With AI-based features for intelligent route planning and navigation, individual customization options for e-bike manufacturers and extensive integration for electric shifting, Bosch is offering a host of new software features at the upcoming Eurobike show — but you won’t find any new hardware.
AI-based features: Bosch presents intelligent route planning and navigation
- Artificial intelligence makes e-bikes more enjoyable to ride with the smart system from Bosch
- Individually adapted route planning and navigation — thanks to technical solutions that recognize user behaviour
- New “Range Control” function allows you to arrive with the desired battery level
- New Eco+ mode for an energy-saving riding experience and long ranges
AI solutions are increasingly being used in everyday life to make a variety of tasks easier. They inspire with personalized applications by analysing individual needs and constantly learning from them. Thanks to connected biking, the physical riding experience is merging with the digital world. As a result, the e-bike has long since become an intelligent companion. Connected via the eBike Flow app, it is part of a modern, digital lifestyle and always stays up-to-date. Bosch eBike Systems integrates AI-based solutions into the smart system that recognize user behaviour, learn from it and enable smarter route planning and navigation, among other things.
Range Control: AI provides more safety for the E-Bike range
The new, AI-based “Range Control” feature makes it easier to plan tours and you should no longer have to worry about the battery range. When selecting a route in the eBike Flow app, the estimated battery level at the destination is displayed directly. To do this, the smart system determines various information such as the system weight, the altitude profile of the route and the individual riding behavior of the last few rides. The forecasts are becoming increasingly precise: once the first activities have been recorded, the system will be able to predict the battery level on arrival much more accurately than on the first journey. The forecast is also updated during the journey and takes the current driving style into account. The system therefore learns continuously over time. The desired minimum battery level for the destination can also be set. The smart system takes care of the rest — very practical if, for example, it is not possible to charge before the return journey or the next tour.
Personalized arrival time and route planning
The smart system uses additional AI features for personalized planning. For example, the expected arrival time can be calculated and displayed before a trip. An analysis of previous driving behavior on similar routes helps with this. Users also benefit from personalized route suggestions: The smart system knows, for example, which road types, which surface or which inclines are preferred and at what speed and makes a corresponding route recommendation.
New Eco+ mode makes long ranges possible
In addition to the digital features, Bosch is also introducing a new riding mode for the smart system. The new Eco+ mode blurs the boundaries between e-biking and normal cycling, saves energy and enables particularly long ranges. It is particularly suitable for anyone who likes to pedal without assistance on a relaxed ride on flat terrain, but does not want to do without the motor on climbs or when overtaking, for example. Depending on the rider’s performance, the motor remains completely switched off until an activation threshold that can be individually adjusted in the eBike Flow app is exceeded. This is ideal for lightweight e-bikes, but also for E-SUVs and E-Trekking bikes. When assistance is no longer required, the motor switches off again automatically. This makes it easy to save energy and increase the range — enabling even longer tours without charging or replacing the battery. Eco+ mode is available for all drive units with the smart system from Bosch eBike Systems and can be installed on your own e-bike via the eBike Flow app.
More interfaces for e-bike manufacturers for a better brand experience
With the smart system and the associated eBike Flow app, Bosch eBike Systems is merging the physical and digital e-bike experience for end customers. E-bike manufacturers now also have additional options to further expand their digital offering and thus address their customers even more individually: on the one hand with an individualized version of the eBike Flow app, and on the other hand with useful tools for manufacturers who offer their customers their own apps. Furthermore, Bosch eBike Systems offers additional interfaces that allow digital services and offers from third-party providers to be seamlessly integrated into the manufacturer ecosystem.
Design elements can be used to modify the user interface of the app and thus integrate your own brand. Whether images or videos — manufacturers can use branding to bring the user experience to life for end customers in a variety of ways. Other services include the eBike specs, i.e. the exact specifications of the bike, and the digital user manual, which can be viewed via the Help Center.
More comfort when shifting gears with the e-bike
Focus on riding, always shift gears at the perfect time — or stop thinking about shifting at all? Bosch eBike Systems presented the first eShift solutions for electronic shifting back in 2014 and has been developing them further with shifting partners ever since. Bosch is now expanding the eShift portfolio in the smart system, providing more choice, more comfort and more riding enjoyment. Depending on the gear change, there are two major advantages to electronic gear shifting: When shifting manually, eShift ensures an optimum shifting process at the ideal time. The engine assistance is reduced for fractions of a second. The gear change is therefore smooth and silent. A positive side effect: material wear on the drive is also reduced. Alternatively, eShift can shift gears fully automatically: The gearshift then automatically adjusts the gear to a pre-set individual cadence. This makes riding much more relaxed and comfortable with the correct gear ratio at all times — incorrect shifting is a thing of the past.
In addition to the previously available eShift solutions from Rohloff, 3X3 and Enviolo, Bosch is now integrating new drivetrains from TRP and Shimano into the smart system. The TRP E.A.S.I. A12, which is specially designed for E-MTBs and E-Gravel bikes and is only available as an eShift solution in combination with the Bosch Performance Line CX and Performance Line SX motors, is the first automatic derailleur system to be supported by Bosch’s Smart System.
For commuters and everyday riders, the Shimano CUES Di2 is another eShift solution for derailleur gears integrated into the smart system. The Shimano NEXUS Di2 hub gears are aimed at a similar target group and are designed to enable particularly smooth and comfortable gear changes while riding with eShift. Big advantage: Normally, you have to stop pedaling to change gears on e-bikes with hub gears — with the eShift solution, you can simply keep pedaling!