Eurobike 2024: Premiere for ZF’s powerful, ultra-compact e-bike drive - ZF

Friedrichshafen / Frankfurt am Main, Germany. At the Eurobike 2024 bicycle trade fair, the ZF Group will be presenting its new 48-volt drive system for e-bikes for the first time. The ‘ZF Bike Eco System’ includes all drive components such as e-motor, batteries, control units, app and a connection to the cloud. The core component is the ZF ‘CentriX’ drive unit with an ultra-compact, 90 Newton meter mid-motor.

“With our CentriX e-bike drive unit, which weighs just 2.5 kilograms and is uniquely compact, we are setting a benchmark in the power class up to 90 Newton meters of torque,” explained Daniel Haerter, Head of the Micro Mobility business unit at ZF. “This allows bicycle manufacturers to offer their customers high-performance e-bikes that are similar in weight and appearance to e-bikes with a lightweight support motor.”

The Schweinfurt-based premium bicycle manufacturer RAYMON Bicycles is one of the first bicycle manufacturers to offer an e-bike with the new ZF drive system. The full-suspension e-mountainbike ‘Tarok’ with a suspension travel of 160 millimeters should be available on the market at the beginning of 2025.

CentriX: powerhouse in miniature

The centerpiece of the ZF drive system is the newly developed CentriX drive unit, which is unique on the market with its high torque density, low weight and small installation space. CentriX consists of a mid-motor and a gear stage in a cylindrical design. With an installation dimension of just 88 millimeters in diameter and 118 millimeters in width, the drive is only slightly larger than a 0.33-liter drink can and can be combined with both derailleur and hub gears.

The ZF drivetrain is available in two versions: The CentriX 90 with 90 Newton meters (Nm) of torque and a maximum output of 600 watts is ideal for mountain, trekking or SUV bikes, while the CentriX 75 with a torque of 75 Nm of assistance and a maximum output of 450 watts is designed for gravel, commuter, or urban bikes.

ZF Bike Eco System: everything in, everything on

The ZF Bike Eco System is based on a 48-volt architecture and delivers 250 watts of continuous power. For the energy supply, ZF offers lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 504- or 756-watt hours (Wh), which are mounted in the down tube using an innovative rail system and can be removed for charging.

The Core Controller, integrated into the top tube, is the central control and operating unit for the complete system and shows the cyclist information such as the battery charge status via an intuitive circular LED display. Optionally, a remote or a high-resolution 2.8-inch color display with touch function can be connected to the handlebars.

The Core Controller offers an innovative interface for charging devices such as smartphones via magnetic spring contacts, so-called pogo pin connectors.

In addition, Bluetooth can be used to establish a connection between the bike and ZF’s own app on a smartphone, which can provide features such as navigation, route recording, bike status and over-the-air software updates via the cloud. In the future, the digital ZF Bike Eco System will be expanded to include additional comfort and safety features.

The ZF Bike Eco System is an open system that provides interfaces and integration options for third-party providers. Bicycle manufacturers are therefore very flexible in their choice of additional components and benefit from easy installation, for example through simplified cabling and uncomplicated installation of the motor within a few minutes.

The entire drive system is designed for easy maintenance, and individual components can usually be replaced within a few minutes. Dealers can update the software quickly and easily using the magnetic pogo pin connector on the core controller.

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