For some time now, people have been wondering when Brose would once again emphasise its ambitions on the sporty E-MTB market. In other words: when would there finally be a successor to the Brose Drive S Mag? The powerful e-bike motor has been rolling off the production line virtually unchanged since 2019. One small exception: a software update was carried out in 2020 after customers complained about broken drive belts. The update was able to tame the powerful motor's torque somewhat and reduce the frequency of damage. Since then, however, the drive has remained unchanged and has had to assert itself in an increasingly competitive market: with competitive performance data, but also a somewhat clunky design and a rather heavy weight. (Click here for the EMTB motor test)
Drive 3 Peak: Compact, lighter and even more powerful Brose motor
Brose recently presented its successor, the Drive 3 Peak, at Eurobike 2023. It is intended to combine new achievements with the tried-and-tested virtues of the Drive S Mag. The tried and tested features include: high torque, natural power delivery, low noise, high heat resistance and zero pedalling resistance. The most important key figures of the new Drive 3 Peak e-bike motor make it clear that the Berliners have orientated themselves to the benchmarks in the motor market: Although the 410 per cent pedal assistance and also the maximum power (in the EMTB test: 565 watts) have remained the same, at 2.9 kilos the unit is lighter and with 95 Nm even more powerful than its predecessor. Above all, however, the new Brose motor is much more compact in its design, giving bike manufacturers more design freedom.
One reason for this is that the design of the Brose Drive 3 Peak does not require a drive belt. This saves a considerable amount of space and should also eliminate the old system's susceptibility to defects. On the other hand, the drive belt design meant that the Brose Drive S Mag was one of the few quietest motors on the market. So will the new Brose motor soon be making noise through the forest? "Quite the opposite," says Adrian Stanciu, Product Developer of the Brose Drive Unit: "The drive noise was once again at the top of the specifications. We achieved this even without belts, thanks to technical tricks such as helical gears."
Brose motor with 48-volt technology: progress from the automotive sector
Another striking feature of the Brose motor is that the technology is based on a 48-volt system. The theoretical advantage over systems with 36 volts, as used by most competitors: Reduced heat development, as the higher voltage means you can manage with lower amperage at the drive unit. However, the main advantage for Brose is probably the fact that 48 volts is standard in the automotive sector. This allows the Berlin-based automotive experts to utilise available in-house technologies. Brose's bicycle division is likely to benefit from synergies with the automotive departments, particularly in the development of batteries and displays.
And here we come to the real innovation besides the motor itself: Because in future, Brose will not only supply the motor, but also batteries, displays, handlebar remote and app - in sum: the new "Brose Drive System". This means that the Berlin-based company, like its main competitors Bosch and Shimano, will become a system provider. In this way, Brose wants to take an important step towards becoming more attractive to OEM customers.
The Berlin-based company will be offering two removable 48-volt batteries in the future. The 814 Wh battery is said to weigh 4.1 kilos and can be fully charged in three to four hours. The 468 Wh battery is said to weigh around three kilos. The special feature: Both batteries share the same aluminium housing. According to Brose, this gives bike manufacturers the option of equipping one and the same frame construction with two battery variants - a not insignificant cost factor.
Brose offers combi display or frame display with remote
Brose also offers its customers different options when it comes to the display: with the Brose Control Allround, Control Remote and Control Integrate, there are three variants with different functionalities. According to the manufacturer, all three emphasise a slim design, extensive functions and user-friendly ergonomics. The Control Allround combines display and remote. The 1.9-inch colour display has a Bluetooth 5.0 interface, is controlled via four buttons and shows all important engine data. The brightness of the display can be adjusted. Another practical feature is the USB-C port, which can be used to charge a smartphone on the move or connect the Brose Service Tool, for example.
The alternative from Brose: a combination of a minimalist control remote and a display that can be integrated into the top tube, the Control Integrate. The Control Remote is completely wireless, has the same 4 buttons on the front as the Control Allround and also has a Bluetooth 5.0 interface. In combination with the Brose app and other digital features, such as new riding modes and interfaces to external service providers such as Strava, the Brose complete system is set to become a modern communication platform.
More service and sustainability at Brose
In addition to these technical developments, Brose has also committed itself to the turnaround in terms of service and sustainability. The focus is on an extensive service network with improved spare parts availability and cloud-based diagnostic and maintenance tools. Bonus points will also be awarded to partners and customers for the standardised remanufacturing process that Brose is developing for its old e-bike drives. This involves reconditioning five predefined components from irreparable drives: They are inspected and cleaned before missing parts are added and assembled into a remanufactured drive. This not only saves resources but, according to Brose, also at least 21 kilograms of CO2 equivalents compared to the series drive - with absolutely the same quality and full manufacturer's warranty. The replacement motors are available in the after-sale and are around half the price of a new purchase for customers.
The facts about the new Brose Drive 3 Peak e-bike motor
- Weight: 2.9 kilos
- Torque: 95 Nm
- Max. Support power: 410 per cent
- Dimensions: 219 x 134 x 98 mm
- Batteries: 814 Wh, 4.1 kilos / 468 Wh, 3.0 kilos
- Displays: Control Allround, Control Integrate, Control Remote
Josh Welz
Editor-in-Chief
