Mid-drive or hub motor: which motor should you choose?

An e-bike’s motor is located in the front wheel, rear wheel, or in the middle by the bottom bracket. A mid-drive motor feels more natural and is more powerful on a hill than a front-wheel motor, but it is more expensive. A motor in a wheel is called a hub motor. For flat rides to school, work, or the supermarket, a front-wheel motor is fine according to ANWB and Fietsersbond.

Below, you can read what each motor location does well and where it performs less well, according to ANWB, Consumentenbond, Fietsersbond, and ADAC. You can also read what torque (Nm) means and how 250 watts works. At the bottom, you’ll find e-bikes with the motor specified by their manufacturer.

Mid-drive motor: natural feel, strong on hills

A mid-drive motor is located by the bottom bracket and powers the rear wheel through the pedals. According to ANWB, it feels slightly more natural, especially if you are used to a regular bike. Most mid-drive motors have a torque sensor: the harder you pedal, the more assistance the motor provides. More than two-thirds of e-bikes sold have a mid-drive motor, writes Consumentenbond.

The weight is positioned low and in the center. This makes the bike stable and easy to lift, because it does not tip forward or backward (ANWB). Fixing a flat tire is straightforward. The disadvantages: a mid-drive motor is more expensive, more prone to faults according to ANWB, and an e-bike with a mid-drive motor is generally heavier.

Front-wheel motor: pulls you forward

A front-wheel motor pulls the bike forward. It is cheaper and requires little maintenance, according to Consumentenbond. It usually works with a rotation sensor, which responds with a slight delay: the wheel must start turning before the motor engages (Fietsersbond).

It is less powerful on hills. On a slippery surface, with falling leaves, snow, or black ice, the front wheel is more likely to spin (ANWB, ADAC). Braking and taking tight corners may take some getting used to. Keep the pedals still to slow down, and do not pedal accidentally while turning, otherwise the bike may shoot forward (Consumentenbond).

Rear-wheel motor: a push from behind

A motor in the rear wheel pushes you forward. According to Consumentenbond, it is usually quiet and handles better than a front-wheel motor; ADAC highlights its good traction. However, the weight is at the back. This makes the bike more difficult to maneuver and harder to carry up stairs (ANWB, ADAC).

The sources disagree about hills. ANWB writes that a rear-wheel motor is a better choice in hilly terrain, partly because of the greater number of gears. Fietsersbond warns that such a motor can become too hot when climbing and then shut off. You often find it on fatbikes: according to ANWB, most fatbikes have a rear-wheel motor, although ANWB itself prefers a mid-drive motor. The JOBOBIKE Robin Pro, a fatbike with 26 x 4.0-inch tires, has a Bafang motor in the rear wheel with 80 Nm, according to JOBOBIKE.

Which motor is right for you?

If you mainly ride on flat roads to school, work, or the supermarket, a front-wheel motor is fine according to ANWB and Fietsersbond. If you want to ride in the hills, they recommend a mid-drive motor. If you want the motor to match how hard you pedal, look for a torque sensor. And if you often need to carry the bike up stairs, pay attention to its weight and where that weight is positioned.

What does torque (Nm) mean?

Torque is the force delivered by the motor, expressed in newton meters (Nm). High torque helps when accelerating from a standstill and on a steep hill, write Fietsersbond and Shimano. Fietsersbond’s rule of thumb: the higher the Nm figure, the more assistance you get at a low pedaling cadence.

Torque varies even between motors of the same type. JOBOBIKE lists 45 Nm for the Astra’s mid-drive motor, while Vogue lists 80 Nm for the Prestige’s mid-drive motor. According to Fietsersbond, there are major differences in power between e-bikes.

Can a motor be more powerful than 250 watts?

Not on an electric bicycle. The limit is a maximum rated continuous power of 250 watts (EU Regulation 168/2013). If the motor has more power, it is no longer a pedal-assisted bicycle and may, for example, require approval as a moped (Staatscourant 2025, 14637).

Rated power is not the same as peak power. Bosch lists a maximum power of 400 to 750 W for its motors with a rated power of 250 W. If a bike lists a power rating above 250 watts, check whether this is the rated power. The Dutch government recommends getting clear information from the seller.