Supposedly Fallbrook has a version of the hub "in development" that would be suitable for motorcycle-class power levels, but that's what they've said for years, and nothing verifiable ever came of it (they didn't even answer my questions about that one, though they did about the bicycle version, which is all they've ever released).
The version actually available is for lacing into spoked bicycle wheels, either 32 or 36 spokes, depending on which version you order (just different lacing holes drilled in it). It is only warrantied for this application--if you don't lace it into a *rear* wheel, the warranty is void (because of the way their instructions read).
If you run anything other than human drive power thru it, the warranty is void (should they in their sole determination choose to say that such use damaged it, which you have no way of objecting to).
If you don't mount it and it's accessory parts exactly as their instructions specify, the warranty is void (should they in their sole determination choose to say that such use damaged it, which you have no way of objecting to).
That's verified by my communications with them, and when I asked if they would revise this they said they would take it under consideration (which basically means no). I had wanted to use it in a design for a fully-suspended recumbent tadpole cargo trike, as part of the integrated human/electric drivetrain. It would not have been laced into a wheel, but rather part of the inline drivetrain, to help reduce in-wheel-rotating and unsprung mass (it's pretty heavy for a bike hub). Each of those things individually void it's warranty, preventing me from using it at all, as I wanted to develop these as a commercially-produced design. I can't use a major expensive part that I can't get warrantied by the manufacturer.
So it's only good for a certain class of regular bicycles, as it's use is disallowed by the very instructions they have for mounting it or it's control shifter or other parts in a number of bicycle variations, or in any power-assisted vehicle that passes it's power assist into the drivetrain that contains the NuVinci.
Unverified by me, since I won't buy something that won't have a warranty if I use it the way my needs dictate:
I've heard various real-world efficiencies for it from 85% down to 66%, and that they higher power levels put thru it the worse that is, because of the way power is transmitted within it (via special fluid between the ellipsoids and the rings).
I've also heard that it does not shift under load, that one must stop or slow your pedalling to shift depending on the direction of shifting and the actual load on it.
It looks marvelous on paper. It might even work very well. Just keep in mind I doubt it would survive motorcycle-class power loads, and that you have no warranty for it if you run it other than by human power alone, laced into the rear wheel of a bicycle, with everything that's a part of it's system mounted per their instructions.
Re: type motor/clutch for chain drive
Hybrid Mode
