Mid Drive vs. Rear Hub Motor: Which Electric Trike Motor Is Right for You?

Two Motors, Two Very Different Rides

Shop for an electric trike for more than ten minutes and you'll run into the same fork in the road: rear hub motor or mid drive motor. The spec sheets list wattage, battery size and top speed, but they rarely explain what the motor placement means once you're actually sitting on the seat and pushing off from the curb. That's a shame, because where the motor lives on the frame shapes almost everything about how the trike feels, what it costs, and how much attention it needs down the road.

In a recent video, Mika from the sixthreezero team walked through the difference in plain terms. There's no single right answer here. Both designs work well, and both have riders who swear by them. The trick is understanding what each one is good at, what it gives up, and which set of trade-offs lines up with the way you ride. This guide expands on Mika's walkthrough and fills in the details that matter when you're comparing models in our electric trike lineup.

If you take nothing else away, take this: a hub motor pushes the wheel, and a mid drive motor helps you push the pedals. Everything else follows from that difference.

A rear hub motor is built right into the center of the wheel, the hub that the spokes radiate out from. On most trikes you'd have to look closely to notice it at all. It sits there quietly, a slightly fatter version of a normal hub, and when the motor engages it spins the wheel directly.

That's the key point: a hub motor doesn't connect to your drivetrain. The chain, the crank and the gears are doing their own thing for your legs, while the motor drives the wheel independently. Your pedaling and the motor's push meet at the road, not at the chain. When the sensor detects that you're pedaling, or when you press the throttle on a model that has one, the motor turns the wheel and the trike moves forward.

Because the motor and the drivetrain are separate systems, a hub motor setup is mechanically straightforward. There are fewer parts working together under load, and the parts that are there aren't asking much of each other. That simplicity is where most of the hub motor's advantages come from.

The first thing most shoppers notice is price. A rear hub drive is much less expensive than a mid drive. The motor itself is a simpler, more widely produced component, and the frame doesn't need to be engineered around a motor housing at the crank. Those savings flow straight through to the sticker price, which is why hub motors show up on so many approachable, everyday trikes.

Simplicity also tends to mean easier ownership. Since the hub motor isn't pulling through the chain, your chain, cassette and chainring only handle the force from your legs. They wear at roughly the rate they would on a regular pedal trike. If you've owned a bicycle before, the maintenance routine will feel familiar: keep the chain clean and lubed, keep the tires inflated, check the brakes. The motor itself is sealed inside the hub and generally asks very little of you.

Another quiet benefit is that a hub motor will keep moving you even if you're not in the ideal gear. Because it drives the wheel directly, it doesn't care whether you shifted before a stop sign. For riders who don't want to think about gearing at all, that's a genuine comfort. Pair a hub motor with a trike that has throttle control and you can get rolling from a standstill without putting much effort into the pedals at all.

In short, the hub motor is the uncomplicated choice. It's less expensive, it's simpler, it's probably easier to maintain, and as Mika put it, it just works.

Here's the trade-off that's specific to three-wheelers, and it's worth understanding before you buy. On a trike with a rear hub motor, the motor sits in one of the two rear wheels. That means the motor is driving a single wheel while the other two, the front wheel and the second rear wheel, are simply rolling along freely.

Most of the time you won't notice. On a straight, dry path at a steady pace, power to one wheel feels the same as power to anything else. Where it can feel a little different is under acceleration, especially when you start off quickly; in turns, where the powered side is pushing slightly harder than the free-rolling side; and on wet or loose surfaces, where a single driven wheel has a bit less grip to work with when you first take off.

The good news, and Mika was clear about this, is that riders get used to it fast. After a few rides, your body learns how the trike responds, and you naturally ease into acceleration rather than stabbing at the throttle. If you ride somewhere that's often damp, a simple habit of starting gently on a lower assist level goes a long way. Wider tires help too, which is part of why fat tire electric trikes are popular with riders who see a lot of mixed surfaces.

It's not a flaw so much as a characteristic. Knowing about it ahead of time just means you won't be surprised the first time you pull away from a wet driveway.

A mid drive motor lives in a very different spot. Instead of sitting in a wheel, it's mounted low and centered on the frame, right where the pedals and crank are. It connects directly to the chain, which means it works through the same drivetrain your legs do.

When you pedal, the motor adds its power at the crank. That combined effort, yours and the motor's, travels through the chain and the gears to the rear wheel. In other words, the mid drive doesn't run alongside your pedaling the way a hub motor does. It runs with it. You and the motor become one system.

