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FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany - The component many e-Bike makers are waiting for; a hub motor with integrated 3-speed gear hub is already there. This new BionX IGH3 technology will be used in Trek bikes in 2010.

It wasn’t launched at Eurobike with all the glitter and glamour this important e-Bike component should have had and maybe that’s why many industry insiders will have missed it. But Canadian BionX, which is a spin of company of auto parts giant Magna International that took over car maker Opel in Germany earlier this week, presented its BionX PL250HT motor with integrated SRAM 3-speed gear hub.

In a BionX press release it is said that: “With the use of e-Bikes and pedelecs growing rapidly in cities and the demand for a ‘care-free’ product adapted for personal and rental use increasing, BionX gave its two R&D Teams based in Canada and Austria the task of developing the ultimate care-free product that uses both BionX technology and a new SRAM 3 speeds hub.

“The fusion of BionX’s new SinDrive technology motor and the SRAM hub has created a high performance rear propulsion system that is silent, smooth, easy to use, and perfect for anyone who wants to ride without having to adjust, clean and lubricate external gears.

“We developed this product to target individual commuters, large cities rental programs, communities and business use like postal and police services, in using our proven BionX technology. We were looking at the ideal partner to launch it together with us and naturally opted for Trek thanks to their in depth involvement with BionX in their European and more recently North American ‘powered by BionX’ pedelec programs, together with our common wishes to build the ultimate care free products in using a rear propulsion system, dedicated for city users.”

At Eurobike, Magna also announced Hostettler GmbH to be the new exclusive distributor for BionX kits in Germany and Austria. This was announced by EPS Europe GmbH, the European subsidiary of BionX owner Magna Marque. EPS Europe is based in Haar/Salmdorf (near Munich) and will, next to the support of its distributors, focus on expanding BionX OEM business in Europe.