When young and old meet, it often has a dynamic of its own. This can be observed at many a family celebration, for example. Hollywood’s dream factory likes to take up this approach and suddenly Captain James T. Kirk, together with Captain Jean-Luc Picard, is fighting against the downfall of the United Federation of Planets. And apparently this constellation also has a certain appeal for Bosch. For at the presentation of the drive manufacturer’s new products for the 2024 season, very different generations meet. You’d better judge for yourselves whether this deserves an Oscar. It certainly promises to be exciting.
This time we’re not just talking about new products, but about a change in strategy. Or at least an expansion of the previous strategy. Up to now, Bosch was one of the pioneers when it came to maximum motor power and battery capacity. Freely according to the motto: faster, higher, further. In recent years, however, other drives have appeared on the market featuring less torque, lower power consumption, less battery capacity and more compact dimensions and meeting with a lot of response from more and more bicycle manufacturers. In very strong-selling segments such as e-mountain bikes, urban ebikes as well as the booming e-gravel bikes, competitors gained serious ground. Understandably, Bosch does not want to leave the field to them easily. That’s why this year we are seeing new solutions that allow the manufacturer to put together a complete drive system consisting of motor, battery, control unit and display that weighs only about four kilograms in total. Together with the other innovations, we bring you this a little closer in this round-up.
1. Bosch season 2024 – new motors
2. Bosch season 2024 – new batteries
3. Bosch season 2024 – new charger
4. Bosch season 2024 – new displays and control units
5. Bosch season 2024 – eShift for Smart System
6. Bosch season 2024 – premium subscription for eBike Flow App
1. Bosch season 2024 – new motors
When someone like Bosch presents a new motor, it usually makes big waves. This will be no different with the new Bosch Performance SX. It is the answer to an HPR50 from TQ or a Ride 60 from Fazua. Completely newly developed, it features a motor and gearbox concept that is unique for Bosch, along with a sealing concept that is new as well. Magnesium is used for the housing, which is why the SX is by far the lightest unit of the manufacturer with a weight of about two kilograms. The rated continuous power of 250 watts rises to 600 watts in peaks. Typically for a drive unit for pedelecs, the support ends at 25 km/h.
Based on these values, the sporty potential of the motor is more than clear. Bosch speaks of a ratio of 300 watts per kilogram. The rather narrow Q-factor of 160 millimetres and a noticeably lower pedalling resistance are intended to support the famous “natural” pedalling. Many of you will welcome the prospect of lower pedalling resistance. This is a point where Bosch has so far lagged behind competitors in the perception of many cyclists. The Performance SX is said to perform between 30 and 50 percent better than older Bosch motors in this respect.
New riding mode on top
To match the motor, there is also a new riding mode. It is called “Sprint” and is linked to the cadence. The more you invest, the more the motor supports you. Of course, this requires a correspondingly sporty riding style. If you do, you will be rewarded with a powerful boost during a sprint and when maintaining a high speed. The other riding modes include the familiar “Tour+” and “eMTB”. Both can be individually adjusted in the eBike Flow app, which is part of the Smart System. Due to its characteristics, the SX should be extremely versatile for bicycle manufacturers. From e-gravel bikes to e-trekking bikes to urban ebikes, just about anything seems conceivable.
Bosch Performance SX at a glance
- Assistance up to: 25 km/h
- Torque: maximum 55 Nm
- Max. Assistance: 340 %
- Variants: Hub and derailleur gears
- Weight: approx. 2.0 kg
Unexpected reunion
As a kind of contrast programme, two old acquaintances appear on the list of new launches for the 2024 bike season. Many of you will remember both the Bosch Active Line and the Bosch Active Line Plus. At the moment, many bikes with these motors are still rolling along our roads. Bosch has obviously taken both of them to heart and is integrating them into the cosmos of the Smart System with revised versions.
To make this immediately recognisable, both motors will come with a completely black motor housing. The mix of black and grey is being discarded. Apart from that, Bosch has built on the previous strengths of the units and added new features. Bosch Active Line and Bosch Active Line Plus now have an additional high-power port, or HPP for short. You can, for example, connect certain electrical components to this port that were not part of the original equipment of the respective ebike. Or you can invest a little tinkering and add an external charging option to your model.
Proven qualities
Among the drives of Bosch’s second development stage – i.e. the generation before the Smart System – the motors were considered the quietest of the entire range. Following on from this, the noise insulation has been further improved, so that they should now enjoy this status in a new context. In addition, the available riding modes now include Auto mode. If you select this, you no longer need to manually change the assistance as soon as a climb approaches or suddenly strong headwinds are blowing. The drive system registers the changed conditions and automatically adjusts the assistance.
Nothing has changed in terms of the technical parameters. The Bosch Active Line still weighs 2.9 kilograms and with its torque of 40 Newton metres is best suited for use in a city ebike. The Bosch Active Line Plus, which weighs around 300 grams more, is also an option for e-trekking bikes thanks to its 50 Newton metres of torque.