The low, central position is also helpful for balance. Placing the heaviest component near the middle of the frame and close to the ground keeps the weight distribution even, which many riders find makes the trike feel planted and predictable. On a three-wheeler that's already stable by design, that centered weight is a nice bonus rather than a necessity, but it's part of why mid drive trikes tend to feel so composed.

This is the big selling point, and it's the reason experienced cyclists often lean toward a mid drive. Because the motor works in conjunction with your pedaling, the assistance comes from the same place you're already putting effort in: the pedals. It feels like your legs suddenly got stronger, not like something else is shoving you along from behind.

For anyone who has spent years on a regular bicycle, that sensation matters. The rhythm of pedaling, the connection between how hard you push and how fast you go, the way you use the gears to stay in a comfortable cadence: all of it carries over. Mika described it as feeling more natural to a cyclist who's used to that kind of feedback coming from the pedals, and that's exactly right.

A hub motor can feel great too, but its character is different. It's more of a helping hand at the back wheel. Some riders love that independence. Others, particularly those with a lot of miles in their legs, find that the mid drive simply feels more like home.

If there's one situation where the mid drive's design really shines, it's a steep climb. Because the motor feeds its power through the chain, it gets to use your gears. Shift into a lower gear at the bottom of a hill, and the motor's effort is multiplied the same way yours is. The result is strong, steady climbing with noticeably less pedaling effort.

Mika summed it up well: if you're heading up a steep hill and you're pedaling, the mid drive is going to multiply that effort and carry you right up. A hub motor, by contrast, is always working at a fixed ratio to the wheel. It will still help on a hill, but it can't take advantage of a low gear the way a mid drive can, so on long or steep grades it tends to work harder and feel less effortless.

That gearing advantage also matters when the trike is carrying weight. If you're hauling groceries, gear for a day out, or a passenger, the mid drive's ability to lean on the gears makes heavy loads feel more manageable. That's one reason riders shopping for cargo electric trikes, eBike rickshaws or models built for carrying passengers often take a close look at mid drive options.

If your rides include real hills, or you live somewhere where every errand starts with a climb, give the mid drive serious consideration.

None of this comes free. The first con is the obvious one: a mid drive is more expensive. The motor is a more sophisticated unit, it has to be integrated into the frame, and it needs to communicate with your pedaling in a more refined way. All of that adds cost.

The second trade-off is drivetrain wear. Because the motor pushes through the chain, the chain and gears now carry your effort plus the motor's. Over time, that means the chain will wear out a little faster than it would on a hub motor trike. Mika was careful to say it's not a lot, and that's fair. How much faster depends on how you ride, where you ride, and how much weight the trike is carrying. A rider cruising flat bike paths at moderate assist will see far less wear than someone climbing steep hills with a full cargo basket every day.

A chain is a relatively inexpensive part, and replacing it on schedule protects the more expensive gears it runs on. So the extra wear is real, but it's manageable with ordinary attention. Think of it as the cost of that natural pedaling feel and that hill-climbing strength.

A small habit helps a lot here: ease off the pedals for a split second as you shift. Shifting under full motor load is harder on the chain and gears, so a brief pause keeps everything running smoothly and lasting longer.

Whichever motor you choose, a little routine care keeps an electric trike running well for years. The basics are the same for both: keep the tires at the right pressure, check that the brakes are responsive, keep the chain clean and lubricated, and store and charge the battery properly. If you're ever replacing a worn-out pack or need a spare charger, sixthreezero carries batteries and chargers for its models.

With a hub motor, your drivetrain maintenance looks a lot like it would on a standard pedal trike. The motor is sealed inside the wheel and generally asks for nothing beyond keeping the axle hardware snug. The main thing to remember is that removing that rear wheel for a flat involves a motor cable, so it's a slightly more involved job than on a non-electric trike.

With a mid drive, the drivetrain deserves a bit more attention. Check your chain for stretch more often, especially if you ride hills or carry loads, and replace it before it starts wearing down the gears. The upside is that the wheels themselves are conventional, so tire changes are simpler.

If you'd rather not handle repairs yourself, sixthreezero offers nationwide service and can help connect you with an approved mechanic. It's also worth reading through the warranty details so you know what's covered on whichever model you choose.

It can help to see the two designs next to each other before weighing them against your own riding. Start with location. The hub motor sits inside one of the rear wheels and drives that wheel directly, while the mid drive sits low and centered at the crank and works through the chain and gears.

