DRIVE SYSTEM FOR A PEDAL-OPERABLE VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR SENSING THE STATE OF A PEDAL DRIVE

A drive system for a pedal-operable vehicle, including a drive motor, pedals on pedal arms, a bottom bracket spindle on which the pedal arms are mounted, and a drive mechanism for transferring drive energy. A clearance is present in a transfer path between a pedal arm and a drive wheel, rotating with the bottom bracket spindle, of the drive mechanism. The system includes a return device with which the clearance-affected parts are transferable, at or below an idle pedal force within their clearance with respect to one another, into an idle position in which the clearance-affected parts assume a predefined relative position; the clearance-affected parts being removable, within the clearance, from the idle position by way of pedal force above the idle pedal force against the action of the return device; and information as to whether the clearance-affected parts are in an idle position being furnishable as electrical signals.