Kalkhoff Endeavour 7.B Pure ebike review – The Bosch powered urban space shuttle
Last year, our sister magazine, E-MOUNTAINBIKE, presented the Kalkhoff Entice 7.B Excite, designed for epic off-road trekking adventures. Now we present to you its urban counterpart, the Endeavour 7.B Pure. Read on to find out what makes this bike so special.
Kalkhoff’s designers must have taken their inspiration from the British Superbike Championship in Silverstone when they came up with the idea for the Kalkhoff Endeavour 7.B Pure. This is the only way to explain the striking resemblance of the Endeavour to the aggressive styling of a naked superbike. Kalkhoff advertise their Endeavour range as trekking ebikes. In our opinion, this segment is better served by the Kalkhoff Entice 7.B Excite, which we’ve already reviewed for you in our sister magazine, E-MOUNTAINBIKE. The € 4,699 Endeavour 7.B Pure presented here is more of a sporty urban runabout with a special touch.
The 7 in the model name represents Kalkhoff’s top of the range bikes. Compared to series 1, 3 and 5, the 7 series places particular emphasis on performance, functionality, design and finishing quality. The € 4,700 price of our test bike also corresponds to the level of exclusivity that Kalkhoff envisioned for the target group of this ebike. If you are on the hunt for a stylish commuter ebike or an urban explorer with that little something extra, you should check out our review.
Green Mean Machine – The Kalkhoff Endeavour in detail
Is this dress blue and black or white and gold? The Kalkhoff Endeavour 7.B Pure is similar to #TheDress, as different people recognise different shapes. The design of the Endeavour looks futuristic to one group and retro to the other. Though our testers are divided on this matter, they can all agree that its design is beautiful either way. Kalkhoff themselves describe the glossy finish as diamond black and tech green glossy. If the sun catches the frame, you can immediately tell that it’s a shade darker than British racing green, similar to what you’ll still find on some Mini Coopers or Jaguars today. The aggressive look of our test bike is owed in large part to the “Pure” build spec. These models favour a more naked design and clean look over everyday practicality. This includes keeping the cables hidden wherever possible and matching all accessories, including the mudguards and luggage rack, to the design of the ebike. Unfortunately, this means that you can’t use the luggage rack without panniers right away, since the mudguard protrudes through the top of it.
Kalkhoff’s so-called One-Surface technology keeps the look sleek and stylish throughout, with components such as the mudguards, luggage rack and rigid fork not fitted off the shelf but painted by Kalkhoff to match the colour of the frame. They’ve gone the extra mile to set themselves apart, which we applaud. The bottom of the motor cover and the covers for the battery and charging port are a slightly different colour, distinguishing them from the rest of the frame and hinting at the ebike technology and battery within – aspects that represent Kalkhoff’s futuristic side. It’s too bad about the black chainring cover. While it’s effective in keeping your trousers clean, it’s reminiscent of less stylish city bikes and offers room for improvement with a matching custom solution.
That said, the developers at Kalkhoff know how to rekindle memories and convey emotions through design. The slightly upward curve in the top tube with its steep, tall and short front end is reminiscent of the design of streetfighter motorcycles with the tank sitting high up. Together with the Pure build spec, there’s an undeniable similarity to the trimmed down motorbikes of a previous era, and the Endeavour cuts an imposing figure just standing there. However, the similarities end with the motor. While the design of streetfighter motorcycles aims to put the engine at its centre, the motor on the Endeavour is neatly integrated into the frame. Especially when it comes to the welds on the motor interface, the aluminium Kalkhoff frame could be mistaken for a carbon construction. The weld seams of the aluminium tubes are sanded down to form smooth joints. They took a different approach at the head tube and incorporated the weld seams into the lines of the frame. The transition between the fork and head tube is seamless, making the front end look like a one-piece construction. Unfortunately, the weld seams on the down tube look a little rough in comparison.
The top tube splits into two as it meets the seat tube, flowing seamlessly into the seat stays in an almost straight line. The seat clamp is integrated in the seat tube and hidden under a cover, similar to what you’ll find on modern road and gravel bikes.
