When talking about e-bike drive sytems, names such as Bosch, Shimano and, more recently, of course, DJI’s Avinox brand usually come up. Yet another supplier is increasingly establishing itself behind the scenes and is likely to play a bigger role in the future: Gobao. The Chinese company is part of a new generation of system suppliers who develop and manufacture their own technology but deliberately choose to remain in the background as a brand.
A single platform for multiple brands
Gobao has already gained experience through its collaboration with the e-bike manufacturer Hepha. From the outset, the brand has been a direct development and partnership partner of the company, which is why the system has often been perceived as the “Hepha drive” – as was the case in our review of the Hepha City 7 Ultra. The technical basis for this, however, came from Gobao.
However, the technology is now being adopted by an increasing number of manufacturers. Brands that have embraced the system include Aventon, Deruiz and Tarran, amongst others. Although many of these names are still relatively unknown, they impressively demonstrate the platform’s versatility. From high-performance e-mountain bikes and urban commuter bikes to cargo bikes, the system covers virtually every relevant application.
More freedom for bike brands
This is precisely where Gobao differs from many established drive system suppliers. Whilst manufacturers of traditional systems usually adopt a largely ready-made complete package, Gobao views its technology more as a flexible white-labelsolution. Bicycle brands can market the drive systems under their own name and also have adjustments made to the hardware and software.
Although the technical basis of the motor remains largely unchanged, the drive’s characteristics can be adapted to specific requirements. The system also offers a comparatively high degree of flexibility when it comes to integrating batteries, displays or control elements. This gives manufacturers the opportunity to create their own driving experience without having to develop a motor themselves.
Powerful technology at its core
The system currently features two mid-drive motors. The Gobao P100 delivers up to 100 Nm of torque and 750 watts of peak power, whilst the P120 delivers 110 Nm of torque and 850 watts of power. Both variants are therefore clearly in the Full Power segment. And with a weight of around 2.8 kg and their dimensions, they certainly hold their own against the competition.
It is worth noting that Gobao had already surpassed the prestigious 100 Nm torque mark before similar systems from other manufacturers came onto the market. The company was thus one of the early pioneers of high-torque e-bike drives.
But Gobao is also committed to innovation when it comes to batteries and chargers: there is a choice of power packs with capacities of 600, 704 or 804 Wh. What’s particularly noteworthy is that these are charged using a 6-amp charger, enabling comparatively short charging times – according to the manufacturer, the 704 Wh battery can be fully charged in around four hours. Compared to many competing systems, which still rely on 2- or 4-amp chargers, this offers a significant time advantage when charging.
More than just another motor manufacturer
Gobao is particularly interesting because the company is taking a different approach to many established drive system suppliers. Rather than focusing on its own brand, Gobao sees itself as a technical partner that provides bicycle manufacturers with a flexible platform. This allows them not only to market the drive system under their own brand name, but also to adapt it to their specific requirements.
This opens up possibilities that many traditional drive systems simply do not offer. At the same time, the bike itself takes centre stage once again, rather than being defined primarily by the motor fitted. This is likely to be an attractive proposition for manufacturers.
Greater competition is a benefit for customers – but it’s also important to take a closer look at the differences between the various e-bikes!
From the customer’s point of view, this approach is equally appealing because it brings greater variety to the market. In principle, increased competition is always a positive development, as it drives innovation and opens up new opportunities for manufacturers.
On the other hand, it’s important to take a closer look: whilst, for example, a Bosch drive system usually operates and rides in much the same way regardless of the bike manufacturer, with a Gobao-based drive system, despite a largely identical technical foundation, there can be significantly greater differences between individual e-bikes. Software, assistance characteristics, the operating concept and the integration of additional components are more largely in the hands of the respective bike manufacturer. For buyers, this means that the overall package comprising the bike and the drive becomes more important than the name of the motor alone.
That said, the technical foundation looks very promising indeed. Powerful motors, state-of-the-art battery and charging technology, and a modular design show that Gobao aims to be more than just another supplier working behind the scenes. And Hepha is already a good example of how well the concept works in everyday use — our review of the Hepha City 7 Ultra provides a detailed insight into this.
