STEVENS E-Bikes & Shimano drive units

Yes, they can do more than ‘just’ Deore XT: Shimano also builds E-bike drive units - and these impress on selected STEVENS models with their light weight, compact dimensions and minimal noise development even under high load.

When it comes to electric drives for touring and city bikes, until recently there was hardly any way around market leader Bosch - then component giant Shimano rattled the door to the E-bike Olympus with the innovative Steps E6100 system.

However, the current highlight from Japan is the EP8 drive unit, which has numerous technical treats - including the superlight magnesium motor housing - and is making ambitious E-mountain bikers rave about it. In the STEVENS portfolio, the power drives in selected models from the STEVENS E-Inception Full Assist E-MTB range ensure outstanding propulsion even in the steepest uphill situations. But here we will focus on the decisive details of the SHIMANO drive units:

Lightweight super athlete

Shimano has given its popular EP8 drive unit an extensive update under the name DU-EP801. Known for its agility and compact dimensions, the drive system offers a peak torque of 85 Nm, which can be called up over a larger cadence range. This results in an even more natural power delivery, especially at high cadences and high power output. Improved heat management prevents performance losses on long climbs. The EP801 offers full integration of the E-Tube Project Cyclist app so that you can customise the drive unit to suit your needs. This allows you to fine-tune the various support levels beyond the factory settings in order to optimise the bike to your own riding style and the challenges on the trail.

Bikes with this drive unit

Gentle powerhouse

As the successor to the popular E6100 drive unit, the Shimano Steps EP6 drive unit benefits from the advantages of its larger sibling, the EP8. The compact mid-motor drive unit delivers a maximum torque of 85 Nm, which is made available naturally and intuitively thanks to customised software. Weighing just 3 kg, the EP6 mid-motor drive also offers extended system capabilities with CAN and ACC connections and the same low pedalling resistance as the EP801 drive unit. The E-Tube Project Cyclist app can also be used to fine-tune the support characteristics to personal requirements.

Bikes with this drive unit

 

Agile, compact and lightweight - the current generation of Shimano motors already fulfil high standards in themselves.
But there are even more ingredients to a successful riding experience:

 

Congenial partners

Electronics and mechanics interact to generate the best possible performance: on the left, the smart 1.6’ Steps display shows what the drive unit on our E-MTBs is capable of - namely support with maximum boost up to the 25 km/h threshold. And on the right, the Deore XT drivetrain with 12 gears and legendary precision always ensures the right gear ratio, from steep gradients to high-speed descents. Want even more information? Then you can connect your smartphone via Bluetooth.

Powerful information

The Shimano SC-EN610 bike computer was specially developed for use on E-Trekking and E-City bikes and is therefore the ideal addition to our E-Bormio Luxe E-Tour bike. The 2.8-inch colour LC display offers a wealth of information so that all relevant riding data can be viewed at a glance. Whether it's the assistance level, battery charge status, speed or distance travelled - all relevant parameters are displayed intuitively. The display content can also be customised and adapted to your own needs using the Shimano E-Tube Project Cyclist app.

Simply compact

Shimano's SC-E5000 bike computer mounted on the side of the handlebars not only allows you to easily change the support level on our E-Tour model E-Bormio, it also shows important information at a glance thanks to its 1.4’ display. Battery status and speed as well as range, distance and total distance are shown on the monochrome, backlit display at the touch of a button and are easy to read even in bright sunlight. The remote/display unit can also be used to control the light and the push assist. The Shimano E-Tube Project app also enables simple firmware updates and customised fine-tuning of the drive unit.

Slim bundles of energy

Not from the Shimano portfolio, but simply the ideal partners for the powerful EP8 drive unit are the batteries from Darfon. Safely concealed under the rubberised battery cover in the down tube of the E-Inception fullys, the up to 800 Wh batteries are perfectly prepared for long-distance and record altitude rides. At the same time, they can also supply a smartphone or GPS device with power - via a USB-C charging socket on the top tube, which is well protected under a robust rubber cover.

Lightweight & easy to handle

The majority of current e-bikes rely on batteries integrated into the frame - although the energy storage units docked to the outside of the frame down tube certainly have their advantages: The frames can be designed to be lighter, making them appear more airy than their counterparts with integrated batteries. And ‘external’ energy storage units such as the BT-E8010 (504 Wh) or the BT-E8016 (630 Wh) can be removed for charging in one or two simple steps. This protects them from theft and allows them to be stored in a warmer place than an unheated garage for the winter.

Tuning tip

With the help of Shimano's ‘E-Tube Ride’ technology, a current smart­phone can be used as an informative second display. Speed, distance, cadence and much more are clearly displayed. The recorded data can be uploaded to the Shimano Connect Lab for later analysis of the ride. Features such as route planning and connectivity with popular bike apps are also integrated. Shimano also offers the ‘E-Tube Project’ app, which can be used to create different user profiles. The three support levels Eco, Trail and Boost can be customised to suit your own riding style if required. Parameters such as maximum torque or power delivery can be customised in seconds using your own smartphone. Features such as over-the-air firmware updates make it possible to keep the bike up to date at all times.