As Bosch eBike Systems held back on its MY25 hardware, Eurobike’s big stage was ready to be taken by some fresh offerings. One shining example is ZF, an automotive heavyweight that packs a lot of support into its novel CentriX mid-drive motor.
The ongoing success stories of e-bikes continues to attract players from other industries. ZF is an industrial heavyweight from the automotive sector based in Friedrichshafen whose ZF Micro Mobility subsidiary has already been active within the bicycle industry on a small scale with the Sachs-branded RS mid-drive motor. While this unit cranks out an impressive 112 Nm of torque, its weight of 3.5 kilograms restricts its use to utility bikes, and cargo bikes in particular, where power trumps weight. The new CentriX mid-drive motors are vastly different both in terms of design and target group. With these novel motors, ZF has been focusing on optimizing the power-toweight ratio and minimizing the size of the unit to facilitate a seamless integration.
ZF CentriX mid-drive: small and lightweight
ZF has squeezed a lot of technology into a compact package, as the CentriX mid-drive unit is hardly any bigger than a small beverage can and its diameter measures just 88 millimeters. At 2.5 kilograms, the weight of this compact mid-drive unit running on 48V is quite impressive as well. As the ISIS spindle and the lack of coaster brake options go to show, ZF is taking aim at the quality and sports-oriented market. And it does so with two versions of the new motor: the CentriX 75, which cranks out a maximum torque of 75 Nm and a peak power of 450 watts and is perfectly suited for the trekking and utility segment, and the CentriX 90, which takes aim at the market for eMTBs, upping the maximum torque to 90 Nm and the peak power to 600 watts.
Both mid-drive units come with four support modes: Eco, Active, Sport and Boost, and work with parts and components from the ZF Bike Eco System. “Apart from two in-tube batteries with a capacity of either 504 Wh or 756 Wh, ZF Micro Mobility also offers the choice of either the minimalist Core Controller designed to be integrated in the Toptube and combined with the Pure Remote unit on the handlebar or a high-resolution 2.8-inch display with the same remote control,” ZF Marketing Manager Felix Schmidt explains. With the Ride App, the Bike Service Tool for B2B applications and an end-of-the-line tool that speeds up the initial set-up and calibration, ZF Micro Mobility is ready to go on the software side of things as well.
First ZF CentriX mid-drive models on display
Three samples from early OE partners were on display at ZF Micro Mobility’s Eurobike booth, with Raymon’s Tarok model and Bergstrom’s Peak model relying on the more powerful CentriX 90Nm unit, and Ultima’s elegant Ying&Yang model sporting the CentriX 75Nm unit. By the way, at Taichung Bike Week, the company was also present, presenting their new models to customers.