In line with its product portfolio, the French manufacturer Mavic has developed a mid-motor aimed at the road bike market.
Source: bike-eu
According to Mavic, the product is fully engineered and ready for mass production. During a recent media event, Mavic's promise was confirmed. However, the French family business lacks the resources to bring the product to market.
The system in total weighs 3,2kg including the BB bearings and integrated power meter.
The project had already started before the acquisition of Mavic by the Bourrelier Group in 2020. The new owner immediately recognized the potential of developing this new product and decided to continue the project until a “market ready” product . Not surprisingly, the Bourrelier group already ran a chain of e-bike shops in Paris.
Initial investment of 10 million euros.
According to Mavic, the development of the e-bike drive has already required an investment of 10 million euros. “Our annual turnover is around 50 million euros,” says Jean Michel Bourrelier, who is co-CEO of Mavic together with his brother Yoann. “E-biking is a completely new business for us and the market is dominated by big companies like Bosch and Shimano who offer a complete package. We believe we have a great product, but we need a partner with expertise in the mechatronic industries or an investor who can take us there. It doesn't explicitly have to be someone from the e-bike industry.
“We will not sell the concept. Our core business is hard and softgoods, that's what we are good at. Our goal is to develop this expertise also in the e-bike market. However, we have seen too many new products come and go. That's why we decided to take a different path." One of the topics that Mavic still has to deal with for market introduction is the creation and training of a service network. The company's current network is centered around durable and soft goods, but maintaining an e-bike ride requires different skills, such as training how to use the diagnostic tool. An extensive testing program preceded the launch of the X-Tend in the company's internal test laboratory in Annecy.
System Specifications
By specifying the Mavic X-Tend drivetrain, the weight of the road bike can remain under 10 kg, as demonstrated by the test bike developed by BMC. The system in total weighs 3,2kg including the BB bearings and integrated power meter. This power meter is integrated into the drive unit and offers better responses than standard sensors. The drive unit consists of a custom high speed 4500rpm brushless motor, a patented cycloidal gearbox and a frictionless clutch mechanism.
Mavic claims that the high efficiency and low wasted watts and energy allow for a range of up to 3.000 meters in altitude with the built-in 360Wh battery. Specifying the X-Tend requires only a limited modification of existing frame designs. All you need is an oversized bottom bracket as the motor cylinder measures 87mm. This non-destructive frame design makes the system very suitable for MTB as well. Also, the Q of 146mm is in line with the regular size. Mavic's long experience in manufacturing lightweight rims has made it possible to limit the weight of the battery casing.
