Hi Alex_h and Old Timer.
I have worked with both crank and hub systems over the years, and the easiest way to sum it up is efficiency. Crank motor drive systems are much more efficient than any hub system, hence they don't need 36v batteries. It is also the main reason for the batteries lasting longer. If you run a data analyst on the discharge rates of each system it shows that most hub systems have massive peaks and troughs, as the rpm of the motor changes with varying terrain. This puts a strain on the battery if the capacity isn't sufficient enough.
Run the same analyst on a crank drive unit, and you will see a much more even dishcarge rate, due to the motor rpm remaining more constant over varied terrain, as it drives through the bikes actual gears. So you go up a hill, change gear and the motor rpm stays the same, putting the battery under much less strain.
I have tested a lot of bikes, many of them hub motors, and yes the 26v systems just don't seem to cut it. On a crank drive however, it is more than enough, and ultimately results in a smaller, lighter, longer lasting battery. There simply is no need to run 36v on a crank drive.
Alex_h the retail on the Dover Deluxe Premium is £1799, and you are right it does cost more to supply through a retail network. We looked at distributing directly, but decided that the benefits of having a trained dealer network far outweighed the cost implications. The bike is manufactured at the Derby Cycle Werke plant in Germany, and is typical of their build quality standards. The bike comes off the back of it's success in mainland Europe, where Raleigh Germany are selling 35000-40000 a year
with an excellent reputation.
