images courtesy of Cycling Industry News
Bosch unveiled its new anti-lock braking system specifically designed for electric bicycles this week, which will see its first trial application with a number of European bike share programs ahead of the company’s full production launch that’s planned for 2019.
According to Bosch, its ABS system utilizes specially developed sensors in combination with Magura’s MT5 brakes, which is designed to prevent the front wheel from locking up under heavy braking conditions.
Bosch says, its new system adds only about 800 grams to the bike, while minimal power is drawn from the battery.
In fact, Bosch says the level of power that it draws is so negligible, the system will still function even when the battery has shut off power to the bike’s motor.
The trials in Europe will begin later this year, wherein the data collected from the testing will be used to further refine the product ahead of full production.
In Germany alone, roughly three million cyclists are currently using electric assisted bikes. As head of Bosch’s ebike division, Claus Fletcher, explains: “In order to establish this modern form of mobility for the longer term, safety is a pivotal factor for eBikers and their environment.”
Bosch recently undertook two studies, which found that the accident rate involving electric bicycles could be greatly reduced when ABS braking systems were used.
For instance, in the first study, after examining more than 500 electric bicycle accidents in Germany, Bosch discovered that the corrective action of ABS brakes resulted in a 20% decrease in accidents, whereby the number of pre-accident falls were greatly reduced because of better braking controls during critical situations.
The second study was based on data collected from more than 5,400 bicycle collisions and falls, which revealed that no braking took place before or during 75% of all electric bike accidents. Bosch claims, almost a quarter of these accidents could have been avoided through the use of ABS brakes.
“With front-wheel ABS, wheel speed sensors monitor the speed of both wheels. As soon as the front wheel threatens to lock up, for example in the event of a brake application which is too strong, the Bosch eBike ABS regulates the braking pressure and thus optimists the stability and maneuverability of the eBike”, says Fleischer.
According to Bosch, the independent testing firm of DEKRA, has already certified its latest ABS braking system, which can trace its origins as far back as 1994, when its first two-wheeled ABS system was introduced on police motorbikes in Japan.
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