Bosch Enables More Riding Modes with eBike Flow App Update

The new year has now also begun for Bosch. The industry leader has just released a comprehensive update for its eBike Flow app and thus the Smart System. The jump to version 1.18 of the app contains numerous new features that are intended to provide more riding comfort and make it easier to fulfil sporting ambitions. Here is a brief summary of the most important features.

1. Customised riding modes
2. Ride screen “Dynamic screen”
3. Data field “Heart rate”
4. New riding mode for speed pedelecs
5. Quick menu for navigation
6. Data field “Elevation graph”
7. Data fields “Riding mode usage” and “Power share”

1. Customised riding modes

Not everything in this update is actually completely new. Some details have merely been transferred from the systems from development stage 2 to the current development stage 3. However, this does not apply to feature number 1 – the use of (almost) all support levels that Bosch has defined per se for the Smart System.

An ebike manufacturer usually delivers your model with four riding modes. What these are depends on what type of ebike it is and which motor the manufacturer has installed. If you ride a city ebike, for example, you will not be able to select eMTB mode in the eBike Flow app because it has simply not been set up. The update removes this restriction. From now on, you can set up a maximum of four of almost all available riding modes for your system. Almost all, because special riding modes for speed pedelecs are still reserved for bikes whose motor supports you up to a speed of 45 km/h. The same applies to the cargo mode for e-cargo bikes. Or for the eMTB mode on an e-cargo bike.

Nevertheless, there are still plenty of support levels left for you to try out. You can also change the levels individually in the app. That could make it even more fun.

You can access the list of available options via the settings of the eBike Flow app under the “My eBike” menu. The “Custom riding modes” item appears there. After tapping on it, the current selection appears. At the bottom of the screen, you will find the “Edit list” option. If you click on it, you are in the right place to change the setup. You can save your decision at the end by tapping “Save” at the top right of the view. The change will then take effect immediately.

2. Ride screen “Dynamic screen”

Feature number 2 is also new new. Bosch has created a ride screen called “Dynamic screen”. The idea behind this is that the manufacturer wants to display information that is most relevant to you in the situation depending on the riding situation.

In order to apply this logic, the system first needs to know which riding situation you are currently in. Bosch does this via a sensor in the motor that detects the angle of inclination to the ground. As a result, the dynamic screen distinguishes between four states: uphill, downhill, flat and stationary. Depending on the situation, the display automatically shows you changing screens with the following data fields:

• Uphill: rider’s power, cadence, altitude metres covered, current altitude
• Downhill: current speed
• Flat: current speed, distance travelled, remaining range in current riding mode
• Stationary: maximum speed, average speed, distance travelled, altitude, riding time, remaining range in current riding mode

First tests have shown that this feature certainly has its advantages. However, a certain jumpiness of the function has been criticised. Switching to a different screen occurs even if the sensor only registers a new status for a few metres. This makes it difficult to track the data on a climb, for example, which is interrupted by short flat sections or a short downhill section.

You can currently only use the dynamic screen on the Kiox 300 and Kiox 500 by navigating to the “My eBike” menu in the eBike Flow app settings. There you switch to “Display configuration”. It may be best to simply add a new screen. Important: Select a screen with only one data field for the layout. You can select the dynamic screen using the plus sign. Once activated, this becomes a new screen. Unlike all other screens, the dynamic display cannot be changed. This means that you have to make do with the data fields that Bosch has created for this purpose.

3. Data field “Heart rate”

In contrast, there is more flexibility with the extended options for displaying your heart rate or pulse rate. Previously, this only worked in the Smart System with an Apple Watch. After the update, you will be able to connect other smartwatches or systems with a chest strap to the ebike. Provided that the corresponding device allows data transmission via Bluetooth. This is the interface that Bosch uses on the Kiox 300 and Kiox 500 for this purpose.

You will find the option as a data field under the name “Heart rate” in the display configuration that has already been mentioned several times. You can either place it on a separate ride screen or add it to one or more ride screens that you have already created. As welcome as this innovation is, the fact that the values are only displayed while you are riding is disappointing. Neither the displays nor the app save them in the tour recording. Unfortunately, you can’t see afterwards how much physical exertion you were under at what point during the ride.

