Bosch electric bike motors are among the very best in e-bike drive systems. The equipment manufacturer supplies motors for many bike brands, and that’s what powers the Devinci Griffin bikes. Even if you didn’t know Bosch made motors for e-bikes, chances are you’ve heard the name before. Bosch was founded in 1886 in Germany and now has more than 300,000 employees. With investments totaling 4.5 billion dollars in research and development in 2015 alone, Bosch can certainly be called an innovative company!
A Bosch e-bike system includes three key components: the Intuvia display, the battery, and the motor. The Intuvia unit gives you full control of your bike right at your thumb. In addition to navigation data such as speed, you’ll see the level of assistance being used and the battery status. In terms of ergonomics, the Intuvia unit is definitely one of the easiest to use.
The second key component of the Bosch system is the battery. The Bosch lithium-ion battery has a voltage of 36 volts and a capacity of 400 or 500 Wh depending on the model. Its greatest advantages are its low weight (5.5 pounds) and long lifespan. The BMS battery management system continuously monitors voltage, temperature and charge status. In the event of an anomaly, the system can manage resource allocation to protect the integrity of the battery and thus extend its life.
The Bosch drive system has several advantages. First, since the motor is located at the crankset, the center of gravity is as low as possible. Riding a Bosch-powered e-bike therefore feels very natural and intuitive. Also, because the motor is at the crankset and not in the rear wheel, if you need to remove your rear wheel in case of a flat, you can easily do so without any special tools. Finally, the Bosch system uses shorter wiring, which gives the bike a cleaner look.
When it comes to the motor, Bosch offers several models, including the Active and Performance systems. Both motors deliver 250 W of power and four levels of assistance up to a speed of 31.8 km/h. What sets the Active and Performance systems apart is how much assistance they provide. While the Active system can deliver up to 225% assistance with each pedal stroke, the Performance system can provide up to 260%. In other words, with the Performance system, the motor adds 2.6 times the power you put into the pedals. On top of their high power, Bosch motors are also capable of assisting you over long distances.
We can see that under normal conditions, you can expect to ride 70 kilometers if you frequently use the most powerful assist modes. According to this chart, ideal conditions mean riding on flat terrain at a speed of 20 km/h. Normal conditions mean hilly terrain and a cruising speed of about 23 km/h. Difficult conditions mean several long, very steep climbs and a cruising speed of 26 km/h. In practice, if you’re riding, for example, on the Cheminots bike path, this counts as ideal conditions and you’ll be able to ride close to 100 kilometers on a single charge!
We have several brands and models of Bosch-powered electric bikes in store, so stop by to learn more!
