New e-bike batteries from Bosch: What can the Powertube 720 and Powertube 360 do?

Editor’s conclusion

Bosch has deliberately chosen to present the new batteries as part of its City and Urban launch. This is because the new batteries do not deliver top sporting performance. In fact, their power-to-weight ratio is even worse than that of existing batteries in the range. However, the Powertube 360 is an exciting option for particularly slim bikes, and the wide range of sizes with universal dimensions offers e-bike riders plenty of choice, as many batteries can be swapped out easily.

New in a twin pack

Bosch has unveiled two new Powertube batteries for the smart system’s e-bike drives: the Powertube 720 and Powertube 360 – with capacities of 720 and 360 watt-hours respectively, as their names suggest. Both new batteries are the same length as most other Powertubes and therefore fit into the same mounts. This means, for example, that you can easily switch between the Powertube 800 and the Powertube 360. The following Bosch batteries have identical lengths and mounting points: Powertube 800, Powertube 720, Powertube 600, Powertube 540 and Powertube 360.

The Powertube 360 is Bosch’s smallest battery to date. At 360 watt-hours, its capacity is on the low side, but this means the battery is also slimmer than all other Bosch batteries. It is particularly suitable for slim e-bikes with slightly less powerful motors, such as the new and lightweight Canyon Roadlite:On CF, this is an exciting and stylish alternative.

Both new batteries feature a robust aluminium casing. They do not set any new records for lightness. The Powertube 360 is said to weigh 2.1 kilos, making it just as heavy as the Compacttube 400, which offers greater capacity but only has a plastic casing. The Powertube 720 is the same size and weighs the same as the Powertube 800. Bosch states the weight as 3.9 kilos.

This raises the question: what, then, is the advantage and benefit of this battery? Although Bosch has not yet provided any details on this, the solution is likely to lie solely in the price. The Powertube 720 could simply be a cheaper alternative to the Powertube 800, which, with an official price of over 1,000 euros, is rather expensive.

A comparison of Bosch batteries

• Bosch Powertube 800 / 3.9 kg / 424 x 77 x 71 mm
• Bosch Powertube 720 / 3.9 kg / 424 x 77 x 71 mm
• Bosch Powertube 600 / 3.0 kg / 424 x 71 x 67 mm
• Bosch Powertube 540 / 3.0 kg / 424 x 71 x 67 mm
• Bosch Compacttube 400 / 2.1 kg / 352 x 57 x 75 mm
• Bosch Powertube 360 / 2.1 kg / 423 x 63 x 58 mm

​The Bosch PowerTubes are given extra protection thanks to the digital Battery Lock feature: if stolen, the battery is deactivated and rendered useless to thieves. This means you can relax and enjoy your breaks on every ride.