Hardly any other topic is as hotly debated as the battery size on e-mountainbikes. However, surveys agree on one thing: Many e-bikers want more range. Accordingly, among the A real watt-hour race between motor and bike manufacturers has flared up. Since this season at the latest, the standard has risen to around 630 watt hours. Bikes with 500 watt-hour batteries are the exception rather than the rule, at least in the high-price category. The small batteries are most widespread on bikes with Shimano Steps motors. This is because the Japanese have not yet produced their own batteries with more capacity. Bike manufacturers had to switch to batteries from third-party suppliers. This has now changed.
Three new Shimano batteries for e-bikes
With the BT-E8036, Shimano closes the gap to its major competitor Bosch. 630 watt hours, slimly integrated into the down tube. This puts the new Intube battery for the Steps system in terms of dimensions and capacity back on a par with Bosch's 625 power tube. There will also be a little brother to the newcomer, the BT-E8035-L. It has exactly the same dimensions, but is lighter at 504 watt hours. This makes it more suitable as a second battery in a rucksack. The 630 version should weigh 3.7 kilos, the 504 version 3.1 kilos. For comparison: the current, smaller battery with 504 watt hours (BT-E8035) was just under the three-kilo mark.
With the BT-E8016, the Japanese also offer a larger external battery - also with 630 watt hours. So Shimano has not yet finished with batteries that are mounted externally on the frame.
Compatibility of the new Shimano Steps batteries
Take your old bike with Steps drive to a new range level in no time at all? Is that possible? Many people who own an e-bike with a 500 Shimano battery are probably asking themselves this question. Unfortunately, this dream is unlikely to become reality. Although the battery mount remains identical on the integrated system, in practice there will be no room for the longer batteries in almost any existing down tube. A new mount is even required for the external 630.
Availability
The new Steps batteries from Shimano should be available from summer 2020. The crucial question for e-bikers is, of course, when manufacturers will present bikes suitable for these batteries. There is no concrete information on this, but the first models with 630 Shimano batteries are likely to appear in the second half of the year.
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Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