You’ll find bottle cage bosses under the top tube as well as mounting points for a bike lock behind the seat tube, but we didn’t have the heart to use either and thus ruin the bike’s minimalist look. There are no bottle cage bosses on the down tube since a bottle cage might get in the way when trying to remove the fully integrated battery of the Kalkhoff Endeavour.
As already mentioned, the cables of the Pure build are routed internally where possible, unfortunately, the cockpit of our 2020 test bike wasn’t as clean as we’d expect. The brake, shifter, and electrical cables for the remote and light hang loosely in front of the handlebar before disappearing in the specially designed stem. They reappear briefly where they exit the steerer tube, entering the frame via a special opening in the down tube.
Those who ordered the 2021 model of Endeavour 7.B Pure for € 5,499 are lucky enough to get MAGURA MCi brakes with integrated brake lines and an electronic Shimano Di2 drivetrain. As a result, the cockpit should look a lot cleaner from the rider’s perspective.
The top headset cover is custom made, too. It forms a seamless joint with the head tube but, unfortunately, also makes pre-tensioning the bearings somewhat cumbersome. There is a threaded nut above the cover, which you have to tighten opposite to the cover to pre-tension the headset bearings and eliminate play. The upper nut is secured and unbolted with a very small grub screw requiring a 1.5 Allen key, and must then be held in place with a very thin tool that gets threaded through a small opening. Neither of these tools are commonly found on bicycle multitools. If the headset bearings develop play while you’re out riding, it’s unlikely that you’ll have the right tools to re-tension them. Kalkhoff has informed us that they’ve already developed a new solution for the headset in cooperation with the components specialist Acros which they’re relying on for the next generation Endeavour.
Overall, the Kalkhoff Endeavour 7.B Pure makes a good impression. The solidity of the components instils you with confidence and they don’t rattle while riding. The Kalkhoff Endeavour is certified to a maximum permissible weight of 130 kg and, subtracting the 25 kg weight of the ebike, the upper limit for the rider including all their gear is 105 kg. Heavier riders will have to look out for the XXL or “” designation in Kalkhoff’s portfolio as these ebikes are built for a maximum permissible weight limit of 170 kg.
The components
Hidden behind the clean silhouette of the Kalkhoff Endeavour 7.B Pure, you’ll find the bike specced with high-performance components and quality accessories. Under the hood of the Endeavour is the 85 Nm Bosch Performance Line CX motor and an integrated 625 Wh battery. This allows the ebike to pull away and reach the 25 km/h limit before you know it, playing a big role in the bike’s sporty character. All the relevant data from the motor can be viewed on the Bosch Kiox display, mounted in front of the stem. Not entirely out of place on this sporty ebike: the Kiox display can also be connected to a heart rate monitor via Bluetooth, allowing you to use the Kalkhoff Endeavour for your training session or combine your daily commute with your regular workout.
The voluminous tires also match the ebike’s fun-loving character. The Endeavour comes with 2.4” Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires fitted on RODI Tryp35 rims with a generous inner width of 35 mm. Though heavy, the wide tires add to the ebike’s solid look and also offer stable handling at high speeds above the 25 km/h limit.
Our 2020 test bike came specced with a Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain and SLX cassette, offering decent shifting performance. From 2021, you’ll get an electronic Shimano XT Di2 11-speed drivetrain, which we found to shift a bit more precisely than its mechanical sister. over, the electronic wiring allows for neater cable routing than a mechanical drivetrain. The powerful MAGURA MT5 four-piston brakes ensure quick deceleration and as of this year, the brake levers have been replaced by integrated MAGURA MCi brake levers. With these, the master pistons and brake lines are integrated into the handlebar, keeping the cockpit super tidy.
The SM10 saddle and GA30 grips are supplied by Ergon and offer good ergonomics. While the rigid carbon fork provides an acceptable amount of flex and damping, the aluminium seat post doesn’t. A carbon seat post would provide additional comfort without subtracting from the Kalkhoff Endeavour’s trimmed down look.
