An electric hub motor in a cargo bike is an electric motor built directly into the hub of a wheel (typically the front or rear wheel). Unlike mid-drive motors that are connected to the bike's drivetrain, hub motors drive the wheel directly.

Hub motors are particularly advantageous for cargo bikes due to their reliability, low maintenance requirements, and ability to provide consistent power delivery under varying load conditions.

• Inspecting a motor

Here are some examples of a hub motor running poorly in a cargo bike:

• The motor produces errors on the display, e.g. L8, R6
• The motor completely fails to operate despite receiving power
• The motor might produce inconsistent power, stuttering or cutting out under load
• Unusual noises such as grinding, clicking, or whining during operation
• Excessive heat generation during normal operation

These issues could be caused by damaged wiring, controller problems, water infiltration, or mechanical issues within the hub motor itself.

Usually, if there are no severe symptoms like excessive noise or visible damage, the first step in diagnosing the problem is to upload the latest controller firmware and **calibrate** the motors.

If all diagnostics point to the motor being faulty - replace the motor.

Most common errors:

• FL/FR6 - Motor hall sensor fault - usually indicates an internal motor short circuit, wiring damage or poor connection.
• FL/FR8 - Post static gating test - could mean: Shorted phase wires or damaged motor internals; Moisture, corrosion, contamination in the controller; Controller damage from overvoltage, overcurrent or incorrect wiring (reversed polarity, shorts)