UC Santa Barbara
EMF

Project Type: 
Mechanical Engineering
Year: 
2021

Description

Our project aims to revolutionize the capabilities, and usability of regenerative braking systems in electric bikes. Currently, regenerative braking is not popular in electric bikes despite increasing the bikes range by up to 10%, and decreasing wear on the bike’s brake pads. The primary reason that regenerative braking is not used in electric bikes is because a regenerative braking system compromises the bike’s ability to free-wheel, i.e. pedal without cogging resistance from the motor. This is the problem our project intends to solve. We are designing a bi-directional clutch in a geared hub motor to allow for powerful regenerative braking, and allow the user to free-wheel without motor resistance. The system will be activated and deactivated at will by the user via a lever attached to their handlebars. The rider will be able to use power, and get regenerative braking from the motor when the clutch is engaged, and subsequently pedal without motor resistance when the clutch is disengaged.

Students

Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering