecc for your thoughts. I accept that the way things are going in the new ebike/pedelec market at present is the custom made mid (crank) drive and whilst there are some clear advantages over pure friction drive as you suggest there are also some major disadvantages. Also I didn't conclude in my post that 'pure' friction drive developments were the only or necessary answer. If I am in a cynical mood then I might suggest that a factor in current trends and research with bicycle manufacture, not just electric assisted types, might also have more to do with the profit motive than the need to rapidly move more utilitarian journeys onto more sustainable transport.

So what are some of the potential disadvantages of (many of) the current new bike electric assisted designs which occur to me.

Cost - new, spares(if available), custom (expensive?) servicing
Reliability - ok better than mid-drive kits but still the possibility of being 'stranded' with a non-assisted relatively heavy bike away from base.
Riding weight and weight distribution?
Lack of adaptability eg deciding to ride without assistance (eg less weight, drag losses)
Second-hand value?
'Junking' perfectly good existing bikes?

There may be others?

There is a place for the current new bike developments but in my opinion there is also an urgent need for alternatives such as might be developed from designs such as the Alizeti.

Peter

PS Will see if I can post a message on the electricbikereview.com forum which had a fairly comprehensive Youtube review of the Alizeti

 

[flecc]

Cost - new, spares(if available), custom (expensive?) servicing
Reliability - ok better than mid-drive kits but still the possibility of being 'stranded' with a non-assisted relatively heavy bike away from base.
Riding weight and weight distribution?
Lack of adaptability eg deciding to ride without assistance (eg less weight, drag losses)
Second-hand value?
'Junking' perfectly good existing bikes?

Most of these reasons were behind some of the friction drive kit introductions, but they all failed in the market, hence my reply. Cyclists just don't seem to want them for whatever reasons. My experience of the assisted bicycle market goes back to when I joined the trade in 1950 and what I've noticed ever since is that the public tend to constantly upgrade their desires, always wanting better. An add-on friction drive kit against integrated design, classy looking pedelecs is a tough sell to an aspirational public.

Probably why Alizeti disappeared just like all the many previous friction drive designs, some of them quite recent. Some of the earlier ones, like the Zap motor, enjoyed a period of sales., but that was long ago. Every time one is introduced the same benefits are pointed out, but the public just don't buy enough of them.

PS Will see if I can post a message on the electricbikereview.com forum which had a fairly comprehensive Youtube review of the Alizeti

There's several YouTube review and information links on this Google link
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[Nealh]

The friction drive is good for a lightweight bike where one esp rides locally.
I have one such drive (Revos) on my Arkose gravel bike the whole kit is only 2.5kg and another battery allows 50m range, knobbly grippy tyres aren't an issue if one uses a specific tyre with a small treadless raised centre section. The kit allows me to keep the bike under 15kg.
The Revos by Revolution Works in Bristol are now in to there 4th year and appear to going well, they even have added a complete ebike to the range.