Gradually, the first ebikes with the new Bosch Smart System are rolling along our roads. At the launch of the drive for the 2022 season in autumn last year, the manufacturer pointed out the wide range of possibilities for digital networking that the system will offer. The emphasis was on “will” for many functions. Currently, for example, there is no sophisticated theft protection for the latest development stage of the drive. Powunity is now taking advantage of this delay. The company from Austria has just introduced a version of its GPS tracker Biketrax for ebikes with Bosch Smart System.
Tracking your own ebike via satellite
For some time now, Powunity has been offering several versions of its BikeTrax for installation in ebikes with the various Bosch motors. Now there is a special version for the Bosch smart system. It works according to the familiar principle: a GPS tracker is connected to the motor and transmits its signal via app to the devices connected to it, such as your smartphone, tablet and so on. If someone moves the ebike while it is locked, you will be notified via the app. If thieves have taken your bike, you can track its location in real time across Europe using the GPS satellite system and pass the information on to the investigating authorities.
This works even when the ebike’s battery has long since died. Biketrax is equipped with its own battery. Its capacity is sufficient for a permanent signal of 14 hours if the bike is moved continuously. In stand-by mode, it lasts up to three weeks. With an additional battery, these values can be doubled.
Modification of motor requires new development
In terms of functionality, the Biketrax for a Bosch Smart System does not differ from the one for a Bosch Active Line Plus. The only differences are in the connections. The reason for this is the plugs, which have changed with the introduction of the Smart System. Otherwise, Powunity says it has once again taken into account all of Bosch’s specific requirements and safety needs. Accordingly, the new development should work smoothly and reliably.
Only in naming the product has Powunity taken its own path. The company refers to the BikeTrax as “Bosch Generation 4 -smart” and thus means all Bosch motors of the 4th generation from year of manufacture 2022 onwards. Bosch, on the other hand, with regard to the Smart System, actually always refers to the development stage three of its drive, BES3 for short. Just so that you don’t get confused in a possible purchase.
The standard set includes the following parts:
- Bosch GPS tracker with integrated SIM card
- Bosch connection cable compatible with all Bosch systems
- additional battery with a capacity of 1,000 mAh
- double-sided mounting tape for secure GPS tracker connection
- matching cable ties for fixing the connection cables
- free smartphone app for iOS & Android
In the first year, Powunity will cover the costs of data transfer for you.
Recommendation: Do it yourself
The Biketrax is usually assembled relatively quickly. Powunity believes that this is so easy with the accompanying instructions that the company does not consider a visit to a workshop to be absolutely necessary. Usually, an Allen key and a plier are all that is needed. It gets a little trickier if you have to remove the crank on your ebike to get to the part of the motor housing behind which the electronics are hidden. In this case, you also have to remove the crank with a puller. Powunity has also described this on its homepage.
By the way, Powunity’s latest solution has one big advantage over Bosch. An ebike with Smart System usually costs more than its counterpart with the previous motor model. With the Biketrax, the price remains 199.90 euros instead. However, it has not yet been possible to find out exactly when it will be available.
Pictures: Powunity GmbH