Shuangye ebike
Shimano boosts ebike energy with brand-new DU-EP800 motor
Shimano’s brand-new electrical bike DU-EP800 motor system boosts torque to 85Nm from the older E8000’s 70Nm torque motor, whereas sustaining the identical battery vary in Path mode and rising it in Eco mode.
The brand new motor is lighter than the previous one, too.
It weighs a claimed 2.6kg, which is a 300g saving on the earlier motor, because of its all-new magnesium casing. Shimano’s managed to scale back the quantity and subsequently the width of the brand new motor by 10 per cent, too.
5 issues you have to learn about Shimano’s new DU-EP800 motor
- Boosted to 85Nm torque
- Discount in weight to a claimed 2.6kg
- Narrower 177mm Q-factor
- Claimed 36 per cent lower in pedalling drag
- Identical vary because the previous mannequin in Path mode, improve in vary in Eco mode
Shimano has additionally tweaked the EP8’s software program to supply a “extra pure feeling e-mountain bike”. It’s performed this by adjusting how the three help modes work and providing user-customisability of these modes by way of itsE-Tube Experience and E-Tube Challenge apps.
Shimano DU-EP800 electrical bike motor particulars
Extra torque, much less weight
On the centre of Shimano’s new DU-EP800 motor is a rise in most torque from 70Nm for the E8000 system to 85Nm, now rivalling Bosch’s recently updated Performance Line CX motor’s output.
Concurrently rising torque, Shimano’s managed to scale back claimed weight to 2.6kg from 2.9kg for the previous E8000 system. This 10 per cent discount is because of a magnesium drive unit casing and Hollowtech crank spindle, which additionally claims to spice up stiffness.
Shimano claims this provides it a “best-in-class” energy to weight ratio.
Diminished friction, greater vary
Battery effectivity, and subsequently vary, has been improved, too. Shimano’s performed this by reducing pedalling drag from contained in the motor by 36 per cent in comparison with the E8000 system.
Pedal drag is most noticeable when the motor system is turned off – some individuals have likened pedalling an electrical bike with out help to driving via glue. These sensations needs to be diminished with the EP8 system.
The reductions have been achieved by altering the motor’s seals, altering its three-stage gear design and utilizing a brand new one-way clutch, which additionally provides the motor faster engagement when the rider begins pedalling and smoother disengagement as soon as the rider stops.
Its vary has elevated by 20 per cent in Eco mode in comparison with the E8000 unit and, despite the fact that torque has elevated total, battery vary in Path mode stays the identical.
Higher thermal administration, decrease quantity
The brand new magnesium drive unit’s physique has higher warmth administration and improved cooling fins in comparison with the earlier system. New EW-SD300 wires additionally contribute to raised warmth management because of their smaller dimension. They’ll additionally transmit extra information, opening up the potential to broaden Di2 and different accent compatibility and performance.
Improved warmth administration means the motor can function at most torque for longer with out reductions in efficiency or different reliability points.
Shimano has additionally managed to scale back its decibel output, claiming it makes the identical quantity of noise because the E7000 unit.
Not solely has its audible quantity been diminished, however its dimension has been reduce by 10 per cent over the E8000. This, Shimano claims, improves floor clearance, makes the motor look sleeker and ends in a narrower 177mm Q-factor.
Regardless of its discount in dimension, it makes use of the identical body mounting sample because the E8000 and E7000 models, which suggests bike manufactures can spec any three of these motors on their frames.
It additionally opens up the potential of retrospective upgrades to present E8000 and E7000 homeowners, nonetheless Shimano’s press launch doesn’t point out whether or not that is or isn’t potential.
Upgraded equipment
The brand new DU-EP800 can have its personal XT-level FC-M8150 crank arms that don’t require any axle spacers and can be found in 160mm, 165mm, 170mm and 175mm lengths.
A extra primary FC-EM600 crank – that appears suspiciously much like Shimano’s new Deore M6100 crankset – can also be out there with the identical size choices because the XT model.
A brand new DU-EP800-specific CD-EM800 chain gadget is obtainable and includes a mud-shedding design. Because of adjustability, it’s suitable with 56.5mm and 53mm chain traces.
There’s additionally a 12-speed chainring that’s solely suitable with 56.5mm chain traces or Super Boost 157mm rear axle bikes with out chain gadgets.
New remotes and shows
The distant management unit has additionally been up to date with extra concave buttons, which Shimano says improves operational consolation and management whereas making it simpler to make use of the buttons.
The brand new distant – SW-EM800L – can also be I-spec suitable which suggests it needs to be potential to connect suitable dropper post levers to it, akin to Shimano’s SL-MT800-IL.
The pc show appears to be like unchanged and works in the identical approach because the previous one. It does now have the choice to alter between customisable rider profiles (extra on that shortly) and might hook up with the smartphone-based E-Tube Challenge app by way of Bluetooth and suitable third-party bike computer systems to share gear and battery info.
