The famous chain manufacturer KMC will launch into the design of motors and batteries for electric bicycles, under the KMC Kynamic brand. An official countdown has even been launched on the official website, alongside models revealing first information on its future systems.
In the electric bike landscape, a few big names are omnipresent in the field of motors and batteries. We obviously think of Bosch, considered the leader in the field, but also of Shimano, Bafang, Yamaha and Brose. A new name will soon be added to this small list, and not just any name: KMC.
Founded in 1977, KMC is a Taiwanese manufacturer known and recognized for manufacturing chains. The group created a subsidiary named KMC Kynamic in May 2021, as spotted by the specialist media Cycling Electric. With the ambition of positioning itself on motors and batteries for electric bicycles, as explained on the official website.
Urban, trekking, gravel
The E-System tab even shows a 57-day countdown, at the end of which the manufacturer should reveal a range of engines and accumulators. The E-Bike Application page goes even further, since it displays models of electric bikes accompanied by a technical sheet. The latter is full of information.
Already, KMC Kynamic intends to position itself in several categories of VAE: urban, VTC, gravel and All-Road SUV, a family halfway between VTC and MTB. For city cycles, the company relies on a central motor with a torque of 65 Nm, a power of 250 W, a torque sensor, three assistance modes and an LED screen.
This equipment will be associated with a 497 Wh battery claiming a range of 101 km in Eco mode, rechargeable in 3.5 or 7 hours using a 7A or 2A charger. We imagine this type of system equipping relatively high-end urban bikes, costing around 2,500 euros at least.
For trekking bikes, KMC Kynamic would opt for a 250 W rear motor, 40 Nm torque, an LCD screen and a transmission of up to 10 speeds, indicates Cycling Electric. The page — which sometimes has difficulty functioning properly — does not give information on the battery or the number of assistance modes.
For its part, the electric gravel would inherit the same engine – at least in terms of technical specifications – as the system intended for trekking bikes, all with three assistance modes, Bluetooth connectivity, an LCD screen and a torque sensor . The battery and estimated range do not appear either.
European VAE standards will be respected
Finally, e-SUV All Road type bikes will be entitled to a 200 W central motor – strange that it does not reach 250 W –, a torque of 65 Nm and up to four levels of assistance, the all with an LED screen.
All these technologies will ensure that they meet the European standard EN15194, proof that its systems will be designed in particular for the Old Continent. This standard consists of respecting the three main rules of an electrically assisted bicycle, namely:
- Assistance restricted to 25 km/h;
- The engine cuts off as soon as the cyclist stops pedaling;
- Rated power of 250 W maximum.
All of these elements published on the KMC Kynamic site may be subject to change between now and the end of the countdown – 57 days at the time of writing. But what seems certain is that a new player will indeed enter this already very competitive market.