In the previous article, we conducted a comprehensive review of well-known electric motor brands and their products in the article “A Global Overview of E-bike Motor Brands and Performance!” We gained an in-depth understanding of electric motor brands both domestically and internationally, and their products. However, this also raised a question—what makes a good motor?
Generally, we tend to evaluate based on parameters such as power, torque, and weight. To a certain extent, the more powerful the parameters, the better the motor’s performance, which also represents the strong research and development capabilities of the company.
But for consumers, is strong performance the decisive factor in product selection?
The answer is, not necessarily.
Functionality Close to Consumer Needs
Products are ultimately designed to serve users, not just to showcase technical strength. Although strong performance is an attractive feature, not all consumers take this as the core of their purchasing decisions. Users’ actual needs and preferences are far more complex than a single performance indicator.
For example, many modern e-bike motors are equipped with adjustable power settings and applications, allowing riders to adjust according to different riding conditions. However, most riders tend to lock in a setting that suits them best after the initial ride and do not adjust frequently. Therefore, compared to complex adjustment options, users may prefer simple, intuitive, and practical functional designs.
In addition, many users agree that navigation is also one of the key factors in improving the riding experience. By providing accurate, real-time travel navigation services, e-bikes can not only help riders travel more efficiently in familiar environments but also provide necessary guidance and support in unfamiliar environments.
Motor Quality and Durability
Type? Parameters? Perhaps these are not important. For consumers, a motor that can run stably for a long time with a low failure rate may be more valuable than a short burst of high performance.
Strawpoll, a well-known online voting platform overseas, had a user initiate a vote to rank the durability of different brand motors. The final result considered the most durable motor to be the Bosch Performance Line CX. The Bosch Performance CX Gen 2 motor is renowned in the industry for its high quality and performance, and this motor is considered to be almost “indestructible” as long as it is effectively protected from moisture intrusion, allowing it to operate continuously. This motor is designed with seals and protective covers to ensure its high reliability and stability in various environments.
Here is the specific product ranking of motor durability in that vote:
- Bosch Performance Line CX
- TQ HPR 120S
- Brose Drive S Mag
- FAZUA Evation
- Panasonic GX Ultimate
- Shimano EP8
- Specialized SL 1.1
- Bafang M800
- Mahle X35+
- Yamaha PWseries ST
Maintenance Costs
For consumers, the cost of motor maintenance is also an important factor to consider.
When purchasing a motor, in addition to paying attention to its purchase price, it is also necessary to consider whether it can be repaired and the cost of maintenance. Although the official will provide warranty services, the warranty period of the product is limited. Therefore, if the maintenance cost of the e-bike motor is low, it will reduce the user’s long-term use cost to a certain extent.
Generally speaking, the maintenance cost of an ordinary e-bike motor is usually around 250 pounds, but there are differences in maintenance costs depending on different brand models and the degree of damage.
Here is a reference for the inspection and repair prices given by a motor repair center:
In addition, although the official repair shop has high repair quality, the cost of the official repair point is high and the repair time is long, so some users will choose unofficial repair centers. However, for unofficial repair centers, there are two difficulties in repairing the motor. The first is adapting to the new motor system; repair personnel need time to disassemble and familiarize themselves with the internal structure. At the same time, to ensure the quality of the repair, they also need to purchase or customize the special parts required for the repair in a timely manner. The second is the inability to supply spare parts for all motor brands. There are many motor brands on the market, especially those produced by small manufacturers, and due to their small market share and limited user base, their spare parts are often difficult to obtain, making some motors unrepairable due to a shortage of parts.
A motor repair company, eBike Motor Centre, once stated that its team is good at repairing motors of multiple brands, but it is difficult to repair some brands such as Shimano due to insufficient spare parts support. There are also hub motors, some of which are even cheaper than the cost of repair. There are also some motors that have higher repair prices because they include more parts, belts, or custom bearings.
Therefore, when users choose products, they usually choose products that do not have too many proprietary parts or hidden parts and require a lot of disassembly.
A Comprehensive After-Sales Service System
In addition to the performance and durability of the motor itself, a comprehensive after-sales service system is also an important factor for consumers to consider when purchasing products. A longer warranty period and comprehensive after-sales service can provide more protection for users and reduce additional costs caused by motor failures.
However, there is another problem. Some manufacturers, although they provide warranty services, their after-sales service quality is criticized by many users. When consumers urgently need warranty assistance, they often show an attitude of shirking responsibility and low efficiency, causing users to fall into a long communication quagmire. An overseas user said that after purchasing a brand’s product, the motor failed, and it took a month to communicate back and forth with the manufacturer before finally receiving a new motor. Although the problem was resolved, it also cost a lot of time.
For consumers, the selection of motors is no longer a simple performance comparison, and the standard of “good and bad” for motors is not determined by a single factor. When manufacturers launch a product, they need to equip it with superior performance, but also take into account durability, maintenance costs, and after-sales service and other dimensions. In addition to developing core technologies, paying attention to the real needs of consumers can gain more customers and reputation.复制再试一次分享
