BionX

BionX was a Canadian maker of electric motors for bicycles as well as bicycle retrofit kits, operating from 1998-2018, originally named EPS (Electric Propulsion Systems) .

BionX logo

BionX was headquartered in Aurora, Ontario where motors were produced and assembled before being marketed in over 15 countries. Research and development was based in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The European sales and service center was located near Munich, Germany.

History

In 1998, entrepreneur Jean-Yves Dubé formed Energy and Propulsion Systems (EPS), a company in Quebec, Canada.[1] In 2000, the name was changed to "BionX".

In 2008, the company was acquired by Magna[2] and by then its motors had become standard in many ebikes in Europe and North America, including bikes by Trek and Matra,[3] Kalkhoff.

In 2011, Bionix introduced SeaScape, an electrically-assisted paddle-boat product line.

On February 27, 2018 BionX Canada went into receivership, its 80 employees were let go and the company was shut down temporarily to find a buyer.[4] Grant Thornton Limited was appointed as Receiver.[5] In June 2018, parts of the business were sold off to three other businesses,[6] and the rest of the company assets were liquidated via online auction that ended August 15, 2018.[7] By October 2018, BionX's receiver sold the company’s intellectual property, patents, trademarks, software web domains as well as remaining inventory with court approval to Amego Electric Vehicles and its nominee Leisger Cycle Inc.[8]

Motors

BionX motors were typically mounted into an oversized rear wheel hub and were noted for their low noise; regenerative braking capability and hub-embedded motor controller.

The D series of motors was the most recent and strongest BionX technology with a torque of 25/50 Nm. The motor cylinder was larger but thinner than previous versions and weighed 4.0 kg (8.8 lb). Before that was the S series which with 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) was lighter than the P series at the same strength. The P series motors were the first produced by Bionx. They had a torque of 9/40 Nm at a weight of 4.7 kg (10.4 lb).[9]

Watts* Voltage Weight Year Source
D-500 500W (NA), 250W (EU) 48V 4.08 kg 2015
S-350 350W (NA) 48V 4.08 kg 2014
P-350 350W (NA), 250W (EU) 36V 4.7 kg 2014
SL-350 350W (NA) 48V 4.3 kg 2013
PL-350 350W (NA) 37V 4.3 kg 2013
PL-250 250W (NA) 26V 4.3 kg 2013

*Since the maximum legal power specifications in Watts are different for the same motor in North America and Europe, the name varies. For example, the P-350 is usually sold as the P-250 in Europe.

While Bionx had competition from several wheel hub-based motor companies, including Panasonic (e.g. KTM's eRace), Alber's Xion (lately in Kalkhoff bikes),[10] Heinzmann,[11] and GoSwiss.[12] their primary competitor was the Bosch eBike.[13]

See also

References
  1. "BionX Timeline". ElectricBike.com. 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  2. Electric Bike Review: Binoix
  3. Wheeler
  4. Vanderpool, Val (2018-03-02). "BionX shuts down as it searched for a new owner". bicycleretailer.com. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  5. "Bionx Canada Inc. - Important Information for Creditors". grantthornton.ca. 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  6. "BionX Canada Sells Parts of its Business". BicycleRetailer.com. 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  7. "BionX Auction Catalog". bidspotter.com. 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  8. "European Subsidiary BionX Ceases Operation". Bike Europe. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  9. Bionix: Motor technology
  10. Alber
  11. Heinzmann
  12. GoSwiss
  13. Benedict, Tyler. "E-Bike Tech Comparison: Bosch Frame Mounted Motors vs. Bion-X Hub Motors" (11 August 2014). Bikerumor.com. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
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