Electric bike: Shimano draws two new motors and an automatic transmission

Just a few hours after the announcements of Bosch’s new products, it is the other great reference in electric motors for VAE, Shimano, which is making its announcements. The Japanese has decided to hit hard and unveils two new engines as well as a new automatic transmission dedicated to electric bikes.

Two new engines, one state of mind

For Shimano, the priority remains not to be left behind by its main rival, Bosch. Therefore, the development of new engines is imperative. In 2023, two new blocks will integrate the Japanese accessories manufacturer’s partner bikes, the EP801 and the EP6.
The first is the designated successor to the EP800, the brand’s top of the range, which we had the opportunity to try on an urban bike, the O2Feel Vern, as well as on an e-MTB, the Canyon Spectral:ON.
Still equipped with a power of 250 W (this is the legal limit) and a torque of 85 Nm, it gains a little bit in weight, going from 2.6 to 2.7 kg to acquire new features.
The first concerns personalization since Shimano announces even more finely tuned and configurable assistance modes through the E-Tube application.
The second is its compatibility with the new automatic transmission system, CUES Di2. We will come back to it.

Second engine presented, the EP6 is a more accessible, but less ambitious alternative to the EP801. Its main difference with the top of the range? The weight of course. If it claims the same torque of 85 Nm, it displays 3 kg on the scale.
On the other hand, Shimano indicates that it is compatible with all the other novelties of this year, like its elder. This EP6 could therefore constitute excellent value for money in the coming months. Indeed, it will be necessary to wait until the end of the year, that is to say the 2023 ranges of the manufacturers, to have not only an overview of the prices, but also of the performance of these new engines.

Automatic gear changes and ABS braking

You will no doubt have understood that the main advantage of the EP801 and the EP6 is that they can be associated with a new transmission system. The Shimano CUES Di2 is a transmission system specific to electric bicycles. This is based on the information transmitted to the motor by the speed and cadence sensor to automatically select the right gear according to needs. In other words, it is an automatic transmission as it exists in the automobile. This technology also gives access to a Free Shift mode which allows you to change gear without pedaling, which is ideal for mountain biking, for example, to change gear in a bend or during a particularly tricky crossing. In the city ? It’s quite simply the promise of increased comfort and the possibility of not having to worry about gear changes since these will always be in line with your pedaling cadence.

The other novelty of this CUES Di2 transmission is that it has an ABS system, a braking system preventing the wheels from locking. Here, Shimano uses technology designed by Blubrake, an Italian company known for its ABS solutions, which it combines with its brakes.
The specificity of this system is that it is able to take into account the data provided by the speed sensor (at the front) as well as a movement sensor (at the rear) to produce controlled braking and avoid the locking or lifting of the wheels. Shimano’s objective is obviously to improve the behavior of the bike during emergency braking, but also more generally to offer more comfort and safety with smoother and more constant braking performance.

Shimano will offer two versions of its electronic derailleur with an ABS system. The XT Di2 LinkGlide M8150 will be mated to an 11-speed cassette. As for the Deore XT Di2 HyperGlide+ M8150, it will be mounted with a 12-speed cassette. To have an overview of these new features, a priori first deployed on the mountain bike ranges, it will be necessary, as for the engines, to wait until the end of the year, or even more probably at the beginning of 2023.

Source :

Shimano