New microcontroller targets lazy cyclists

3 October 2007 News

Infineon is exploiting a new business opportunity with an 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) for electric bicycles (e-bikes). According to the company, more than 18,5 million bikes are expected to be sold in 2007, in a market with an annual growth rate of 25%. E-bikes are equipped with a battery pack that frees the riders from pedalling. Due to their convenience, environmental-friendliness, and high performance-cost ratio, e-bikes have received an increasing demand from bicyclists around the world.

At the heart of the e-bike control unit, the MCU controls the motor operation and ensures the most efficient use of energy. With one fully-charged battery, an e-bike with a load of up to 100 kg can travel approximately 40 km at an average speed of 25 km per hour. With a clock rate of 27 MHz and high performance peripherals such as high speed analog-to-digital converters, dedicated motor control units using the Infineon XC866 family of microcontrollers offer an optimised solution for e-bike control board designers. The high performance also enables them to realise abundant functions to meet various end-user requirements, such as remote unlocking, e-brake and intelligent dashboard. The bike also operates under every weather condition, as the temperature range of the chip extends from -40°C +125°C.

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