{"id":35030,"date":"2022-11-01T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=35030"},"modified":"2022-11-01T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T15:00:00","slug":"gates-carbon-drive-moto-x5-belts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=35030","title":{"rendered":"Gates Carbon Drive reveals new Moto X5 belts, making electric motorcycles even more silent"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gates Carbon Drive<\/a> is a global leader in belt drives used to replace chains on two-wheeled vehicles like bikes, scooters, and motorcycles. The company\u2019s new Gates Carbon Drive Moto X5 product line was just introduced this morning, helping make already quiet electric motorcycles even quieter.<\/p>\n

Gates Moto X5 belt drive unveiled<\/h2>\n

Gates belt drives are engineered with high-stiffness, long-lasting synthetic compounds layered with carbon fiber cords for superior strength and durability.<\/p>\n

New nylon tooth fabric improves the Moto X5 drivetrain\u2019s durability, and the tooth profile is backward compatible with the company\u2019s Moto X9 sprockets.<\/p>\n

Depending on the vehicle and setup, Gates\u2019 belts are frequently rated for tens of thousands of miles. Compared to chain drives \u2013 those are also much quieter miles.<\/p>\n

According to independent lab testing, the Gates Moto X5 belt drive system<\/a> was shown to be up to 15 decibels quieter than chain drives over a range of operating speeds.<\/p>\n

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But noise reduction is just one of many benefits of belt drive systems like these. Reduced maintenance and efficiency gains are also key advantages.<\/p>\n

Unlike chains, which require periodic maintenance to clean, oil, and check tension, belt drives are essentially maintenance-free. <\/p>\n

And because they long outlive the life span of chains, that maintenance-free operation is even more impactful to the amount of time that riders have to spend wrenching instead of riding.<\/p>\n

Gates also claims that the Moto X5 has an efficiency advantage over chain drives. <\/p>\n

As the company explained:<\/p>\n

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Throughout the life of the vehicle and under normal operating and maintenance conditions, Moto X5 is more energy efficient than chain, which can lead to improved vehicle range, a critical factor on electric vehicle applications.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019ve always heard that chains are a couple of percentage points more efficient than belts, but that may only be true for new chains. As the chain quickly wears in, its efficiency decreases. Belts retain their high efficiency in a more linear curve throughout their life spans, meaning that they can be more efficient when compared to chains across the entire useful lifetime of the drivetrain.<\/p>\n

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Gates is targeting the large markets of sit-down electric scooters<\/a> and electric motorcycles<\/a> used for commuting applications. These types of two-wheeled electric vehicles are skyrocketing in use across Asia, even if their numbers are growing more slowly in Europe and North America.<\/p>\n

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA)<\/a>, new registrations of electric two and three-wheelers reached over 10M units in 2021, with the majority coming from China, India, and Vietnam.<\/p>\n

By the end of this decade, the IEA expects over 80% of two and three-wheelers sold in China to be electric.<\/p>\n

Tom Pitstick, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of strategic planning for Gates, explained further:<\/p>\n

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As the transition from internal combustion engines to electric scooters accelerates in core markets like India, Southeast Asia, and China, we expect drivetrain noise, efficiency and durability to become more important to customers. Moto X5 is designed to meet the needs for quiet, long-lasting, low-maintenance operation. Congratulations to the efforts of our global R&D teams that made this breakthrough possible.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Those wanting to see the new Moto X5 system in person can check it out at the China International Motorcycle show from November 3-5 and the EICMA Milan Motorcycle Show from Nov 8-13.<\/p>\n

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