Bosch Performance Line
The Bosch Performance Line motor is a new class of high torque ebike drive systems that offers great performance, range and reliability. The Bosch drive is a middle motor, meaing the motor lives in the bottom bracket and drives the chain. This design allows the motor to give you peak torque in each of your gears, making for great hill climbing ability with low power usage. A middle motor is also great in that it allows the bike to remain a bicycle since all the electronics are housed in the drive unit in the middle of the bike. Finally, since the motor is low and in the middle of the bike, the balance and handling of the bike is not compromised.
We've written fairly extensively about our experience with the Bosch drive. While the Bosch system is the most popular drive unit in Europe where it has around a 25% market share, up until recently it has not been available in the U.S. Starting in 2014 that has changed.
The Bosch drive is made up of three distinct components: the drive unit, the battery, and the console.