Bosch fans have anticipated it, now it’s official: The German E-bike giant introduces a fully integrated battery. The new PowerTube 500 does not only open up a new design era but also stands out with great handling. We’ve taken a close look at the new battery.

Get your hands on the new PowerTube 500 and you immediately notice the compact design and the sturdy aluminium enclosure. The battery measures 349x84x65 mm and comes in two versions. This gives bike manufacturers the choice to opt for either a slightly wider flat orientation or a higher but slim upright design. The two versions come with different connector layouts, so they are not cross compatible.

Due to the compact and robust construction, the PowerTube 500 weighs in at 2,8 kg, which is about 200g heavier than the well external PowerPack 500. The tech inside is the same found in the PowerPack, so no new cells or electronics here. This makes the PowerTube 500 compatible with all current Bosch motors, so we’ll see the integrated battery in all bike categories in the future.

Despite the design goals, Bosch has put a strong emphasis on the handling of the new battery. The PowerTube can easily be removed, allowing riders to charge it both on and off the bike. Furthermore, this design enables riders to swap batteries on long rides.

More Bosch News

Apart from the PowerTube 500 Bosch introduces a number of new products for the city and trekking market. The two new motors, Active Line and Active Line Plus, now come without the internal gearbox and with standard sized chain rings instead. This allows a more compact and lighter construction and makes the motors a lot quieter. If this technology will find its way into the next generation Performance Line CX, can only be speculated at this point. Another new product is the Bosch ABS brake system, that will be available for selected fleet partners from late 2017 and for all brands from the model year 2019 – only for city and trekking bikes though.

Conclusion

The PowerTube 500 is a big step in the right direction and gives bike manufacturers a lot of design options for the upcoming season. The technology seems robust and well thought out, we’re looking forward to seeing many new bikes with the integrated battery soon. We’re also excited to see the Active Line ditch the internal gearbox, this might be a hint at the development of the next generation Performance Line CX.

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Words & Photos: Moritz Dittmar