It goes without saying that e-bikes are pretty damn cool. I’ve long believed they’ll play a major role in the future of how people get around. And with big names like Shimano, Bosch, and Yamaha rolling out innovations in the e-bike scene, the market is buzzing with new tech left and right.
German company Bosch may be familiar to you as a maker of power tools, windshield wipers, and spark plugs. But recent years have put Bosch in the spotlight thanks to its e-bike motor and battery tech. And its latest announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) just might take e-bike security to the next level: a remotely lockable e-bike battery.
It makes use of Bosch’s existing ecosystem of e-bike tech which, by using Bosch’s Flow+ app, e-bike owners can digitally lock their battery when the bike is switched off. If someone snags the battery and tries to install it on another Bosch-powered e-bike, the battery won’t work, as it has been locked with the credentials of the owner.
Even better, it adds insult to injury by disabling motor support on the bike the stolen battery was installed on, rendering it practically useless.
Apart from improving security and deterring theft, the new system will also allow owners to create digital keys for friends or family, letting them share a single bike.
This feature will roll out later this summer via an over-the-air update for Bosch’s smart system-equipped e-bikes. It’s the latest in a series of security upgrades from Bosch, which already offers smartphone-based locks, alarms, and traditional mechanical systems.
