Rubbee electric drive system

[John Fleet]

Looking for Kickstarter funds:

Rubbee - The electric drive for bicycles by Rubbee Ltd — Kickstarter

any thoughts?

John

 

[amigafan2003]

An electric drive like never before

I've seen something EXACTLY like that before. Friction drive is not going to advance the ebike world either.

Bit rubbish is you want a rack and mudguards as well ;-)

 

[Deleted member 4366]

As far as I can see, it doesn't have a free-wheel, which is a bit of a deal-breaker, otherwise I like it. The Commuter Booster is much better because it disengages from the tyre when the power's off.

 

[mountainsport]

I'm going for the £5000 deal, don't tell anyone, at least i'll be getting a free holiday out of it.

MS.

 

[Scimitar]

For five grand they'll give you a rubbee down as well.

 

[mountainsport]

For five grand they'll give you a rubbee down as well.

I know Dave i am more interested in the free trip that they are offering

MS.

 

[ghouluk]

give me 5 grand i'll send you to lithuania and find some locals for you to party with too

its a cool idea, but its expensive for what it is in kickstarter phase - usually the early birds go in at about 50% so that means they should be flogging retail at 1400 quid...can't see it myself.

 

[flecc]

Revolutionary?

Hadn't they heard of the equally daft Sinclair Zeta? Or others from the USA like the Zap motor?

There's nothing new in the bike or e-bike world, it's all been done before, often very long ago.

 

[trex]

It's overpriced, overhyped, easily nickable and will lose grip going up hills.

 

[amigafan2003]

Sinclair Zeta?

That's the one!

I reckon Rubee could be on course for a patent infringement there!

 

[trex]

That's the one!

I reckon Rubee could be on course for a patent infringement there!

Maybe not. The rubbee use a wheel, the Zeta uses a belt:

Espacenet - Bibliographic data

Drive apparatus (2) for a cycle (4), comprising an electric motor (6), a first pulley (8) driven by the electric motor (6), a second pulley (10), an endless belt (12) which passes around the two pulleys (8, 10) and is driven by the first pulley (8), and a swinging link mounting means (14). During use the endless belt (12) is in driving engagement with a tyre (16) of a wheel (18). The mounting means (14) enables the distance between centres of the first and the second pulleys (8, 10) and the tyre (16) to vary during use of the drive apparatus (2), which enables the drive apparatus (2) to exert on the tyre (16) a varying contact pressure which increases as transmitted torque increases.; The mounting means (14) comprises attachment means for attaching the drive apparatus (2) to the cycle (4) and pivot means (24) about which the electric motor (6), the first and second pullies (8, 10) and the endless belt (12) pivot. The drive apparatus (2) is characterised in that the electric motor (6), the first pulley and second pullies (8, 10) and the endless belt (12) form transmission means which is counter-balanced about the pivot means (24) such that in an equilibrium position the endless belt (12) is not in contact with the tyre (16) when the drive apparatus (2) is not in use.

 

[flecc]

The roller rubbing on the tyre principle was used by Zap on a kit e-bike motor so infringement is still possible. However, I think it unlikely since any number of petrol and electric bike and kit motors have used it over many years, using various rollers including ribbed aluminium and carborundum.

 

[trex]

I remember riding the old Velosolex back in the late 60's. Similar principle, good pull. I had it for 3 good years until I saved enough for a Honda 50cc. It wasn't great on wet roads apart from that, what a great bike it was.
Chain drive beats friction drive any day.