The Kalkhoff Endeavour is ready to take on nighttime commutes thanks to the lighting system supplied by Supernova and Spanninga. Up front you’ve got a Supernova MINI2 PRO, which offers a remotely operated high beam function. The Spanninga PIMENTO taillight is sensibly integrated into the luggage rack and ensures good visibility in city traffic, day and night. Both lights are powered by the main battery and the cables for the rear light are routed internally through the rack. The design of the Rear Low Rider rack is discreet and allows you to attach panniers to the side. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a flat surface on which to put a basket or carry other items of luggage.
Specifications
Motor Bosch Performance Line CX 85 NmBattery Bosch PowerTube 625 WhDisplay Bosch KioxSeatpost Concept EX, AluBrakes MAGURA MT5 180/180 mmDrivetrain Shimano XT/SLX 1x12Stem Concept EX, varioHandlebar Concept EX Riser 690 mmWheelset Rodi Tryp35Tires Schwalbe Super Moto-X 27,5 x 2,4”
Technical Data
Size S M L XLWeight 25.2 kgPerm. total weight 130 kgMax. payload (rider/equipment) 104 kgTrailer approval noKickstand mount yes
Specific Features
Supernova MINI2 Pro high/low beamSpanninga Pimento taillight
Kalkhoff Impulse vs Bosch – Who Wins?
The Kalkhoff Impulse and Bosch motor systems debuted around the same time several years ago and both have gone on to dominate the high-quality electric bike market.
They’re both highly versatile e-bike systems, powering commuter e-bikes, power-assisted mountain bikes and comfortable town bikes.
Both systems are into the second and third generations now, with increases in power as well as functional and ergonomic improvements. The latest versions even offer onboard navigation systems.
Kalkhoff Impulse Evo Components – motor, integrated battery back, Smart LCD display with navigation. Source: Kalkhoff.
The Impulse and Bosch electric bike systems have proved to be a hit with hundreds of thousands of owners across Europe and the UK.
As UK importer we do have access to a variety of Kalkhoff’s Bosch-powered pedelec bikes. So why don’t we import any Kalkhoff models fitted with a Bosch motor?
2013 Endeavour BS10 electric bike with Bosch Performance Speed motor. Source: Kalkhoff.
Well, for a couple of years, we did. We had one of the first HaiBike FS xDuros in our Richmond shop way back in 2011.
Then there was the Kalkhoff Endeavour BS10 fitted with Bosch’s 350 Watt Speed motor, coupled with a 10-speed derailleur and first a 300Wh then a 400Wh battery.
We also had a few of the Pro Connect B10 which was powered by the 250 Bosch Performance Line motor. In fact, the Pro Connect B10 was the least expensive Performance Line e-bike available in the UK.
However, they sat stubbornly in our showrooms until we slashed the price in a clearance sale. Why? They just did not compare well with Impulse bikes on test rides – lacklustre, slow, noisy was the feedback at the time.
So, we decide that, despite its merits, not to offer Kalkhoff Bosch ebikes alongside Impulse ebikes as they just do not sell as well. They are constantly eclipsed by the greater power, range, ease of use and lower noise levels of Kalkhoff’s Impulse system.
When you take this into account, as many customers evidently do, Bosch-powered ebikes offer less value, bang for buck, pedal for pound than Impulse-powered ebikes.
Power
Impulse 2.0 gives assistance up to 70 Nm of torque and the new 2016 Impulse Evo system boosts this to 80 Nm. Bosch meanwhile offers a range of maximum torques depending on the spec of the motor and bike.
So, the most common Active Cruise motor provides 50 Nm of torque in the maximum Turbo mode for bikes with derailleur gears but only 48 Nm for those fitted with hub gears.
The Bosch Performance Line motor can supply up to 60 Nm for bikes with derailleurs, but only 50 Nm for hub-geared bikes. Even Bosch’s new 2016 Performance CX motor has a maximum of 75 Nm, but you’ll only find that on bikes starting about the £3,000 mark.
Now maximum torque isn’t everything, but it is important to consider if you live in a hilly area or expect lots of stops and starts along your journey. torque makes for happier electric cycling when you most need strong assistance.
Battery Capacity and Range
Let’s just say that the smallest capacity battery you’ll find on an Impulse bike is the largest you’ll find on all but the most recent Bosch bikes.
