The e-bike motor race has been seriously hot, with Avinox jumping into the ring with elevated torque and power figures, while Bosch has been quick to follow up with plenty of updates. But Shimano, once considered to have a great motor offering, has been left by the wayside, and headline numbers have taken over. But today, the drivetrain (and fishing reel) giant has unveiled the EP810, its newest and most feature-rich e-bike motor.
Power, torque and the physical bits
With power and torque being key features of any e-bike motor, Shimano has remained relatively reserved as the EP810 knocks out up to 100Nm of torque and 750W peak power. However, we’re told that the motor weighs 2.3kg (an Avinox M2S weighs around 2.6kg), thanks to a magnesium alloy cover that’s built with neat cooling fins in a bid to dissipate heat.
Shimano also states that the motor supports a wide range of cadence and, with features like the cooling fins, we’re told that it’s designed to produce consistent power across all riding scenarios. The brand also promises ‘reduced mechanical noise’.
The EP810 is supported by a 720Wh battery that’s set to weigh 4.1kg, and it’s available with two charging options – standard (EC-EN832) and a faster charger (EC-EN834).
There are also two screens coming with the motor. The SC-EN700 is the new top tube mounted display, and it’s the first time we’ve seen the brand bring ride and bike data to a top tube mounted screen. The SC-EM810 is a bar-mounted display that’s not too dissimilar to those that we’ve seen from Shimano before.
On top of that is a USB-C Module that brings charging and connectivity to the EP810. This means that you can charge other devices from the bike. And then the SW-UT600-LR is a more refined version of Shimano’s handlebar remote. With this, you’ll be able to flick through motor settings and other things. It’s completely wireless, too.
A new motor brings a refined ride
Before Bosch and Avinox came to break up the party, Shimano’s EP801 became known for offering cool features such as Auto Shift, which used fancy algorithms to change gears automatically, according to the terrain and input. Auto Shift remains on the EP810, but the motor utilises a third generation of the tech. That means that the algorithm has been updated to understand what’s going on better. This apparently means more accurate shifts for the scenario.
Auto Shift can be adjusted by the rider within a +/- three range, and that can be done on the bike, without the need for an app, and that tweaks the cadence preference, so it’ll shift according to your cadence, too. This system then works with the current crop of Di2 wireless drivetrains.
Auto Assist is something new for the EP810, although similar things have been seen on prior models. It’s integrated into the Trail+ motor mode, and it adjusts the motor’s output according to the terrain and the rider’s input. Apparently, when you’re climbing, the motor will increase support but in a way that prioritises traction at both wheels, so the rear wheel shouldn’t slip, and the front wheel shouldn’t rise.
On the descents, Auto Assist should reduce the motor’s assistance, and on the flats, the motor will minimise its power usage in order to boost overall range.
New technologies have also been built to aid the rider when not riding. So Hill Hold kicks in when the motor’s in walk mode. This should stop the bike from rolling backwards, or back downhill when walking the bike up a hill. Lift & Shift is another feature of walk mode that allows the rider to lift the rear of the bike, where it’ll then shift itself into an easier gear for a smoother and easier restart.
There’s then Assist Remain and Carry Over. The former is designed to smooth the motor’s support when the rider’s pedalling becomes uneven. So rather than just kicking out more power, the power delivery should smooth out a bit. The latter is an overrun that can be customised to the rider’s preference.
Lastly, the EP810 introduces Shimano’s new D-FLY+ wireless protocol. This brings faster data transfer and stronger data protection across the whole system, claims Shimano. This should bring better performance, integration, and security to the brand’s devices.
At the moment, there aren’t many bikes running Shimano’s new system, but the Orbea Rise (link), released just yesterday, is one of them, as well as Honda’s RN0.
