Ultra-Compact Hub Motor Redefines Urban E-Bike Landscape





A revolutionary electric hub motor, notably diminutive in size yet monumental in its implications, recently debuted at Eurobike 2025. This innovation, forged from a strategic alliance among Moving Magnet Technologies (MMT), Swiss mechatronics leader Sonceboz, and French e-bike software innovator eBikeLabs, is set to establish a new paradigm for premium urban electric bicycles. Its compact form factor belies a powerful and intelligent design, signalling a significant leap forward in the evolution of personal electric mobility.
This pioneering motor boasts an impressive 70 Nm of torque, incorporates regenerative braking technology, and features an exceptional 22:1 gear ratio. A seamlessly integrated torque sensor ensures a remarkably natural and responsive pedalling experience for riders. Despite these advanced capabilities and inherent technological integrations, the motor maintains an astonishingly low weight, tipping the scales at under 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs). This makes it an incredibly light contender within the high-torque hub motor category, especially considering its targeted application for sophisticated urban performance and connected functionalities. Its design ethos focuses on empowering a new generation of minimalist, high-tech city e-bikes, making it a highly attractive component for manufacturers.
The motor is specifically engineered for single-speed electric bicycles and achieves full integration with eBikeLabs’ proprietary eBikeOS software platform. This synergistic pairing enables a suite of advanced features, including regenerative braking for extended range and improved control, sophisticated anti-theft immobilization for enhanced security, and intelligent ride customization options, all delivered within an unexpectedly svelte form factor. Sonceboz, renowned for its impeccable manufacturing standards in the automotive sector, is spearheading the industrialization phase, utilizing its automated production facilities in Switzerland to ensure flawless output. Current projections indicate that the motor is undergoing B-sample testing with a prominent, albeit unnamed, premium urban bike manufacturer, with commercial availability anticipated in early 2027.
Damien Wittwer, Division Director at Sonceboz, highlighted the collaborative vision: \"Through this hub motor, Sonceboz, MMT, and eBikeLabs are committed to setting an unprecedented standard for high-end urban bicycles. Our deep mechatronics expertise guarantees a production process that is both reliable and of superior quality, catering to the exacting demands of leading brands. We are not just fabricating motors; we are enabling our partners to distinguish themselves in a market that increasingly values smarter, quieter, and more integrated urban transportation solutions.\" The collaborative framework leverages MMT's prowess in motor design and electromagnetic innovation, Sonceboz's industrial manufacturing capabilities, and eBikeLabs' cutting-edge eBikeOS software, which provides real-time diagnostics, immediate theft alerts, comprehensive ride tracking, and personalized performance adjustments. Notably, the eBikeOS platform has previously garnered positive feedback from pre-release testing, proving its efficacy in enhancing the e-bike experience.
This marks a significant progression for eBikeLabs, which has a history of contributing to high-end e-bike projects, including powering the Virvolt 2000 motor found in cargo e-bikes and collaborating with brands like Cowboy and Vefaa. However, this latest motor signifies a more profound convergence of hardware and software, developed in unison from inception. This holistic approach is a rare commodity in the increasingly fragmented electric bicycle market. Should the promising specifications translate effectively into mass production and the industrial scaling proceed as planned, this new component has the potential to become one of the most transformative elements in the premium city e-bike sector over the coming years. Its integrated anti-theft measures, fluid application connectivity, and impressive power-to-size ratio exemplify the kind of understated yet impactful advancements that elevate an e-bike from a mere utility to an almost magical riding experience.