Kalkhoff Impulse bikes come with 11Ah, 14.5Ah or 17Ah battery packs. Most of our models have the largest 17Ah pack, giving up to 205 km or 127 miles of assisted cycling in Eco mode, a good 60-80 miles with normal levels of assistance in mixed terrain.
Bosch started out by offering a 300Wh power pack back in 2010-2011, moving up to 400Wh in recent years. Some Bosch Performance powered bikes will take a new 13.4Ah / 500Wh power pack in 2016, but this is still short of the 612Wh offered by the Impulse 17Ah battery pack.
You’ll also want to consider how long your battery is likely to last. Bosch batteries come with a 2-year warranty or for up to 500 charge cycles, whichever comes first.
All Impulse batteries come with a 2-year warranty and up to 1,100 charge cycles before the battery is down to 60% of its original capacity. So your Impulse battery will both take you further and last longer.
Value for money
Let’s take a look at two very similar Raleigh and Kalkhoff models. Both offer similar battery capacity and have decent brakes, gears and lights.
Raleigh Motus Bosch Active Line Electric Bike with 11Ah battery, £1,999
Kalkhoff Pro Connect Impulse 9 Electric Bike with 11Ah battery, more torque disk brakes, £1,695. Source: Kalkhoff.
Both have battery packs of around the same capacity and 250 Watt motors, along with lights, luggage rack, kickstand. The Kalkhoff comes with disk brakes, but they’re broadly the same.
For the same money at the Raleigh Motus, the 2016 Kalkhoff Pro Connect 9 with 14.5Ah battery. Source: Kalkhoff.
However, at £1695 the Kalkhoff Pro Connect is fully £300 cheaper than the Raleigh Motus, yet offers a touch more power for climbing hills and beating headwinds. It’s also made in Germany to the highest standards.
The same money spent on a Kalkhoff Pro Connect means it comes with a 14.5Ah battery pack, giving greater range and upgraded lights.
Or you could spend £1995 and buy the Tasman Impulse 8, with whopping 17Ah battery pack and 8-speed Shimano hub gears.
Kalkhoff Tasman Impulse 8-speed with 17Ah battery pack. Source: Kalkhoff.
Again, this bike comes with a much greater battery capacity, giving up to 127 miles range, significantly greater torque and Kalkhoff’s unbeatable build and ride quality.
How Impulse compares to Bosch
There are several centre motors like the Impulse 2.0 system on the market now. Bosch have recently offered their own pedal-assist electric motor for bicycles, with manufacturers such as Raleigh, KTM, HaiBike, Moustache and others fitting it to their new electric models. But how do the Impulse 2.0 and Bosch systems compare?
Kalkhoff Impulse vs Bosch comparison
The Impulse motor system comes out as the clear winner:
- Far longer battery lifetime (your battery can be recharged more than twice as many times)
- Far greater battery capacity (the 17Ah pack will assist you up to 125 miles in ideal conditions and up to about 85 miles in more realistic conditions, compared to about 50 miles for Bosch)
- Greater motor power output for tackling hills and headwinds
- Integrated rear light that shows following traffic you’re slowing
- Gear shift optimisation for hub gears, not just derailleur. This is important as it’s hub gears that actually benefit most from this technology.
When you consider that the bikes Impulse 2.0 and Impulse Evo motors power what would be some of the best-equipped, most comfortable and well-constructed bikes even without a motor, Kalkhoff e-bikes are way ahead of the competition in every respect.
Posted on Published: October 23, 2015. Last updated: December 1, 2019
Kalkhoff Pro Connect review
At just over 20kg (44lb) and with the frame geometry of a sporty 700c-wheeled racer, Kalkhoff’s Pro Connect is one of the lightest and highest quality electric bikes around. It rides fast and goes a ground-breakingly long way on a single charge.
Ride handling: Motor helps you get up even alpine-style gradients
When you get on the Pro Connect S it’s easy to forget it’s an electric bike and ride it like a sporty tourer – until you hit the hills, when the motor comes into its own. Set to power level one of three, you get a small but appreciable assist when even light pressure is applied to the cranks. This is great for easier but nagging gradients, especially if going into the wind and with a touring load. Level two gets you up long hills into stiff headwinds and level three can cope with alpine-style gradients.