Bosch Active Line at a glance
- Assistance up to: 25 km/h
- Torque: maximum 40 Nm
- Max. Assistance: 340 %
- Variants: Hub and derailleur gears
- Weight: approx. 2.9 kg
Bosch Active Line Plus at a glance
- Assistance up to: 25 km/h
- Torque: maximum 50 Nm
- Max. Assistance: 340 %
- Variants: Hub and derailleur gears
- Weight: approx. 3.2 kg
2. Bosch season 2024 – new batteries
The lightweight ebike system mentioned at the beginning requires appropriate batteries in addition to the respective motor. Here, too, Bosch is stepping up its game. The existing portfolio has been expanded by the Bosch CompactTube 400, which for the first time contains cells of size 21700, with each cell having a capacity of 20 watt hours. This results in the highest energy density for a Bosch battery to date. As a consequence, the Bosch CompactTube 400 is around ten millimetres narrower and flatter than the smallest intube battery to date, the Bosch PowerTube 500, but at the same time seven millimetres longer. Much more decisive is its weight advantage. It saves a whole kilogramme compared to the 500 PowerTube, in other words a third. What the bicycle manufacturers will certainly like to hear: The battery can be inserted into the frame in a variety of ways, both horizontally and vertically, and of course permanently integrated. Let’s see which solution the majority will opt for in future.
Bosch CompactTube 400 at a glance
- Capacity: 400 Wh
- Weight: approx. 2.0 kg
- Dimensions: 352 mm x 74 mm x 57 mm
- Compatible with DualBattery: yes
Hooray, the Range Extender is here
Up to now, Bosch has had some catching up to do when it comes to a small additional battery that can be attached to the frame without much effort. The variant in the form of a range extender, which can be inserted into a bottle cage like a water bottle, is meanwhile firmly established. Bosch can now offer just such a solution. The Bosch PowerMore 250 has an additional 250 watt hours of capacity. With its weight of 1.6 kilograms, it is on a par with the competition. If you put this in relation to the Bosch CompactTube, you will see that the range extender can increase the range by more than 60 percent. According to reports, the Bosch PowerMore 250 can also be retrofitted to many models with the Bosch Smart System.
Bosch PowerMore 250 at a glance
- Capacity: 250 Wh
- Weight: approx. 1.6 kg
- Dimensions: 218 mm x 79 mm x 88 mm
- Compatible with DualBattery: yes
Another frame battery
Batteries are one of the key topics within the Bosch novelties. This time, the main focus is on energy storage units that are mounted on the outside of the ebike. After the Bosch PowerPack 545 and the Bosch PowerPack 725 celebrated their premieres last year, the model series is now growing downwards. Since fewer cells have to be installed in the PowerPack 400 due to its lower capacity, it is more compact than the more powerful versions. Length and width remain almost identical. However, the height is reduced by almost 20 millimetres to 62 millimetres compared to the PowerPack 545. The weight drops by around 800 grams to 2.2 kilograms.
Bosch PowerPack 400 at a glance
- Capacity: 400 Wh
- Weight: approx. 2.2 kg
- Dimensions: 337 mm x 92 mm x 62 mm
- Compatible with DualBattery: yes
A classic returns
Rack batteries are making a comeback. Some of you probably wondered whether they would even find a place in the Smart System. Well, now we know. According to the manufacturer’s press release, they too have become somewhat slimmer than their respective predecessors. In addition, the theft protection has been improved. What that means exactly, we can only say after we have held one in our hands. Then we will provide the details. What is certain is that Bosch will offer two models: the Bosch Power Pack 400 Rack with 400 watt hours of capacity and the Bosch Power Pack 500 Rack with 500 watt hours.
Bosch PowerPack 400 Rack at a glance
- Capacity: 400 Wh
- Weight: approx. 2.7 kg
- Dimensions: 376 mm x 122 mm x 64 mm
- Compatible with DualBattery: basically yes, implementation follows
Bosch PowerPack 500 Rack at a glance
- Capacity: 500 Wh
- Weight: approx. 2.8 kg
- Dimensions: 376 mm x 122 mm x 64 mm
- Compatible with DualBattery: in principle yes, conversion to follow
Double reserve
With all these batteries, DualBattery, i.e. the simultaneous use of two batteries on one bike, would be a great thing. With the earlier drive generations, this was a big hit among ebike riders. Now the function is making its way into the Smart System – albeit on a manageable scale at first. As of autumn 2023, the CompactTube 400 can be combined with the PowerMore 250 in a first step. The same applies to the interaction of the Range Extender with the already available intube batteries PowerTube 500, PowerTube 625 and PowerTube 750. Further combinations are to follow gradually. Whether the exact timetable for this has already been determined and what exactly it will look like cannot be said at this point in time.
