Shimano thinks that an electric bike “has to be a bicycle.” To this end, a new component set is designed to integrate with an existing bike to convert it into a full-on e-bike, but still let it work as a regular bicycle.
The system is called STEPS, which stands for Shimano Total Electric Power System. In the full set you’ll get a 250-watt front hub motor (geared), a torque-sensing bottom-bracket, a rotation-sensing crankset, a rack-mounted battery with integrated rear lamp, a pair of brake levers with switches to control everything, a front lamp and a bar-mounted computer so you know what it is all doing.
Finally, at the back you have one of Shimano’s 8-speed Nexus hubs which has electronic shifting.
The STEPS system has all the modern features you’d expect, from regenerative-braking (switched on when you hit the brakes), a Li-Ion battery (a one-hour charge gives 25 or 37 miles range depending on power-mode) and a decent-enough top speed of 15 mph.
You can mix and match parts, swapping in V-brakes and the like, although having the powered-hub without the battery would be rather pointless. The price has not yet been announced, as the STEPS system will launch at Eurobike in September. And while you’ll surely be able to grab the parts yourself, you’re more likely to see STEPS showing up as an option on ready-made bikes.
E-Bikes are certainly getting popular, and if they get more people cycling that’s got to be a good thing, right?. What do you think? Are electric bikes a good or a bad thing?
Shimano Launches Components Range for Electric Bikes [Bike Europe via Bicycle Design and Bike Radar]
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