It’s possible to do well over 40 miles per battery, putting the Kalkhoff way ahead of any other electric bike out there in terms of lightness, efficiency and range. The only downside is rattling from the battery casing. With a recharge time of about five hours, this would be a great long-distance commuter, while sports riders recovering from injury may also give it more than a passing glance. Anyone looking for a little help over long distances while travelling at speed would find it ideal.
Chassis: Long wheelbase adds stability, fork gives comfortable ride
The Pro Connect looks somewhat ungainly due to its ‘stretched’ rear end – the chainstays and seatstays have been elongated to make room for the motor, which sits behind the seat tube. This adds stability at speed, without making cornering too much of a handful. The Kalkhoff’s 20kg (44lb) heft is noticeable at low speeds but the bike is well balanced, with a low centre of gravity, and the weight is soon forgotten once the electric pedal assistance kicks in. The unbranded carbon fork shaves a little weight and gives direct steering with no noticeable flex, but with a welcome hint of compliance over rough ground.
Equipment: High-end Shimano kit helps make bike a joy to use
It`s not just the 250 watt Panasonic motor (fitted discreetly behind the bottom bracket) and the lithium ion 10 amp hour battery that are super-efficient. The Shimano wheelset with wide flange hubs and nine-speed Shimano Deore XT gear setup are the kind of racing kit that has never previously appeared on a production pedelec. Once electric power is added to this kind of spec, it really is a joy to use. The powerful V-brakes do a good job of stopping what is quite a heavy bike, and the kick stand is a nice touch. Our main gripes were the narrow gear range and a rather uncomfy saddle – but both are down to personal taste and easily changed.
Options
The bike will appear in the UK in two incarnations: Pro Connect Alfine with out-of-the-box top speed of 15.5mph. This can be increased, by changing the number of teeth on the rear sprocket, to approach 20mph. Comes with Shimano’s eight-speed Alfine hub gear. Price about £1,495.
Pro Connect S with top speed of 25mph. Comes with nine-speed Shimano Deore XT, magnesium alloy Kalkhoff Verso adjustable forks and upgraded Panasonic motor (with black casing). Due for later release than the Alfine. Price about £1,795.
Replacement Electric Bike Batteries Guide
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A good e-bike battery should last for hundreds of cycles. With average use, this means several years. Eventually, electric bike batteries need to be replaced as their life cycle comes to an end.
You can tell when a battery is nearing the end of its life when it does not provide you with much range. Some high-quality batteries that come on the top e-bikes such as a Bosch battery have a battery management system (BMS) integrated into the battery that actually tells you the current capacity and also how many charge cycles it has gone through.
But no matter what type of battery you have you’ll sooner or later be asking yourself the all-important question: how can I replace my e-bike battery?
Down below Electric Bike Report dives into this question and more in greater detail.
Are E-bike Batteries Interchangeable?
In general, the answer is no – you should only replace a battery with one that comes from the same manufacturer and is of exactly the same spec.
The reason is that the original e-bike or kit manufacturer has the responsibility to ensure that the battery pack, charger, and e-bike all work safely together, and using a ‘non-original’ replacement pack potentially introduces all sorts of uncontrolled risks.
It’s a little more complicated than this in some situations. For example, some Bosch batteries of different capacities are explicitly made to be interchangeable and there will be many instances where an original supplier and/or manufacturer of the e-bike cannot be traced or has gone out of business – in such cases we look at your options below.
As an important side note: you should always, if possible, use a charger that comes from the original manufacturer too. The one that comes with your battery should sync up well and not overload the battery. Pairing your battery with a different charger adds in risk of malfunction during charging.
Let’s first look at the basics of getting a replacement battery for your e-bike, then we will look at some of the major manufacturers of e-bike batteries and some of the main e-bike manufacturers to see which common battery types are still replaceable. Let’s consider the options for replacement in terms of desirability.
Where Should I Go to Get a Replacement E-Bike Battery?
On this last point it may help to note that there are a couple of manufacturing standards for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes. Although it’s not a legal requirement, it may be that one of the standards is actually marked on the battery itself.
