Sensor aids pedal power

31st May 2016

Mick Elliott

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An electric bike pedal force sensor has been developed by ZEMIC in conjunction with the Netherlands firm SPARTA – a successful e-bike brand in Europe. The sensor is a crucial component in the bike’s drive and control system that detects the pedal force applied, and through software settings determines a proportional amount of assisted motor power at the wheel.

Rather than a speed sensor, this control gives the rider a more intuitive riding experience with increased efficiency and longer battery life. The e-bike has several settings including Cruise, Tour and Sport.

ZEMIC, who is represented exclusively in the UK by Variohm EuroSensor, worked closely with SPARTA from the outset to prototype, develop and mass-manufacture a competitively priced customised sensor for this cost-conscious and rapidly expanding market – in the European Union, 1.35 million e-bikes were sold in 2014 - almost double the 2011 sales according to Accell Group. The sensor was developed with the EBCC (Electric Bike Competence Centre) of the Accell Group whose members include many globally recognised bike brand names including Raleigh and Diamondback in the UK.

Variohm have been working with ZEMIC since 2008 and provide complete technical support and a full sales service across its wide range of load and force sensors with capacities from a few hundred grams to more than 500 Tons.

Product families include single point cells, compression cells, S-type, shear beam and spoke type load cells together with complete weighing assemblies, separate strain gauge circuits, junction boxes, mounting accessories and electronics.

Variohm EuroSensor is a manufacturer, distributor and supply chain partner providing complete sales and application support across a comprehensive range of position, force, pressure, load, and temperature sensor technologies - for demanding measurement applications across industry, construction, agriculture, motorsports, research and more.