Electrification is getting more and more people onto bicycles. Many of these new cyclists have hardly any experience riding bikes. To make their lives easier, various component suppliers are working on automatic shifting solutions – mainly, but not only for e-bikes.
For experienced cyclists finding the right gear for various situations is a no-brainer. But for people who are new to cycling, keeping their balance, checking the traffic ahead and behind, operating the brakes and choosing the right gear can be overwhelming. There are plenty of stories of customers complaining about the insane wear of the drivetrain components on their e-bikes – only for bicycle dealers to find out that those customers “shift” by changing support modes of their e-drive systems rather than gears. For component manufacturers, offering an automatic shifting solution for this kind of less skilled consumer makes a lot of sense.
Enviolo Automatiq hubs
With its Automatiq internal transmission hubs Enviolo has been an early adopter in this regard, launching the technology back in 2019. The Automatiq hubs allow for the setting of a target cadence with the hub switching to the right gear ratio to allow for that, measuring in speed as well. Bosch eBike Systems has been offering its eShift technology to work first with internal transmission hubs from the likes of Enviolo, 3×3, the Nexus and Alfine Di2 hubs of Shimano and the E-14 hub of Rohloff. For more sporty applications, Bosch has teamed up with Shimano to make its Cues Di2 drivetrain shift automatically as well.
Bosch eBike Systems & TRP E.A.S.I.
At Eurobike, Bosch eBike Systems announced it had extended the compatibility of its eShift technology to the E.A.S.I. 12-speed drivetrain of TRP. One year after presenting its second-generation TR12 and DH7 drivetrains, this Taiwanese component manufacturer follows up with an electronic, derailleur-based drivetrain designed to work seamlessly with Bosch’s eShift technology, giving you the right gear at the right time. In its default mode this system chooses the optimal gear based on the desired cadence. But to adapt to fast changing terrain conditions it can also be overridden by using the wireless shifter. With Roll Shift there also is a function that allows for gear changes when coasting.
Shimano AutoShift
Shimano has its own AutoShift solution that only works when combining its EPS mid-drive motors with electronic Di2 drivetrains such as the Cues Di2 and the XT Di2. As a bonus, you also get the FreeShift function that allows for changing gears when coasting without moving the cranks. At last year’s Eurobike, Shimano raised eyebrows with its Q-Auto concept bike. By combining a Cues Di2 rear derailleur with a custom rear hub that houses a dynamo, Shimano managed to bring a self-sustaining automatic shifting function to conventional bicycles without an e-drive system and battery – a truly interesting approach.
SRAM Eagle Powertrain
SRAM launched its Eagle Powertrain package combining a Brose mid-drive motor with a wireless Transmission derailleur just before last year’s Taichung Bike Week. Aiming at sporty e-mountainbikers, its Automatic Shifting function aims at letting riders focus on the trail rather than choosing gears, relying on cadence and speed readings. The system comes with an efficiency-oriented Range mode and a performance-oriented Rally mode to select from, depending on whether you want to make it home without draining the battery or whether you want to set new records on certain segments.
Pinion SmartShift
German internal transmission specialist Pinion has been electrifying its premium gearbox offering with its SmartShift feature. While gear changes usually still are done manually through an electronic pod button, the SmartShift gearbox allows you to select your starting gear after having come to a halt and automatically shifts into the matching gear when coasting. Since Pinion’s gearbox mounts in the same space as mid-drive motors, its application on e-bikes aims at designs with a hub motor in the back. If you fancy a premium and all-in-one mid-motor solution, Pinion has got you covered with its MGU mid-motor unit that comes with an included gearbox and the SmartShift functionality.
Other automatic shifting solutions on the market
Apart from Pinion there are a number of other suppliers offering e-drive systems with integrated automatic gearboxes. Belgian supplier E2 Drives has built a mid-motor for Decathlon that specs it under the Owuru brand. With Pendix, Brose and Okawa, other e-drive suppliers have matching mid-drive motors with automatic gearboxes at hand or are currently busy developing them. Microshift on the other hand has teamed up with compatriots Hyena E-Bike Systems to get its electronic shifting to work with the latter’s hub motors and get the power from the main battery of the e-drive system. Last but not least Bafang puts an automatic dual speed transmission into its hub motors with its GVT technology.
More news and updates from The Show Daily team
- Turbulent Times: Wave of Insolvencies Hits the European Bicycle Market
- Vinka: Strengthening brand visibility
- SR Suntour: Second plant will ensure more in-house quality
- Darfon Electronics increases its European footprint
- Delta Electronics: A legacy of clean and efficient power