Horizontal or Vertical – Which is Which with the Bosch PowerTube?

A Bosch PowerTube is not necessarily identical to another Bosch PowerTube. This will have been clear to most of you for a long time. After all, there are versions of the battery with different capacities, which usually also have different dimensions. But there is another detail that can quickly become very important – the distinction between a PowerTube of horizontal design and one of vertical design.

Since the introduction of its first Intube batteries, Bosch has offered manufacturers two options for integrating the energy storage unit into the bicycle frame. Consequently, you can also buy these two different versions of a PowerTube with the corresponding number of watt hours right from the start. In the heat of the moment, however, it is easy to confuse the horizontal battery and the vertical battery. Or at least, when it comes down to it, you find yourself wondering which version does your ebike actually feature. At this point it helps to know how to tell the two apart.

1. Horizontal and vertical – more than just an exterior difference?
2. How can the two types be distinguished from each other?
3. Where can you find information about the batteries?
4. For which accessories and tools does the type of design play a role?

1. Horizontal and vertical – more than just an exterior difference?

The shape of the housing of both types differs noticeably. But that is all. The charging socket, on/off switch or charge level indicator are identical. The same applies to the inner parts. Bosch uses the same battery cells as well as the same electronics.

Depending on the shape of the frame and the cross-section of the down tube, bicycle manufacturers decide whether to use a horizontal or vertical battery. This often determines how the battery can be removed from the ebike. If the battery is removed from below or above, a horizontal battery is usually installed. If the battery is removed from the side, it is typically a vertical battery.

2. How can the two types be distinguished from each other?

One of the simplest clues would be different dimensions. Then the question could be answered quickly by reaching for the folding rule. For reasons of efficiency, Bosch has understandably chosen the same dimensions. This saves costs in production and ultimately leads to a lower purchase price. The width and height of the horizontal and vertical batteries are simply reversed, the length remains constant.

Dimensions for Bosch PowerTube

Power Tube 400 / PowerTube 500

• Horizontal: 349 x 84 x 65 mm
• Vertical: 349 x 65 x 84 mm

 

PowerTube 625

• Horizontal: 416 x 84 x 65 mm
• Vertical: 416 x 65 x 84 mm

 

Dimensions for Bosch PowerTube Smart System

PowerTube 500 Smart System

• Horizontal: 345 x 84 x 65 mm
• Vertical: 345 x 65 x 84 mm

 

PowerTube 625 Smart System

• Horizontal: 415 x 84 x 65 mm
• Vertical: 415 x 65 x 84 mm

 

PowerTube 750 Smart System

• Horizontal: 484 x 84 x 65 mm
• Vertical: 484 x 65 x 84 mm

 

Visible on the front side

Instead, a look at the cross-section of the corresponding PowerTube is more revealing. It provides the most obvious indication of the type of design. A horizontal battery is a design in which the top and bottom have a significantly larger edge length than the sides. In this case, the four longitudinal grooves embedded in the housing are located on the left and right sides. With a vertical battery, on the other hand, the grooves run through the top and bottom. The edge lengths of the top and bottom are smaller than those of the sides. At this point at the latest, it becomes clear that the two types of design are not interchangeable on one and the same ebike.

Bosch has provided a good template for differentiation by assigning the corresponding manufacturer numbers. All numbers ending in an X indicate a horizontal battery. Manufacturer numbers with a W at the end indicate a vertical battery. Unfortunately, this scheme is only used for the PowerTube batteries for the Smart System and is not consistent for all product lines.

3. Where can you find information about the batteries?

Nevertheless, the abbreviation is useful. For example, those whose ebike is powered by Bosch’s Smart System will find the menu item “My eBike” in the settings of the Kiox 300 display. Below this is the submenu “Components”. After scrolling down a bit, you will find the PowerTube and its “Type part number”. If there is an X or W in the last position, you now know what information is hiding behind it.

Even more clearly, the entire issue is solved in part for the drives before the time of the Smart System. Let’s take a system with the Kiox display as an example. There you can access the information for the battery via the same menu items. This time, however, the type of design is explicitly stated.

If you have your smartphone at hand more quickly, you can of course also look in the respective app. There you will also find information about the battery in the “My eBike” menu under the components. However, both the eBike Connect app and the newer eBike Flow app only show the type part number. And this only allows you to draw conclusions about the type of battery if it ends in X or W. As mentioned before, you cannot read anything from a number at the end.

4. For which accessories and tools does the type of design play a role?

As long as the ebike runs smoothly and the battery does not show any significant signs of fatigue, the fact whether a horizontal or vertical battery is integrated in the frame probably does not play a decisive role. However, as soon as a component in the battery compartment needs to be replaced – or the battery itself – this changes. And all those who don’t want to find out after ordering that they were wrong with their assumption, better play it safe beforehand and check again.

There is a lot that could be needed in an urgent situation. It starts with the already very extensive mounting kit. This will help you if the mounting for the PowerTube on your ebike is defective. If the battery on your ebike is pushed into a closed downtube from below, you need to know which version you need. Further on to the mounting rail on which the battery is mounted in the battery compartment. The mounting plates for the front of the battery, small bases with which the position of the battery on the mounting rail is precisely adjusted or the mounting gauge for installation – all these are things that differentiate between horizontal and vertical design. Maybe the best thing to do is to check what kind of battery you’ve been using all the time the next time you go to your bike.

Pictures: Bosch eBike Systems