The standards are BS EN 50604‑1 and UN38.3, the latter required for lithium-ion battery transport by air, sea or land. Just because these standards are not marked on a battery doesn’t mean it does not comply with them – but it is a reassuring sign if a battery does bear one or both of these marks.
Note that using a replacement battery that does not come from the original manufacturer (whether a dealer is involved or not) may void the warranty of your electric bike or kit. Check with the e-bike or kit company to understand what their policy is regarding the use of aftermarket replacement batteries.
Replacement Batteries from Original Manufacturers
Bosch E-Bike Batteries
Only Bosch manufactured batteries will be used on any new Bosch e-bike – this has always been the case and so it makes advice on interchangeability a little more straightforward than with the likes of Shimano and Brose who have both allowed the use of third party batteries with their mid-drive motor systems.
There have been four basic designs made by Bosch over the years (good online overview here):
- Rack mounted batteries: PowerPack in 300, 400, and 500 Wh versions which are all interchangeable with each other.
- Down tube mounted batteries: PowerPack in 300, 400, and 500 Wh versions, current versions of which are all interchangeable with each other.
- Frame integrated batteries: PowerTubes in 400, 500, and 625Wh versions, with the 400 and 500 units being interchangeable with each other. The 625Wh may be retrofittable but it needs a compatible frame with a big enough space to house it (400 and 500 units are the same physical dimensions but 625 is bigger). 500 and 625 Wh units are used on the Dual Battery system to give a capacity up to 1250Wh.
- Frame Integrated ‘Smart’ Option batteries: This is a new 750Wh option for 2022 and will be only compatible with 2022 e-bikes that feature the Bosch ‘Smart’ system and will not be compatible with other Bosch e-bikes that are ‘non-Smart’. Similarly, other types of PowerTube batteries (400, 500, and 625Wh versions) will not be compatible with e-bikes featuring Bosch’s ‘Smart’ system.
Some third-party batteries compatible with Bosch systems are available as detailed in the section below.
There are some suppliers of batteries that will fit older models, in some cases dating back to 2011 when the Bosch e-bikes first entered the market, for example, The Holland Bike Shop in Europe sells some batteries compatible with much older Bosch-powered models.
Shimano E-Bike Batteries
Shimano produces its own brand batteries for use on their systems, but you may also find new e-bikes powered by Shimano motor systems with batteries manufactured by their licensed partners Darfon and SMP. These third party batteries are not interchangeable with any Shimano batteries.
Shimano’s current range includes rack-mounted, downtube-mounted and frame-integrated batteries from 418Wh to 630Wh. You can see a brief overview with detailed links to each battery on offer here.
It’s important to note that each battery model has a limited number of specific battery mounts it will work with, so it is important to replace an old battery with one that is compatible with the mount on your e-bike. You can check out detailed compatibility info here and here.
Shimano says that ‘the oldest current battery we have is the BT-E6000 and the corresponding battery mount BM-E6000. These are compatible with all five of our current drive units (DU-EP8/E8000/E7000/E6100/E5000), but not earlier systems. For reference, DU-E8000 is the oldest in that list – it was introduced in 2016.’
Brose E-Bike Batteries
The only battery listed on Brose’s own website is a 630Wh frame-integrated option.
However, Brose systems are widely used by other manufacturers who also spec own-brand or third-party batteries. These include the likes of the widely respected battery manufacturer BMZ and well-known brands like Scott and BULLS.
For example, Specialized’s ‘full power’ range use Brose-based mid drives and a range of their own brand frame-integrated batteries. Although information on interchangeability is scarce, a Specialized FAQ page, in response to the question ‘Can I increase range by using the 604Wh aftermarket battery in any Turbo Vado/Como?’ says yes, all Vado batteries are cross-compatible as long as you are running the latest firmware (by implication so are Como and Turbo full power batteries are cross-compatible too).
The above appears only to address compatibility on current Specialized models and battery availability for older models appears a bit more complex with lots of debate online over the matter.
The fact that the latest Specialized e-bike batteries contain a Bluetooth chip to communicate with the latest Mission Control App certainly suggest both backward compatibility and availability of third party batteries will be very limited. Current e-bike batteries available from Specialized can be found here.
