Braking Safer

E-bikes are trendy, but there are risks associated with incorrect braking behaviour. The Bosch eBike ABS helps pedelec riders to brake more safely. Therefore, Bosch wins the DEKRA Award 2019 in the category “Safety on the Road”.

Driving a pedelec is becoming more and more popular in this country. Photo: Bosch

Around 4.5 million people in Germany already ride e-bikes. At the same time, the number of accidents involving electric two-wheelers is rising. Above all incorrect braking behaviour plays an important role in the accidentcauses. “On slippery surfaces, sudden braking increases the risk of slipping away. Or you have to brake so hard that you roll over,” says Claus Fleischer, CEO of Bosch eBike Systems. “The Bosch eBike ABS enables controlled and more stable braking even in critical situations.” It combines front-wheel ABS with a rear wheel lift-off regulator.

Product manager Stefan Schneider estimates that more than one in four pedelec accidents can be prevented. Photo: Norbert Böwing

By regulating the braking pressure of the front brake during critical braking manoeuvres, the situation for the biker is stabilised and the risk of falling off is significantly reduced.  “With front-wheel ABS, wheel speed sensors monitor the speed of both wheels. As soon as the front wheel threatens to lock up, for example in the event of a brake application which is too strong, the Bosch eBike ABS regulates the braking pressure and thus optimises the stability and manoeuvrability of the eBike,” explains Stefan Schneider, product manager for the Bosch eBike ABS.

The Bosch eBike ABS is a safety benefit for e-bike riders. Photo: Bosch

The response to the system is great. International bicycle manufacturers install it in their bicycles and deliver it to retailers. According to Schneider, the potential of ABS is enormous: “We have conducted intensive accident studies and estimate that more than one in four pedelec accidents can be prevented by ABS”.