BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — CeramicSpeed, known for its low-friction derailleur pulleys and chains, is hoping to raise $1 million in private investment to develop its chainless, low-friction drivetrain, called Driven. CeramicSpeed has formed a new spinoff called Driven Technologies Inc. to develop the system.
CeramicSpeed's Jason Smith invented the drivetrain, which he introduced at the 2018 Eurobike show. It uses a driveshaft that connects to special cogs and a chainring via pinions. By using low friction bearings in the pinions, the system replaces the sliding friction inherent in a chain with rotating friction.
Smith has worked with the University of Colorado Mechanical Engineering Department to develop a 99% efficient drivetrain, in singlespeed and multi-gear systems. The singlespeed system can handle rider load testing at speeds up to 45 kmh (28 mph).
The company hopes to use the investment to bring the product closer to manufacturing.
On Monday, Smith told BRAIN the system is not yet able to handle high torques. "Not yet," Smith said in an email. "We’re investigating a novel approach to increase the strength of the bearing interface between the pinions and cogs. Unfortunately I can’t disclose more information until patent is filed."
The external investment opportunity is hosted by SeedInvest.com; the investment is open to the public as it is an authorized SEC Reg CF Equity Crowdfunding campaign. Investment details for the Driven investment opportunity, including the SEC Form C, can be found at seedinvest.com/driven/seed.
Martin Banke, the Executive Vice President of CeramicSpeed, said, “I’m immensely proud of how far we at CeramicSpeed, Jason, and his small group of creative engineers have been able to develop Driven in such a short period of time. It’s been deeply meaningful to be involved in the fruition of such a revolutionary idea since innovation is at the center of every thought and process we carry out. Now, as Driven enters its final stages of development it needs a bigger scale of production to be finalized, so it’s only natural that we get other parties on board to help drive the development forward. CeramicSpeed will always be a part of Driven as I truly believe it will become the benchmark within drivetrain technology.”