Yamaha E-Bike Batteries
Yamaha has integrated, rack-mounted and frame-mounted options ranging between 400Wh and 600Wh but information on backward compatibility is rather hard to find. Their systems appear on Haibike models and in the US on their own brand models too.
Giant use Yamaha motor systems but apparently have their own brand of battery – the EnergyPak range. The standard EnergyPak comes in rack-mounted and frame-integrated options whilst the Smart Compact variant allows for faster charging.
Finally, there is the Giant EnergyPak Plus, for use with the Smart Compact – a range extender style battery that fits onto the frame and effectively increases the capacity of the main Plus battery.
Giant’s Service web page states that there are EnergyPaks with 300, 360, 400, 500 and 625Wh capacities and also states ‘Giant EnergyPaks are interchangeable’.
Fazua E-Bike Batteries
This lightweight German-made system uses a frame-integrated 250Wh design and there have been two types of battery, Battery 250 and Battery 250X, the latter having the ability to be switched on and off remotely.
The latest Fazua Evation 250X battery is compatible with all Fazua electric bikes from 2019-22.
GRIN and Cytronex E-bike Kit Batteries
Canada’s GRIN is a true expert in producing a wide variety of e-bike kits. Whilst they do several designs of batteries, one of their best options from a replaceability point of view is their own brand LiGo batteries.
LiGo batteries are very unusual in being modular so that you can easily connect together as many as you like to increase or decrease battery capacity at will. They are particularly suitable for lightweight and folding bikes (I use them on a GRIN Brompton kit) and also for those who want to air travel with e-bikes as the individual battery units are only 98Wh and so are generally allowed on passenger aircraft (disconnect them from each other for travel and reconnect them on landing to make a useful e-bike battery).
The design has been around for several years and is backward compatible.
The UK’s Cytronex produces both European and US spec lightweight kits which use a unique own-design of ‘bottle battery’.
Cytronex says all their lithium bottles are compatible forwards and backward from the first version in 2017. They have different firmware for the new Bluetooth variant but both this and the non-Bluetooth version allow you to use the new 2-way – 5 level Boost Button or the previous one-way 3 level button.
In fact, if you have old and new kits on two bikes you can switch the bottle between both and it will recognize the two different button types automatically.
E-bike Manufacturers Own Brand Batteries
There are hundreds of e-bike manufacturers in the more budget space so it’s way beyond the scope of this guide to cover the options for each one; rather we’ll take a look at a couple of the market leaders.
Rad Power Bikes E-Bike Batteries
Rad Power Bikes first started producing e-bikes for the North American market in 2015 and now claims to be the US market leader. Their website lists several replacement batteries and their current lineup of bikes uses one of two battery designs.
There is the External Battery Pack (with the option for the smaller pack specific to the RadMission) which is compatible with all 2018 and newer model ebikes except the RadRover 6 Plus and RadCity 5 Plus, which use the Semi-Integrated Battery Pack.
Rad Power Bikes does offer legacy options for bikes older than that 2018 ‘cutoff’ and although some of these legacy batteries are currently out of stock Rad says they have plans to restock them.
The battery packs are consistent across their main sales areas of Canada, US and Europe.
The Rad Power website has a great filter system so you can track down the compatibility of what batteries are in stock against all current and previous models, right back to the original 2015 RadRover. All e-bike manufacturers’ websites should provide this service!
Pedego E-Bike Batteries
A longstanding US manufacturer with a clear set of battery specs for current models here. However, there doesn’t appear to be any info about legacy batteries or backward compatibility.
Interestingly, and it seems uniquely amongst the mainstream manufacturers, Pedego have recently introduced a serviceable battery (pictured above) – designed to be easily maintained at the local Pedego store. It features a rear light, brake light and indicators to boot.
Batteries for Out-Dated Motor Systems
There are a number of older motor and battery systems that are either not used or little used these days but there are still some suppliers out there who may be able to help out and if you are in this position a bit of internet research might just turn something up. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples.
