CEDAR PARK, TEXAS, March 18, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NuVinci Cycling, a division of Fallbrook Technologies Inc. (Fallbrook), announced today that it is introducing an all-new, entry-level product line built around the N330™, a new NuVinci Optimized transmission.
The N330 hub provides the benefits of N360™-based systems -- such as smooth, seamless shifting and an enhanced ride experience -- at a lower price and with almost all of the features for which the N360 is widely known. The lower price point will make it possible for bicycle manufacturers to offer NuVinci Optimized transmission systems on lower-priced bicycles and eBikes.
Scheduled to be available in the market as early as mid-season this year, with a wider launch in 2016, the new product line features the N330 together with a new entry-level C3™ controller for mid-range pedal and eBikes and a new H3™ controller for Harmony-equipped automatic shifting eBikes.
"Consumers have made it clear that they love the smooth, continuous feeling of our unique, NuVinci Optimized transmission," said David Hancock, Fallbrook's EVP of Product Business Units and head of the NuVinci Cycling division. "So we decided to make this technology available to a broader market."
"Consumers and OEMs, alike, have been asking for this additional option for mid-range bikes, and we listened," added Roland ten Brinke, Sales Director, Europe. "Our N360 and Harmony products are immensely and increasingly popular. With the lower price point of the N330 systems, now many of the same benefits of the NuVinci technology will become available on lower-priced bikes."
The N330 is, like the N360, optimized by the award-winning NuVinci continuously variable planetary (CVP) technology, which enables smooth, continuous shifting and a quiet and comfortable riding experience. The N330 is the same type of sealed, maintenance-free hub as the N360, but the N330 has a slightly more limited (330%) ratio range.
For a manual continuous shifting experience, the N330 hub features the new C3 controller, which is intuitive and very simple to use. The clean, attractively designed C3 controller is positioned on the handle bar similarly to its N360 counterpart, but does not include an interactive display.
For automatic shifting, the N330 transmission can be combined with the award-winning Harmony shifting system using a new HHI3™ interface and a sleek new H3 controller (formerly known as Harmony Base controller). This new Harmony system offers three cadence modes, ease of use, and automatic performance for less expensive bikes. It is warrentied on all front-motor eBike drive systems and on mid-motor eBike drive systems with power up to 250w.
The NuVinci Cycling team invites journalists and customers to meet during the Taipei Cycle tradeshow, March 18-20, 2015, in room 441, where the team will announce detailed information about pricing, specifications, availability, and bike models. Alternatively, more information can be obtained by contacting Daniel Bley, Marketing Manager, Europe, at daniel.bley@fallbrooktech.com or Roland ten Brinke, Sales Director, Europe, at rtenbrinke@fallbrooktech.com.
About Fallbrook Technologies
Fallbrook Technologies is the developer of the patented NuVinci continuously variable planetary (CVP) technology, which can improve the performance and efficiency of machines that use a transmission,including vehicles, stationary equipment, bicycles, and others.
The NuVinci technology is Transforming Gears into Spheres™ by using a set of rotating spheres between the input and output components of a transmission. Tilting the spheres changes their contact diameters and varies the speed ratio. NuVinci CVPs can be configured to replace multiple planetary gears, providing significant efficiency and performance improvement in a compact package. The NuVinci technology offers companies the flexibility to design and produce next-generation products that are better-tailored to their unique business, market, and competitive requirements. Major automotive transmission suppliers have licensed the NuVinci technology for the development of automotive class drivetrains, and a market-leading supplier has licensed the technology and is developing NuVinci Optimized transmissions for electric and gasoline light vehicle applications.
The first commercial products incorporating the technology are the currently available N360 bicycle transmission and the Harmony auto-shifting system for bicycles, which includes the N360. Fallbrook has built an extensive portfolio of over 700 patents and patent applications worldwide. For more information, visit www.fallbrooktech.com.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=31514