3. Bosch season 2024 – new charger
At some point, all the batteries need to be charged. In the case of the Smart System, you could previously only use a single charger. If this option was too heavy and took up too much space, especially while travelling, you can rejoice. In addition to the 4A Charger, the 2A Charger will be available in future. Due to the lower charging current, charging will take longer. On the other hand, the device weighs around 175 grams less and is 40 per cent smaller. That can make a noticeable difference when it comes to luggage. Especially for those who want to stow it in their panniers or backpack.
4. Bosch season 2024 – new displays and control units
The next déjà vu awaits with the displays. Whereby only the name is old here. Beyond that, the new Bosch Purion 200 has little in common with the classic Bosch Purion display. However, both are small, handy components that combine display and control unit. And this is what the Smart System has been lacking until now.
In terms of shape, the new Bosch Purion 200 resembles an L as a capital letter. The buttons that you know from the LED Remote are arranged on the short part of the letter. The design of this part is unmistakably taken from the control unit. On the long part is a rectangular 1.6-inch colour display. An integrated sensor detects the ambient light and regulates the illumination of the display based on this information. You can read the following information on the display:
- speed
- riding time
- distance travelled
- total distance
- assistance mode
- state of charge in percent
- range
- time of day
- ABS function (if available)
That’s the maximum. If you would like to know more, simply take a look at the eBike Flow app. Or you can use the functions of other Bosch displays. Similar to a control unit, the Purion 200 allows combination with these devices. In this way, you avoid the only disadvantage of the newcomer, which cannot really be eliminated: Mounted on the left side of the handlebar next to the grip, the Purion 200 is not optimally in the field of vision. On the other hand, it provides you with basic information about your ride and is more affordable than other Bosch displays.
Bigger works every time
Considerably more affordable than the next newcomer. With the Kiox 500, Bosch fulfils wishes for a display that is larger than that of the Kiox 300. The diagonal of the Kiox 500 measures exactly 2.8 inches and is thus about 40 per cent larger than the Kiox 300. During the ride, it records not only the usual information such as speed, distance and so on, but also real-time data related to your activity such as heart rate, calories burned, cadence and the force you put on the pedal.
The Kiox 500 can be linked to the eBike Flow app. This means you can use it to navigate, answer calls, read messages received and the like. If you miss a turn on a planned tour, the display signals this with an acoustic alarm. The same applies when you have reached your destination.
The Kiox 500 suits for instance as a replacement or as a second device for a Kiox 300 or a SmartphoneGrip. It does not need its own mount, but is compatible with the existing Bosch display mount. With the help of the eBike Flow app, you can determine yourself what the Kiox 500 displays. Both the order and the content of the screens can be freely selected. A maximum of three tiles can be created on a screen at the same time. The same will also be possible on the Kiox 300. In addition, both displays will gain a little internationality. In future, you can manually change the distance information from kilometres to miles. This will work in the same way the other way round.
Shortstack playing a big role
Small but important is the new version of the Mini Remote for drop bars, the Bosch Mini Remote Dropbar. It ensures that bicycle manufacturers can now consider drives from Bosch for e-gravel bikes or even e-road bikes. The previous Mini Remote and LED Remote do not match the diameter. And with only the System Controller, the control concept would have been very spartan. Now, however, the Bosch Mini Remote Dropbar fits to the left of the stem. This is not the ideal position. If you want to attach a bag to the handlebar, you could quickly take up space with the buckles or similar. But at least there is a solution.
There is no need to readapt from the Mini Remote to the Mini Remote Dropbar. Both feature the same buttons. You can also activate the light and walk assist as usual. Changing the assist modes is done with the help of the plus and minus buttons. In practice, the control unit will always appear in a duet with the system controller. This component is needed to switch the ebike system on and off.
5. Bosch season 2024 – eShift for Smart System
This feature was probably high on the wish list of some of you: the eShift function for the Smart System. With the older drive generations, this additional function ensured reliable and buttery-smooth shifting with hub gears from Enviolo, Rohloff and Shimano. For the current generation, Enviolo and Rohloff are once again cooperation partners of Bosch. For the moment at least, Shimano, on the other hand, is left out. The manufacturer 3×3 is a newcomer. The concrete functionality again varies depending on the circuit.
6. Bosch season 2024 – premium subscription for eBike Flow App
The premium subscription with the name “Flow+”, which will start in the 2024 season, leaves us somewhat perplexed. Why? Well, the only function included at the beginning is the eBike Alarm service. This is the theft protection service introduced last year with GPS tracking via the Bosch ConnectModule. eBike Alarm and Flow+ both cost money. The monthly subscription costs 4.99 euros, the annual subscription costs 39.99 euros. There are no costs for the first twelve months. In order to use Flow+ or eBike Alarm, eBike Lock must first be activated in the eBike Flow app. This, in turn, is free of charge. So, we are talking about identical fees with identical conditions for an identical service. Why this is available both separately and in the guise of a premium subscription remains Bosch’s secret.
Pictures: Bosch eBike Systems