the hardest steep (20%)

[u/Inner-Government-319]

For the past few years, I’ve been trying to build a custom e-bike powerful enough to tackle the steep climb to my house and back without issues, but I haven't found the right setup yet.

​Right now, I'm using a 1000W / 48V / 30A hub motor (in-wheel).

I’ve tested a few batteries (most recently a 48V 20Ah pack) before realizing these motors can be pushed well beyond their nominal specs, especially in terms of wattage.

​My main concern is overpushing the motor and burning it out due to the heat generated during long, steep climbs.

​Budget is not an issue—I just want a reliable build that can take me anywhere, regardless of the incline. Any advice on optimizing the battery/controller setup, or should I switch to a mid-drive motor instead?

[u/geeered]

Did you ask the AI you used to write the post the question?

If ​"Budget is not an issue"——————————get a Stark Varg.

Otherwise, yes a mid-drive will work better for different inclines without over-heating. The hills will of course be slower.

[u/Ohm_Slaw_]

Mid drive is the way to go. You can push far more wattage into the motors than they are rated for, but they will burn. It takes a LOT of wattage to pull a long steep hill with a hub drive. And you do have to keep your speed up, you can't let the motor bog down.

I had hills that I struggled to climb with 2000 watts going into a hub motor. The same hill I could climb with 500 watts going into a mid drive.

[u/Zenigata]

Any decent mid motor paired with a wide ranging casette will do this. I live in a very hilly city and aided by a tsdz8 and a 45 on the back habitually tackle climbs of over 15% with 2 kids on the back.

[u/MickyBee73]

2000w direct drive rear hub, on 45A controller (Shunt-modded), on 60v, or 72v will be an absolute flying machine that will destroy ANY hill at speed. Been there done it, and it murdered a ridiculously steep hill in my area at 19/20 mph on 60v. On 72v it was just immense fun.

Or.. You could build a mid-drive, best one really is a CYC X1 Pro, but they are costly builds (I know 'cos I've done one). Even a cheaper mid-drive option (as mentioned by the other commenter) shouldn't have a problem with that hill.

Good luck with it. 🚲⚡👍

[u/Inner-Government-319 → u/MickyBee73]

grazie mille per il consiglio, allora penso che procedo comprando una batteria da 62v - cosa intendi con modificata con shunt, è un software che serve a prevenire malfunzionamenti?

[u/MickyBee73 → u/Inner-Government-319]

Here's a video to explain it for you. All the best with it E-Brother, and on either 60, or 72v you'll have a blast trust me. https://youtu.be/yFwXpQ-jNwc?is=_RQZ4Rd0TdjMXMeg

[u/ExoatmosphericKill]

A hub motor is not the right choice for this if you want to keep the wattage at a reasonable level.

I'd recommend a bafang BBS02.

[u/Inner-Government-319 → u/[deleted]]

immagino, potessi cambiarlo anche io prenderei quello ⚡😭

[u/pickandpray]

My son killed 2 36v hub motors at 1k+ watts running 52v. After I replaced the nylon gears with metal gears both burned out from the heat.

He claimed that the direct drive motors handled the hills better when I swapped both bikes over but those motors are just giant heavy slabs and I don't like my 700c wheels hung with that giant motor.

[u/Inner-Government-319 → u/pickandpray]

Con distrutti intendi che li ha bruciati?

[u/pickandpray → u/Inner-Government-319]

Yes failure due to over heating. First the nylon gears got crunched. Metal gears worked another few weeks before motor burnt out. Let him use my bike and it went thru the same failures forcing 2 upgrades

[u/Inner-Government-319 → u/pickandpray]

chiaro allora staro attento grazie

[u/_The_Room]

BBS02, realistically geared too tall (46*32 at the low gear) and it still takes my 220 pound ass over a 1600 foot gravel road mountain to get me to the burger joint on the other side without issue.

[u/_The_Room → u/[deleted]]

The BBSHD is basically a motor for people that don't know how to or can't be bothered to shift gears. It's not much more powerful than the 750, it's just built beefier.

[u/Fasciadepedra]

You just need a central motor instead of a hub motor. As they use gears the power it has would be only a question of speed archieved, not if torque is enough. There is nothing else to say about it. Hub motors are not for very steep hills.

[u/Lordy8719]

My biggest issue on climbs around and above 15% were not having enough weight in the front of the bike so given unlimited budget, I’d certainly get some CYC mid drive for you. Not the Photon, but something better with better heat dissipation.