The Japanese component manufacturer Shimano will enter the e-bike market next year. The engineers in Osaka developed a group of components specifically for this purpose and named them STEPS baptized. The groupset is a fully integrated e-bike groupset that includes all components from the drive unit to the battery, the crankset and a specific cycle computer to the chain.
One of the most important maxims in the development of the STEPS was the clear focus on system integration. This means that each individual component achieves its maximum performance in combination with others STEPS to develop components. At STEPS is a pedelec system that intervenes as soon as the rider pedals, with support ending at a speed of 25 kilometers per hour. The drive unit of STEPS Systems is characterized by its compact and flexible design and the low weight of 3,1 kilograms, which makes the system one of the lightest on the market. The design should also improve controllability in all conceivable situations and simplify handling for a wide range of drivers. There are three support levels available: Eco, Normal and High, which are selected via an easy-to-use switch. In the Ecomode, the range is up to 120 kilometers Normalmode can travel up to 100 kilometers while even on level High a range of up to 80 kilometers can still be achieved. Information about the selected support mode, the battery range, the driving speed and much more is provided by the system scope STEPS-bike computer.
The battery of STEPS-Systems has a capacity of 418 Wh and can be fully charged in just four hours. There are two battery versions available for mounting: one for classic luggage rack mounting and one for the down tube position. The service life of the batteries is 1.000 charging cycles, after which the battery can still be charged to more than 250 Wh.
STEPS can be ideally combined with Shimano's Di2 gear hubs. According to Shimano, this should, among other things, maintain the shifting performance of the Di2 gear hubs even when the chain is under high tension. For this purpose, the engine power is briefly reduced during the shifting process. In addition to optimizing the pure switching performance, the complete system integration should generally guarantee that all components work together perfectly and seamlessly. As a further advantage, Shimano describes the possibility of STEPSsystem using Shimanos E Tube Project connected to a PC, making installation, system analysis and individual setup easy to carry out.
//Pilot project with Bike&Co and ZEG
From February to August 2014, Shimano will carry out a pilot project in Germany together with the Bike&Co and ZEG associations. Bike&Co and ZEG will be selling e-bikes with the STEPS- Develop a drive unit and sell it through your German association dealers. In addition, both companies, supported by Shimano, will make test bikes available to selected dealers so that end users can test the new e-bikes STEPS-Enable propulsion.
Frank Peiffer, Managing Director of Shimano Europe, is very promising in this regard: “The e-bike market is a new segment for Shimano. Our service to OEMs, dealers and consumers is a key element in the implementation of our STePS system. That's why we decided to take a multi-phase approach. The pilot project means a limited number through limited sales channels with direct service access. If we gain experience there and are convinced that the product works in the desired way, we will expand it to other market participants in Germany and Europe.”
The first delivery to OEMs is planned for August 2014. The specifications of STEPS-Systems are as follows:
// Drive unit (DU-E6000) and crankset (FC-E6000)
- Temperature range of use: -10 °C~+50 °C
- Storage temperature range: -20°C~+70°C
- Rated Voltage: 36V
- Maximum power: 500W
- Rated power: 250W (EPAC EN15194)
- Maximum torque: 50 Nm
- Protection class: >IPX6
- Weight: < 3.100 g (without crankset)
- Crank: 44 teeth & 38 teeth
// Switch (SW-E6000)
- Assist mode switch (High / Normal / Eco / off)
- Bike computer function switch
// Bike Computer (SC-E6000)
- switch operation
- Easy to read
- Sensors (torque / cadence / crank position / speed)
- Capacity: 418Wh (36V, 11,6Ah)
- Charging time: 4 hours
- 2 battery positions: rack type and down tube type 2.550 g (battery)
- Weight: 420 g (battery holder)
- Temperature range: 0°C~+40°C (charging) -10°C~+50°C (operating) >IPX4
- Protection class: 1.000 charging cycles
- Reinforced for e-bike use
- More efficient, quieter and less maintenance thanks to Shimano Sil Tec
- Only for single chainring in front
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