Then there's feel. The hub motor gives you a steady push from behind that works independently of your pedaling. The mid drive amplifies your own pedal strokes, so it feels like a stronger version of riding a regular bicycle. On a trike, the hub motor powers one wheel while the others roll free, which can feel slightly different when accelerating, cornering or starting on wet ground. The mid drive sends its power through the drivetrain to the rear, so the sensation is closer to a conventional pedal trike.

On hills, the mid drive has the edge because it can use your low gears to multiply its effort. The hub motor still helps, but it works at a fixed ratio and has to labor harder on long, steep grades. On cost, the hub motor wins clearly. On upkeep, the hub motor is the lighter commitment, while the mid drive wears the chain a little faster depending on how, where and with how much weight you ride.

Neither column is a clean sweep, and that's the point. Each design is strongest exactly where the other one compromises, so the right pick depends on which strengths you'll actually use.

So which one is right for you? Mika's advice was refreshingly simple, and it holds up.

If you're mainly a casual rider and most of your riding is on flat terrain, the rear hub drive is the natural fit. It's less expensive, it's simpler, and it does the job without asking you to think about it. Trips around the neighborhood, rides along the beach path, a run to the farmers market: a hub motor handles all of that beautifully. Many riders browsing our most comfortable electric trikes fall right into this group.

If you're an experienced cyclist and you plan to put a lot of miles on the trike, the mid drive is going to feel more comfortable over time. It rides more like a regular bicycle, rewards good pedaling and smart gear use, and handles longer, hillier rides with less fatigue. For riders who think of cycling as a real hobby rather than an occasional outing, that natural feel is worth the extra cost.

Either way, both motor types are going to work well. This isn't a case of a good option and a bad one. It's two good options built around different priorities.

One group deserves special mention: people who haven't ridden in a while. Maybe it's been years since you were last on a bike, or maybe balance concerns kept you off two wheels and a trike is your way back in. For you, Mika's recommendation was clear: go with the rear hub drive.

The reasoning is practical. A hub motor is simpler to live with. It doesn't depend on being in the right gear, it gets you moving with very little effort, and it lets you focus on the joy of riding rather than the mechanics of it. You can always grow into a more involved setup later, but the first goal is getting comfortable, building confidence, and getting down the road.

Riders in this situation often care about how easy the trike is to get on and off, too. Our easy-to-mount eTrikes with low step-thru frames and our electric trikes for seniors are good places to start. If sitting back in a supportive seat sounds appealing, recumbent electric trikes offer another comfortable way to ease back into riding.

Before you settle on a motor type, it helps to be honest about how you'll actually use the trike. Start with terrain. Is your area mostly flat, or do your regular routes include real hills? Flat ground favors the simplicity of a hub motor, and steady climbs favor the gearing advantage of a mid drive.

Next, think about mileage. Are you planning short, relaxed rides a few times a week, or long outings that add up to serious miles? The more time you spend in the saddle, the more you'll appreciate the natural pedaling feel of a mid drive.

Then consider load. Will you carry groceries, a pet, a passenger or gear? Heavier loads make the mid drive's ability to use the gears more valuable. If carrying capacity is high on your list, browse our electric trikes with high weight capacity.

Budget and maintenance matter as well. If keeping costs and upkeep low is a priority, the hub motor is hard to beat. And finally, think about experience. Seasoned cyclists tend to prefer the mid drive's connected feel, while newer or returning riders usually find the hub motor more relaxed and forgiving.

If you're still unsure after working through those questions, the sixthreezero fitting process is designed for exactly this kind of decision. It looks at your body and your riding style together, and you can talk it through with a real person rather than guessing from a spec sheet. The Ultimate Bike Buyer's Guide is another helpful resource if you like to read up before you decide.

Descriptions only go so far. The difference between a hub motor and a mid drive becomes obvious within a few minutes of riding each one. You'll feel the independent push of the hub motor, the way the mid drive's power seems to come from your own legs, and how each one handles a start, a turn and a short climb.

If you're near the shop, you can come test ride our bikes and trikes in person and feel the difference for yourself. If you're ordering online, the 30-day test ride gives you time to ride your new trike on your own streets and your own hills before you commit.

Whichever way you go, you're choosing between two motors that will serve you well. Pick the hub motor for simplicity, value and easy everyday riding. Pick the mid drive for a natural pedaling feel, stronger climbing and long days in the saddle. Then get out there and ride. For more guides like this one, browse the eBike section of our Bike Advice blog.