Bicycle Design

Shimano STEPS group for e-bikes

The Shimano Total Electric Power System, aka STEPS, is due to be launched at Eurobike in September. Bike Radar has a first look at the group, which includes a 250W electric motor and a 24V/4.0Ah lithium-ion battery that can be charged by regenerative braking. The 8-speed internally geared hub is operated by electronic shift buttons, and buttons on the brake levers operate the front a rear lights. I particularly like the way the rear light is integrated into the rear rack mounted battery pack…nice design detail.

There are certainly more powerful electric motors for bikes out there, but that doesn’t seem to be a concern for Shimano. According to a Bike World Europe article, “what sets STEPS apart from many other electric bike systems is a basic principle in its development. According to Shimano, that principle is that first and foremost, an e-Bike has to be a bicycle.”

I have been saying for a while that e-bikes are going to explode as a product category (in the U.S.) at some point, and this component group by Shimano may help to speed that growth along. I’m looking forward to seeing new bikes next year specified with this group.


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Comments

16 responses to “Shimano STEPS group for e-bikes”

  1. jdmitch Avatar
    jdmitch

    Holy snaps… I was wondering when one of the IGH makers would jump on this idea. This looks to have been done very right.

    Curious about what’s up with the bottom bracket an the extra shield on the side of the IGH.

    Reply
    1. Richard Masoner Avatar
      Richard Masoner

      Bottom bracket is where the force sensor (for pedal assist function) lives. You stop applying force to the pedals and the electric motor stops.

      That battery looks a lot like the one Trek spec’ed for their Transport+ bike. Trek’s Transport+, though, drives a 350W motor and takes 3.5 hours to recharge.

      Reply
  2. Arne Nystedt Avatar
    Arne Nystedt

    The battery capacity is far too small. Reg.brakes can make +25%….

    Reply
  3. Ross Nicholson Avatar
    Ross Nicholson

    Wow, Shimano is making a great contribution here. It would be nice to see how easily components can be re-programmed for other uses (voltages, capacities). Regeneration capability has been dismissed as insignificant for bicycles, so I do hope this is an efficient set-up. Greater efficiency can be had through the gears, generally speaking, providing the impetus for Sram’s anticipated entry.

    Reply
  4. Adrian Avatar
    Adrian

    Is this a pedelec system, or is there a throttle control?

    Reply
    1. James T Avatar
      James T

      Yes, it is a pedelec system. As Richard pointed out in his comment, the arm protruding from the bottom bracket is a sensor to measure force on the cranks.

      Reply
  5. Atul Sharma Avatar
    Atul Sharma

    A nice addition to the market, and very similar to BionX PL-250 light, which also reduces power and battery capacity to create a lighter commuting system. While I’m thrilled to see the marketplace expand, should we really be gushing over a derivative product that even steals its slogan (“an e-bike has to be a bicycle”)?

    Reply
  6. Wytze Avatar
    Wytze

    it is only 250 watts because that is the limit set by government regulations in most countries. I suppose this groupset is aimed at the same market as the Nexus set. The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark make up almost the entire market for internal gearhubs and also in these countries 250W is the limit.

    Too bad That Shimano could not do better than copying the same thing Sparta, Batavus and Gazelle are doing for years. I believe a front hub motor and luggage carrier battery provide a terrible weight distribution on a bicycle, with over half of the weight of the bike situated on its far extremities.

    Reply
  7. Bill S Avatar
    Bill S

    Integrating the battery and rear light may be a neat design, but like so many neat designs it’s design triumphing over practicality.

    If the battery fails, you also need to buy a new rear light. And if the rear light fails, you need to start thinking aobut getting a new battery! Neither of which is cheap.

    If they have made the two separable, that’s another story. But it’s odds on that they haven’t.

    Reply
    1. Wytze Avatar
      Wytze

      Gazelle are doing that for a couple of years now with the rear light and battery integrated. No problems there, the neat thing is that the LED’s are also the indicators for the battery, so you can see how much is left and while charging they lit up one by one. And off course you can just exchange the rear light housing or the internals of the LED’s when either one fails, you do not have to buy a new battery.

      Reply
  8. Charity rides » Cyclelicious

    […] Shimano announced eBike component group, including motor and batteries. The group goes with the 15mph / 250watt limitations common outside of the United States. See also Bicycle Design commentary. […]

    Reply
  9. Tools for Normalizing the Bike Commute | Commute by Bike

    […] an additional attempt to further normalize my ability to consistently bike commute, by adding in an electric bike hub motor into the equation.  I’ve been considering electric assist from several angles, mainly speed, […]

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  10. Morpheous Avatar
    Morpheous

    Have you all seen the ‘Opti-bike’ (Made here in Colorado)? The drive system on built around the crank centralizing the mass, with the military spec battery in the down tube. very nice, very expensive, but years ahead. It is nice to see Shimano get in to this game as the benefits of japanese reliability will prevail for these electric assist systems, but you have to question why it takes them so long to “innovate”. Combine this with their forthcoming 11 speed internal hub and belt drive and you will have a winner.

    Reply
  11. abhay Avatar
    abhay

    it is only 250 watts because that is the limit set by government regulations in most countries. I suppose this groupset is aimed at the same market as the Nexus set.

    Reply
  12. Rebekah Avatar
    Rebekah

    Cool.

    Reply
  13. Stop the excuses! « Pedego Electric Bikes Blog

    […] additional attempt to further normalize my ability to consistently bike commute, by adding in an electric bike hub motor into the equation.  I’ve been considering electric assist from several angles, mainly speed, […]

    Reply

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