Larger batteries
The brand new DU-EP800 motor system is suitable with Shimano’s electrical mountain bike batteries together with its latest and largest BT-E8016 and BT-E8063 630Wh models or smaller, however quicker charging 504Wh BT0E8035-L battery.
Shimano DU-EP800 electrical bike motor software program and utility particulars
A software program re-design
In addition to the bodily adjustments to extend torque, Shimano’s re-written its electrical mountain bike software program to regulate the way in which the motor’s torque is delivered. It hopes it will make its help really feel extra pure.
The quantity of pedalling enter torque wanted to entry help has decreased throughout the modes. Increase mode now solely wants 20Nm of rider torque for the complete 85Nm of help.
Equally, Path mode now delivers peak energy sooner, requiring solely 60Nm of rider enter as an alternative of 100Nm for the E8000 collection motor and is claimed to be extra responsive than earlier than.
Eco mode solely delivers 30Nm of most torque and that determine is reached utilizing the same quantity of effort to the E8000 system.
Deep mode customisation and utility updates
When linked to the E-Tube Challenge app, it’s potential to customize the torque ranges of the three driving modes between 20 and 85Nm.
Shimano’s launched rider profiles, too. Help ranges will be set for various rider profiles which suggests the bike will be shortly remodeled from an endurance, battery-saving bias to an outright energy rig.
The on-board show permits profile switching on the fly.
Shimano E-Tube Experience app updates
The E-Tube Experience app – the second Shimano electrical bike companion app used to show on-the-hoof info on a smartphone’s display – has been up to date, too.
New options embody journey historical past and reside maps plus updates to the consumer interface. The app will now routinely sync rides with Strava, too.
The navigation characteristic makes use of a Mapbox base map that Shimano claims has “street-level element and high-level path element in forests and trails,” though details about how the system works is proscribed and makes us wonder if Shimano plans to supply a extra feature-rich show and onboard pc like Bosch’s Nyon and Kiox systems.
Shimano DU-Ep800 electrical bike motor preliminary journey impressions
Technical editor Tom Marvin has managed to spend a while on the EP8 system forward of the launch, however hasn’t spent sufficient time on the bike but for a full assessment.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to pay money for the up to date Merida eONE-SIXTY forward of the EP8’s launch, with a purpose to get some journey impressions on the brand new motor.
Whereas I’ve not had as a lot time as I’d like on Merida’s enduro-focused electrical mountain bike to date, I do have some transient journey impressions of the brand new motor to share.
First up, it’s value noting that the accompanying E-Tube Challenge and Experience apps from Shimano haven’t been out there forward of launch, so the performance to regulate the ability settings, energy supply and create my very own profiles has not been examined but.
Hush-hush
What is instantly noticeable is that the motor is considerably quieter than the E8000 motor that preceded it and people on provide from Bosch. Whereas there may be some background motor whine, it’s very quiet total, one thing that many riders will respect.
Energy on and on…
The preliminary energy supply, in each of the pre-set profiles, may be very easy.
In Eco mode the motor’s help may be very refined and can possible work properly for riders searching for that little serving to hand on hills and away from visitors lights, somewhat than these searching for the ‘full’ ebike expertise.
If the reported vary extension is right, the EP8 may very well be nice for riders on bike excursions searching for help for his or her loaded bikes over longer distances.
In each Path and Increase modes the EP8 supplies a really easy supply of its energy all through its energy band.
On the high finish, when the help drops off, there’s no cliff-edge in help, in order that switch to fully-human powered driving isn’t fairly as demoralising.
Whereas this works properly in Path mode, I did really feel that in Increase mode I wished to have the ability to exploit the motor’s energy all the way in which to the tip of its help. I believe, although, that with the app’s adjustability, that is one thing that ought to be capable of be programmed in.
Path mode is probably going the place mountain bikers will spend most of their time. Right here, the motor’s help degree appears to simply complement the trouble put via the pedals.
This implies there’s loads of torque management when manoeuvring up steep, free or technical climbs, with out a lot in the way in which of uncontrolled wheel spin.
Whereas the earlier technology E8000 motor was very properly mannered, the EP8 feels simply that little extra refined on this respect.
As talked about, I want to spend extra time on the Merida eONE-SIXTY to get a greater grip of each the bike and the motor.
Some niggles
Nonetheless, if I used to be to attract any early criticisms, it could be that I struggled to get the motor to supply its full degree of help (as indicated by the sliding scale on the motor’s show unit) even when tackling steep climbs and placing in as a lot guide effort as I might.
This might be a results of the ability supply tailing off to offer a smoother transition to non-powered driving, however on steep pitches I used to be to date off the 25kph restrict that, actually, I’d like the complete 85Nm of energy to be simply delivered on this scenario.
As ever, extra time, and entry to the app, might negate this preliminary criticism.