In time for the 2011 season Bosch begins series production of eBike drives Bosch eBike system for a variety of bicycle concepts

“Following its successful world premiere at Eurobike 2010 in Friedrichshafen, we are looking forward to seeing the first eBikes featuring our drive system reach stores and customers soon,” said Rainer Jeske, head of the eBike Systems business unit. He was speaking at a press briefing at the Mondeville plant, where production of the drive system is currently being ramped up. After generating much positive feedback from manufacturers at its Friedrichshafen premiere, the system – comprising a drive unit, a human-machine interface (HMI), and a battery pack – was put through its paces by test riders. This enabled Bosch developers to give the technology a final polish.

A drive system for all types of bicycle –
software allows optimum customization
The Bosch eBike system offers bike manufacturers a high level of design freedom, allowing them to create a wide variety of models. Whether mountain bike, trekking bike, or roadster, every rider is sure to find something to suit them. The drive unit can be programmed to operate in one of four different modes – dubbed eco, tour, sport, and speed – each suited to a particular type of bike. In a sporty mountain bike, the drive makes power available more dynamically than it does in a trekking bike, where range is a more important consideration. “This gives bicycle manufacturers, our customers, the ability to tailor their products in the best possible way to the wishes of their own customers, the end users,” Rainer Jeske says. “Alternatively, they can offer bikes that allow the rider to select any mode they choose via the HMI.”

Expertise from a global supplier of technology
The individual components of the Bosch eBike system have been carefully matched to one another. The drive unit and its power electronics, the battery pack and its charging unit, and the HMI that is mounted on the handlebars together constitute a high-performance, lightweight drive system that is both powerful and robust, with a high degree of ride stability thanks to its central, low-slung center of gravity.

Several different areas of Bosch’s wide-ranging expertise come together in the eBike system’s design. Each year the technology company produces 80 million high-precision, compact, and highly efficient electric motors similar to those are used in the eBike drive. The eBike’s energy storage system – its battery pack – draws on Bosch’s long experience of producing tried and trusted lithium-ion batteries and chargers for its power tools. Finally, Bosch’s extensive knowledge of automotive electronics – the company produces more than 100 million electronic control units and more than 220 million sensors each year – comes into play in the drive system’s HMI, power electronics, and sensors. Thus the eBike system benefits from Bosch’s global experience in the large-scale production of a wide variety of technologies.

Magura: a trusted link to specialist bicycle dealers
The link between Bosch and specialist bicycle dealers is provided by Magura, a company that is well known in the bicycle business. This service partner’s main tasks include running the dealer service hotline, distributing spare parts to dealers, processing warranty claims, and offering regular dealer training.

Thanks to its high-performance technology and competent logistics, Bosch considers itself to be well placed to take up a prominent position in this market. Rainer Jeske sets Bosch a challenging goal: “In the medium term we are aiming to win a 20-percent share of the market. We will do all we can to be a good partner for our customers and to be recognized as a technology and innovation leader.”