To connect your heart rate monitor to your ebike, you will need the eBike Flow app again. Switch from the settings via the “My eBike” menu to “eBike Pass” and click on the “eBike components” submenu. The “Add new device” option is located under the components already registered. Click on this and then look for your device under “Other”. It should appear there as soon as you have activated the connection mode on the device. Once connected, it will be listed as a new component for your ebike. You can add multiple devices in this way. The Kiox 300 or Kiox 500 will always connect to the device that is currently accessible for the display.

4. New riding mode for speed pedelecs

The next new feature leaves us with a few question marks. The update includes a new riding mode for speed pedelecs. The mode called “Limit” ensures that the motor support ends at a speed of 25 km/h. This means that the e-drive consumes less power. This means that the e-drive consumes significantly less power and the range is extended considerably. That makes sense.

Bosch also argues that the mode is perfect for finding a suitable cruising speed on joint excursions with conventional pedelec. Firstly, why do you need a separate riding mode for this? Everyone can adjust their speed by simply looking at the others in the group or at the bike computer. Secondly, despite the reduced speed, the speed pedelec remains a speed pedelec. In other words, it may only be ridden on selected cycle paths together with other pedelecs or bicycles without electric assistance. Not to mention tours through the forest. Typically, an speed pedelec must only be ridden on the road. How many people with a pedelec would want to make such a compromise?

From our point of view, the biggest advantage of the new Limit mode is its automatic regulation of motor support. It is similar to Auto mode and aims to make cycling more comfortable as soon as you cycle at a certain speed for a longer period of time. It works something like this: As soon as the algorithm does not register a change in speed for a few seconds, it takes the current speed as a reference value. From then on, the motor tries to keep you constantly at this speed. Depending on the riding situation – a sudden climb, headwind, etc. – it adjusts its effort and sometimes pushes more, sometimes less. If the mode recognises another change in speed due to braking or further acceleration, it waits for the situation and then re-adjusts itself.

However, you don’t need to worry too much about this. Only ebike manufacturers can add the limit mode to an speed pedelec. It cannot be added at a later date.

5. Quick menu for navigation

The update also includes a function designed to make navigation easier for you. Until now, many steps could only be completed using the app. However, not everyone wants to keep pulling out their smartphone while riding. That’s why Bosch has set up a quick menu. This appears as soon as you press and hold the OK selection button on the control unit – LED Remote, Purion 200 or Mini Remote – for a second or two while riding. Use the direction buttons on the Kiox 300 or Kiox 500 to get to the “Navigation” item. There you can start a new journey to the last destination already stored, redirect your current journey to this destination or end the current navigation.

6. Data field “Elevation graph”

The new elevation graph is also limited to the Kiox 300 and Kiox 500. However, it is only new in the Smart System. Some of you may remember it from the Bosch Nyon and Bosch Nyon 2: As before, you can now see an elevation profile of your current ride. If you are spontaneously travelling on a route without navigation, you can see the profile for the route you have covered so far. If, on the other hand, you are travelling a planned route with navigation, you can view the entire tour and know exactly what difficulties may still await you.

Bosch does a better job of saving the elevation graph than in the case of the heart rate. The data is recorded regardless of whether you are currently using the navigation function or not. It is also recorded at any time during the ride, i.e. even if you have reached the destination planned in the navigation and have decided to extend your ride. You can find out later in the eBike Flow app what this means for the altitude metres you have collected.

Like the heart rate, the elevation graph is also stored as a data field in the app. Whether you make a single ride screen out of it or add it as an existing screen is up to you. Please note, however, that the data is only recorded as long as the smartphone and eBike are connected to each other.

7. Data fields “Riding mode usage” and “Power share”

How much power does your ebike’s motor provide and how much muscle power do you contribute to your progress? The answer to this question will in future be provided by the “Power share” data field. It will help you to recognise on the display how the ratio between your power and the motor power is divided in percentage terms. And in every riding mode you have ridden in.

The “Riding mode usage” data field shows you which mode you have used and how often. Bosch summarises all the modes used in a pie chart. For example, if you are currently riding in Eco mode, you can see its share highlighted and labelled with a percentage. If you switch to Tour mode, the display changes and you can see the percentage of this support level.

Both pieces of information are created as data fields. As already mentioned, this opens up the option of creating an independent ride screen or adding the function to existing ride screens.

Pictures: Bosch eBike Systems