July 12, 2022 - (Seefeld, Germany) The brand-new TQ-HPR50 is more than just a drive system for better e-bikes. It’s a system for the next generation of bikes. Light, compact, natural-feeling, virtually instantly-engaging and quiet – the TQ-HPR50 seamlessly integrates into the frame without the need for bulky bottom brackets or gigantic downtubes and creates a new breed of mountain bikes like the new Trek Fuel EXe that look, sound and – most importantly – feel like analog bikes.
The key to the HPR50 Drive System is TQ’s patented Harmonic Pin-Ring Transmission which is the result of TQ’s decades-long experience in the engineering and development of electric motors for robots, satellites, space stations and mars rovers. By redesigning and reengineering the patented Harmonic Pin-Ring technology used in literal Space-Age applications to fit the needs of cyclists, TQ created an extremely light drive unit (1.850 grams) that is quiet, has virtually no lag in engagement, no drag when coasting and allows for seam-less and elegant e-bike system integration.
For TQ and its team of cycling-crazed engineers the development of the TQ-HPR50 has never been about peak torque or power. It’s always been about feeling empowered. It’s about climbing faster and riding longer to enjoy more of what’s most fun – shredding trails and having a blast on the downs – without being held back by a massive weight penalty and cumbersome bike. It’s about ripping the downhills with a fun, agile, playful and natural feeling mountain bike. A mountain bike that looks and sounds like an analog bike but just happens to make riders feel like they’re enjoying the fittest day of their life on the climbs. And that’s exactly why the HPR50 was developed as a light e-bike system from the very beginning.
Delivering up to 50 Nm of torque and 300 W of peak power, the HPR50 drive unit is accompanied by a 360Wh battery, 2” fully integrated screen as well as a minimalistic handlebar remote to create the lightest e-bike system in its category at only 3.900 grams altogether. However important these numbers might seem, though, they actually don’t accurately reflect what the HPR50 system is about – the ride feel.
Trek Fuel EXe with TQ-HPR50 Drive System
What started in 2018 with a chance meeting at EuroBike and a Trek Powerfly modified to act as platform for TQ’s HPR120S Drive Unit (the most powerful e-bike drive system in the world with 120Nm of torque), quick-ly turned into a partnership when the conversation topic switched to both parties’ desire to create light-weight e-bikes that feel like analog bikes. Challenged by the question of “How small can an e-bike motor with the HPR technology get?”, the engineers at TQ and Trek got to work on what eventually became a cat-egory defining new breed of E-MTB – the Fuel EXe built around the TQ-HPR50 Drive System.
In essence, the TQ-HPR50 creates mountain bikes that let riders clock more downhills without a massive weight penalty. Bikes that are sleek, light and let you explore deeper. Bikes that let you climb higher with-out weighing you down. Bikes that look, feel and sound like normal bikes but take you further. Better, natu-ral-feeling bikes that let you have more fun without any compromises. All the upsides, no downsides. Advanced, Naturally.
Details TQ-HPR50 Drive System
Drive Unit
The heart of the system – the HPR50 drive unit – is completely made in Germany and not only developed but also assembled at TQ’s factory in Inning am Ammersee, Southern Bavaria. The rest of the system, for the most part, is made in Europe to ensure the highest quality standards and short transportation ways.
The HPR50 drive unit weighs only 1.850 grams, delivers up to 50Nm of torque and up to 300 Watts of peak power with the highest torque density on the market at 82 Nm/dm³ in a compact, lightweight package. But for TQ it’s not about numbers, it’s about the riding experience.
Believing that the principle of ‘less is more’ doesn’t just ring true when it comes to size, weight and noise, but also when it comes to user friendliness, the system intentionally features only three ride modes which, however, are fully customizable through the Trek Connect App. Additionally, the Q factor of the drive unit is only 135mm which allows for the same natural and efficient feel at the pedals as analog bikes – a factor that’s often overlooked when it comes to e-bikes.
Battery
The battery has been specifically developed to power the HPR50 Drive Unit with maximum efficiency while the high energy density of 316 Wh/dm³ allows for the battery to take up as little space as possible. This al-lows for the design of e-bikes that look like and have the same kinematics as analog bikes. Weighing only 1.830g, the battery features a capacity of 360Wh which can be further increased by 160Wh with an optional range extender for those extra-long all-day epics.
Display
The 2” O-LED display acts as a frame-integrated control hub and gives riders full control over their e-bike. Furthermore, the display lets riders monitor essential system data and connects their e-bike to their mobile phone or favorite ANT+ bike computer. Perfectly readable under all light conditions, the display provides all the information needed at one glance while a simple press of the display button turns the system ON and OFF and let`s riders navigate through different screens.
Remote
The smallest part of the TQ-HPR50 system is a stealthy little handlebar remote. It lets riders control the bike’s support settings without having to move a hand from the grips. The remote simply mounts onto standard 22,2mm-diameter handlebars and can be conveniently unplugged from its cable, making it super easy to change or replace components on the bars. Designed specifically for mountain bikes following TQ’s principle of less is more, the remote is a compact, robust and understated piece of technology made specif-ically for riders who want to ride more and not worry about anything else.
HPR
The Harmonic Pin-Ring Transmission (HPR) is the result of TQ’s decades-long experience in the development and engineering of electric motors for robots, satellites, space stations and mars rovers. By redesigning and reengineering the patented Harmonic Pin-Ring technology used in literal Space-Age applications to fit the needs of cyclists, TQ created an extremely light drive unit (1.850 grams) that has virtually no lag in engage-ment and allows for seamless and noiseless e-bike system integration.
Utilizing the compact size and technological advantages of the HPR transmission, TQ developed a light and extremely compact nested motor construction around the bottom bracket. Consisting of only very few parts this makes the motor almost invisible. Furthermore, the HPR transmission avoids the use of cog wheels which cause friction, noise, wear and potential points of failure. Foregoing cog wheels enabled the design of e-bikes which sound, look and ride like normal bikes. Lastly, an HPR50-equipped e-bike pedals like a normal bike when the drive unit is disengaged thanks to an integrated freewheel and drag-free internal components.
In summary, thanks to the patented HPR technology, TQ was able to create the lightest, quietest, most compact e-bike system in its class. It’s cycling but better.
Further information on TQ and the technology behind the HPR50 visit here tq-ebike.com.
About TQ-Group
TQ-Group was formed in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, Germany, in 1994. The letters TQ stand for Technologie in Qualität – simply translated: Technology in Quality. Over the past 28 years, TQ has grown from a two-man shop into an internationally leading tech company with more than 1.700 employees. TQ’s original background is in electronical engineering and manufacturing services which has seen the company develop and produce electronics for global market leaders for more than 25 years and counting. In 2008, TQ first embarked on the e-bike journey.
TQ-Drives is a part of the TQ-Group which focusses on market-leading drive systems. The development of groundbreaking drive technologies started more than 10 years ago with a cooperation with the German Aerospace Center. Since then, TQ has reset the boundaries of the industrial application of frameless motors and created the drive systems with the highest torque density in the world. TQ-Drives taped into the knowledge gained from years of applying the company’s drive technology in fields like robotics, space travel, medical robots and automation to create the best possible, innovative and technologically-advanced products specifically tailored to cyclist’s wants and needs.