BionX E-Bike Batteries
BionX operated between 1998 and 2018 and were once one of the leading e-bike system manufacturers in North America, with the likes of Trek and Kalkhoff using their systems.
There are still limited stocks of spare parts available here and there, including batteries, for example on this Ohm webpage.
Heinzmann E-Bike Batteries
German company Heinzmann had a great reputation for quality and produced the now obsolete Classic system and the newer Direct Power system. At various times both were available as kits or fitted to off-the-peg e-bikes.
In the UK Electric Vehicle Solutions are the main stockist of complete Direct Power kits and of spare parts for the Classic system.
What About Non-removable Frame Integrated Batteries?
A relatively small number of e-bike batteries are incorporated into the frame and not designed to be removed by the rider – they must be charged on the bike. Whilst perhaps inconvenient for some, the system has the benefit of a sleeker and simpler design and keeps the battery cells well-protected.
The Ebikemotion X35 system is one example of the most common lightweight systems out there to feature a frame-enclosed battery.
When it comes to replacing these batteries, to be clear, our official advice is that this is a job for the dealer, or expert shops to do only.
DIY in this area can get tricky in a hurry. Looking into service options to replace batteries in an integrated system is something to consider before purchasing the bike.
Third-Party Replacement E-Bike Batteries
For some older batteries – or even some current ones – there may be manufacturers other than the so-called OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) who made the original batteries. These third-party companies are not recognized by the original e-bike manufacturers so if possible it is always best to go back to your dealer or the manufacturer directly to source an original battery.
However, third-party batteries may be a solution where no original batteries appear to be available.
There are a growing number of companies that provide third-party batteries and here we take a look at a couple of the bigger operations.
Please note that on e-bikes that are still in their warranty period, replacing the battery with one from a third-party manufacturer will most likely void the warranty.
FTH Power has a good amount of experience in the electronics business and has diagnostics and assembly capabilities. They look to have good stocks of popular far eastern battery brands such as Reention (used by the likes of Juiced and Surface 604) and Hailong. They also have this handy battery/model finder to see if they have batteries for your particular model of e-bike.
Third-party battery provision (and recelling services) appear to be bigger business in mainland northern Europe than in the U.S. It makes sense, this is where e-bikes have been around much longer and where the average value of e-bikes is higher. The need to keep older bikes going longer is greater. For example, Heskon is a major supplier of replacement batteries to dealers and Fiets Accu Revisie is the part of Heskon that sells direct to customers.
The UK’s Electric Transport Shop network offers battery diagnosis (refundable against a replacement battery or recell if required). The ETS says they also have stocks of Battery Management System chips that can be used on certain packs, usually on older e-bikes.
The ETS also says ‘There are so many shapes of e-bike batteries now that we cannot guarantee that we have cell packs to fit them all and it is usually cheaper to buy a factory-built replacement than to hand-build a replacement pack in the UK so we usually recommend buying a battery from the original supplier if the diagnosis proves that’s what is needed. If their supplier is no longer available to supply a replacement pack in this instance we will help people find a suitable replacement or as a last resort we will offer to wire in an alternative pack which may be in a different position on the bike.’
What Should I Do With My Old E-bike Battery?
If at all possible the ideal solution is to take it back to the dealer you bought it from who will send it on for recycling.
In the US the industry is in the midst of setting up its own recycling scheme. It was organized by People for Bikes and will be directly coordinated under the auspices of Call2Recycle. There will be a network of battery drop-off locations from the nation’s roughly 3,000 independent bike shops. Manufacturers and retailers can sign up here.
The batteries will be sent on to ‘processing partners’, four of which are domestic and two of which are foreign—one in South Korea and one in Belgium.
The consortium brands are funding the recycling service, which will be free to riders; of course, consumers will still have to pay for replacement batteries. There are also plans for a consumer-direct mail-in recycling option in the summer – EBR will keep you posted on its development.
There are already such ready-made recycling networks in mainland Europe and the UK is just beginning to establish such a network.
This guide to replacement electric bike batteries hopefully covered the basics of what is out there for you. It’s certainly just the tip of the iceberg though. If there is anything else that wasn’t covered here, let us know in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below and we’ll update this guide with the info our readers are looking for!
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