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Enduo Evolve Track halves number of sprocket teeth for dual engagement

enduo evolve half chain dual engagement teeth
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New Motion Labs have introduced a new drivetrain concept that runs half the number of sprocket teeth to allow each tooth to engage two chain rollers at once. The dual-engagement concept is said to increase the chain’s lifespan and increase drivetrain efficiency by up to 1% through reducing energy losses associated with roller movement and inner link articulations. We checked out the new drivetrain concept on a Track bike at Eurobike.

enduo evolve track eurobike 2021

Enduo Evolve Track

On a traditional drivetrain, each sprocket tooth engages with just one chain roller at a time. As the sprocket goes through a rotation, pushed by the chain, each roller initially engages with the leading edge of a sprocket tooth, sliding around the gulley until it engages with the trailing edge of the neighboring tooth. This is where pressure is applied to push the sprocket through a rotation.

The above video shows how the roller slides through the gulley. It is here where New Motion Labs say there are efficiency gains to be made, as energy is lost through the friction associated with the sliding motion. The sliding also contributes to tooth wear.

traditional sprocket versus new motion labs enduo evolve sprocket half chain concept
A conventional 14T sprocket corresponds to an 7T Evolve sprocket at the same diameter. Likewise, a conventional 60T chainring corresponds to a 30T Evolve chainring at the same diameter. A standard half inch roller-chain wraps around the Evolve sprocket to form a near-identical polygon shape to that on existing drivetrain sprockets.

The Enduo Evolve drivetrain concept we spotted at EuroBike aims to increase drivetrain efficiency through reducing energy losses associated with friction. Less is more, they say, halving the number of teeth on the sprocket to allow for dual engagement of each tooth, eliminating slack from the system. Importantly, half the number of teeth doesn’t mean a smaller sprocket. It is the spacing of those teeth that is key, with space enough to accommodate two rollers in between consecutive teeth. The result is that each sprocket tooth engages two rollers throughout rotation of the sprocket/chain ring. 

enduo evolve half chain tooth dual engage,ent supporting roller load bearing

The roller interfacing with the front face of the tooth is the load bearing roller, while the one interfacing with the rear face is the supporting roller. In this system, neither roller is allowed to slide through the gulley as it is locked into place. New Motion Labs say this reduces relative movement of each roller, reducing energy losses.

enduo evolve dual engagement teeth roller supporting load bearing

Then, there’s the outer and inner plate articulation to consider. “The load on the supporting roller is much less than that on the load-bearing roller. By making the supporting rollers articulate by inner link articulations, their effect on drivetrain efficiency is greatly reduced, massively reducing power losses” – New Motion Labs.

What does this mean for the rider?

enduo evolve track time savings possible new record 10W gain over at 1000W
New Motion Labs say the Enduo Evolve delivers up to 10W gain at 1000W; here’s what that could mean for time savings on the track

Time savings on the track, and enhanced drivetrain longevity on cargo bikes. 

Enduo Evolve is said to prevent chain elongation by reducing the effect of detrimental outer link articulations. If inner link articulation occurs at the supporting roller, outer link articulations always occur at the load-bearing roller. New Motion Labs say that, overall, the Enduo Evolve can reduce the wear, and thus increase the lifetime of the drivetrain by up to 30%. That’s a huge improvement, not to be sniffed at.

enduo evolve cargo
New Motion Labs have data showing that, over 80,000 rotations, the Enduo Evolve drivetrain results in just under 0.2% chain elongation, while a traditional drivetrain results in just over 0.9% chain elongation

Pricing & Availability

The New Motion Labs Enduo Evolve retrofits to normal hubs and cranks. It will be available in two models; one with a normal chain and one with the industrial chain pictured on the Track bike.

The Enduo Evolve Cargo setup is priced at €149.99, which gets you one chainring, one sprocket, a chain and some drivetrain lube. Pricing for the Enduo Evolve Track setup is not yet available, but it seems you can register with New Motion Labs for pre-orders now.

NewMotionLabs.com

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Skip Davis
3 years ago

What goes around comes around. This reminds me of my 1950’s cruiser chain and crank set.

Zach
Zach
3 years ago

Didn’t Shimano have an alternate track chain standard for a while? Smaller links?

Jon
Jon
3 years ago

I think we should remain highly skeptical. 900 years of continuous chain drive research has pretty well figured out what the most efficient profiles and systems are. (I literally had to study a book of this earlier in my career.) So, yeah, maybe they’ve figured something new out but this flies in the face of what countless works have found.

Seraph
Seraph
3 years ago

Are we pretending that skip-tooth chainrings never existed?

Hobbanero
Hobbanero
3 years ago

isn’t this exactly the opposite of what the British Olympic track team did with their chainrings, which have more teeth to go faster? Science is so confusing.

Robin
Robin
3 years ago
Reply to  Hobbanero

Team GB went with a 10mm pitch chain in order to reduce the aero drag of their chain rings and increase their stiffness. A smaller chain ring that is other identical to a larger chain ring will deflect less under the same loads. The primary goal for Team GB was not increasing efficiency, although they may have considered efficiency when optimizing chain pitch.

Enduo is claiming they’re goal is increasing drivetrain efficiency and drivetrain life.

Science is only confusing if you don’t pay attention to the details.

mud
mud
3 years ago

so savings “up to 1%.” That chain also looks much heavier than standard chains.

Dagoon
Dagoon
3 years ago

This style sprocket is used to reduce chain wear. It’s negative for performance.

Ol' Shel'
Ol' Shel'
3 years ago

Half as many links have to articulate… but those links are articulating farther than standard chain and sprocket, thanks to the (more)faceted shape.

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