Bosch teases big announcement on electric bike battery innovation

Bosch eBike Systems plans to announce something new at CES 2025, perhaps related to advances in its electric bicycle battery technology. A cryptic teaser video gives a taste of what’s to come.

In the video seen below, a Bosch PowerPack 800 e-bike battery can be seen along with the words “Protect what is valuable” on either side of the battery.

The clues could lead in several directions, potentially relating to the battery’s safety or to advances in theft prevention.

Is Bosch unveiling potted e-bike batteries?

One potential theory centers around the possibility of Bosch unveiling potted batteries, a design that encases the internal components and battery cells in resin or other solid protective materials. This construction method is highly valued for its resistance to water, shocks, and vibrations, making it ideal for mountain bikers and commuters who ride in challenging environments.

While the concept is not new, it is still uncommon in the electric bicycle battery industry. Last year, the electric bicycle brand Rad Power Bikes unveiled new potted batteries as part of their SafeShield line of batteries.

The practice does raise some concerns regarding the ability to recycle such batteries, but Rad Power Bikes has said that its SafeShield batteries are still recyclable. Accessing the cells is difficult when potted batteries are discontinued, but many battery recycling programs grind up the entire battery and use a series of separators such as magnets, screens, and centrifuges to isolate the important materials for further recycling.

The shift towards potted batteries marks a significant increase in battery safety, especially for riders on rough terrain or who ride in wet environments. Physical damage and water ingress (especially salt water from coastal regions or areas with significant road salt usage) are two leading causes of e-bike battery fires. While such fires are still quite rare considering the large number of e-bike batteries in circulation, addressing those two areas, which are commonly seen in Bosch’s two main markets of electric mountain bikes and commuter e-bikes, could go a long way towards improving safety.

Does Bosch have a new theft protection system?

Another possible interpretation of the teaser could relate to anti-theft technology. (Update: That’s looking increasingly likely considering Bosch’s PR team and teaser team don’t appear to be on the same page).

Battery theft has become a growing concern for e-bike riders, especially in urban areas where bikes are often left locked up outside. Bosch might be addressing this issue by introducing integrated theft-prevention features.

Potential innovations could include built-in GPS trackers for locating stolen batteries, more tamper-proof locking mechanisms, or even remote disabling capabilities that render a stolen battery unusable.

Other companies, such as the now-defunct Juiced Bikes, have built e-bike batteries with specially designed cavities for concealing Airtags or other location-tracking devices.

While details remain under wraps, Bosch’s teaser has created a buzz in the e-bike community due to the e-bike component maker’s large market share. The official announcement from Bosch is expected soon, and we’ll report back as soon as we know more.

Until then, let’s hear your thoughts in the comment section below. What could Bosch’s engineers be cooking up this time?