Bosch and Cannondale team up on ebike drive
By Ben Coxworth 20:17 September 8, 2010
The Bosch/Cannondale ebike drive system being demonstrated at Eurobike
Image Gallery (10 images)
Image Gallery (10 images)
Tech developer the Bosch Group and bicycle maker Cannondale
are collaborating on a new electric drive system for bikes. According
to our friends at Wikipedia, Bosch is the world’s largest producer of
auto parts, so there’s reason to think that this system might actually
be half-way legit. Read on to learn more about it.
The motor itself is rated at 250 watts, with a peak power of 350
watts. It’s powered by a 36-volt lithium-ion battery pack, which is good
for 288 watt-hours, 500 charge cycles, and recharges in no more than
2.5 hours. The system also features a bar-mounted control unit, or HMI
(Human-Machine Interface). It displays the battery status and allows
users to choose between up to four power settings, offering electrical
pedaling assistance from levels of 0 to 150 percent. The power settings
are: Eco (maximum range), Tour (standard setting), Sports ("dynamic
riding") and Speed (maximum setting). Individual bicycle manufacturers
will be able to choose which of these levels are enabled, depending on
the type of bike into which they're incorporating the system.
Depending on the level selected, a range of 35 to 80 kilometers (22 to 50 miles) is possible on one charge. The system only provides power when the rider is pedaling, and will not assist at speeds over 25 km/h (15.5 mph), as anything faster will cause the ebike to legally be considered a motor vehicle.
One of the things that makes the Bosch system special is its three sensors in the motor. Several times a second, these measure the cyclist’s pedaling force and frequency, and the speed at which the bike is traveling. When the HMI’s processor detects that the same amount of pedaling is resulting in less speed, such as would be the result of a headwind or a hill, it automatically compensates by increasing the amount of pedaling assistance.
While the system was developed with Cannondale, it should start showing up on various brands of ebikes next spring. It will only be available as original equipment, and not as an upgrade kit.
Depending on the level selected, a range of 35 to 80 kilometers (22 to 50 miles) is possible on one charge. The system only provides power when the rider is pedaling, and will not assist at speeds over 25 km/h (15.5 mph), as anything faster will cause the ebike to legally be considered a motor vehicle.
One of the things that makes the Bosch system special is its three sensors in the motor. Several times a second, these measure the cyclist’s pedaling force and frequency, and the speed at which the bike is traveling. When the HMI’s processor detects that the same amount of pedaling is resulting in less speed, such as would be the result of a headwind or a hill, it automatically compensates by increasing the amount of pedaling assistance.
While the system was developed with Cannondale, it should start showing up on various brands of ebikes next spring. It will only be available as original equipment, and not as an upgrade kit.
