SUZHOU, China - Semi solid-state batteries are lightweight, fast-charging and offer enhanced safety giving them the potential to be a game-changer for the e-bike industry. At least this is the vision of Chinese manufacturer T&D who is developing a semi-solid state e-bike battery which provides 830Wh at only 3.2kg. Small-scale production is expected to commence this year.

VELKE ORVIŠTĚ, Slovakia - Bicycle brand Kellys and battery manufacturer BMZ are reportedly working on a European-assembled e-bike battery with a higher energy density than the latest DJI Avinox or Bosch Powertube 800. Looking to outpace rivals, the goal is reportedly to create the world's lightest e-bike battery with a capacity above 800 Wh.

FRANKFURT, Germany - The thriving e-bike market has long been dominated by a small number of drive system manufacturers. The rapid expansion of the market in the past years created room for new suppliers and their investors. Although some of these early entrants stepped out at the beginning of the decade, this trend has now reverted. More and more systems are being introduced on the market again, also by suppliers new to the industry. In this overview, we highlighted a few of them.

If you've been even remotely interested in electric bikes lately, you've probably heard whispers about the new RB-900 battery made by BMZ Poland. But what's all the hype really about? Is it just another battery, or is it something that could actually change your riding experience?

EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands - Just before Eurobike kicks off, Shimano has introduced Q'auto: an electronic shifting group for everyday bikes that doesn't require an external battery. The required power is generated via the rear hub, which functions as a dynamo. The system is designed for trekking, gravel, and light urban bikes, offering both automatic and manual shifting options.

ANNECY, France - The developing X-Tend e-bike system for road and gravel was one of the more valuable assets the Bourrelier group acquired Mavic in 2020. Making the product ready for mass production, and subsequently for the market, was a big challenge. Mavic overcame this undertaking and is currently consulting interested OEMs.

Circular economy has been a popular term in the recent years because of the rise of the environmental awareness globally. If you google "circular economy", there are tons of the definitions that you can find online. By working together, SRAM and Velo give the term their own interpretation.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Tektro TRP isn't keeping its ambitions to itself: "We want to be the alternative supplier for the industry next to the big two," says Lance Larrabee, general manager of Tektro USA. Tektro's expansion strategy has already resulted in the development of successful products.

In the field of bicycle technology, engineers and developers are continually tasked with improving the riding experience and optimizing component performance. This is particularly true in the road and gravel segments, where every second and every detail matter. In these areas, precise, reliable, and low-maintenance drivetrain systems are essential. The Vistar Powershift group from TRP responds directly to this need. It offers an innovative solution that not only pushes existing boundaries but also elevates the riding experience to new heights.

E-bike component maker Star Union has introduced its latest mid-drive motor, the MGM (Magnetic Gear Motor). For 2025, the MGM is upgraded to deliver up to 80Nm of torque (up from 75Nm last year) without any increase in size.

BERLIN, Germany - A new battery-swapping service and matching e-bike fleet will soon be debuting on the streets of Amsterdam and Berlin, according to a press release by Enyring. The Yamaha subsidiary, established in December 2023, aims to be one of the first to introduce a battery-swapping service in Europe - and it's adding its own e-bike fleet to complement the service.

AMERSFOORT, Netherlands - Dutch battery repair specialist Nowos has raised €6 million in new equity funding to accelerate its pan-European growth and push lithium-ion battery repair as a main component to developing a circular economy. The round's lead investor is Paris- and Singapore-based venture capital fund Shift4Good, with participation from Fair Capital Impact Fund and Goeie Grutten Impact Fund. An additional €3 million in debt financing is still being secured.

SEG Automotive, a leader in the automotive industry, supplies e-machines that power over 300 million vehicles globally. Building on its successful entry into the e-bike sector, the German company has partnered with the dynamic start-up Octagon to develop innovative system solutions. The first product of this collaboration is the evolution of the Kreutzer motor, a mid-engine system with automatic shifting that blends comfort and performance, designed for premium and performance-oriented e-bikes.

STUTTGART, Germany - SEG Automotive Germany GmbH has just announced their latest innovation, an e-bike drivetrain solution with automatic shifting in a compact design they've coined 'Kreutzer Hypershift by SEG Automotive'. In cooperation with start-up partner Octagon, the new motor builds on SEG Automotive's expertise from over 100 years of manufacturing e-machines and benefits from Octagon's agile development and integration capabilities.

OTTOBRUNN, Germany - This time, car manufacturer Porsche AG seems to be taking the e-bike subject really seriously: Porsche eBike Performance GmbH, which was founded in 2022, has just announced its intention to set up its own e-bike battery production facility in Croatia. This is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2026 - "at the same time as the market launch of the first Porsche e-bike drive system."

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The fierce discussion 2 years ago on the new battery regulation implemented by the European Commission seem to have moved to the background. The challenging market conditions appear to be more relevant than a new European regulation which will be implemented in January 2027. One element in this regulation is that the single cell replacement for e-bike batteries would cause serious safety issues according to many industry insiders.

MADRID, Spain - Two Rotor Bike Component founders have launched a new performance cycling brand. Pablo Carrasco and Ignacio Estelles merged their vision and manufacturing expertise carbon manufacturer YMA to develop bicycle components. QO's first product line is a series of carbon fiber cranksets on display at Velofollies earlier this month.

JAKOBSTAD, Finland - European component manufacturer, Herrmans Bike Components continues to expand its sustainable product portfolio. The latest addition sees three of its existing chainguard models transition to using 100% recycled ABS plastic.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Which battery cabinet provides sufficient protection when an e-bike battery catches fire? Many bicycle industry entrepreneurs are uncertain about the products available. The German VDMA 24994 standard is intended to help separate the good from the bad. According to Bart van de Broek of Dutch financial services provider Nationale-Nederlanden, it will soon be clear whether this standard will also apply across all of Europe.

VICENZA, Italy - Selle Royal has unveiled a new proprietary technology that allows waste materials to be repurposed as padding for bicycle saddles. The Italian saddle manufacturer plans to debut the innovation, named the Stracciatella, on its Lookin and Lookin Evo saddles, in addition to the Essenza saddle for the OEM market.

SCHWEINFURT, Germany - No other product in the industry is so sorely missing validated market data than e-bike drive systems. The market dominance of Bosch is obvious, but what about the other suppliers and how many other brands are relevant anyway?