Bosch has been a dominant force in the e-bike drive system market since 2010, yet the company has now announced a move into territory it has never explored before. For the 2027 season, Bosch will manufacture its first rear wheel hub motor, marking a significant departure from its long-standing mid-drive focus. The new Bosch Hub Line is part of a broader wave of product launches that includes updated mid-drive motors, new battery formats, revised displays, and fresh integration solutions — nearly all of them geared toward the rapidly evolving urban e-bike segment.
Bosch Hub Line (BDU306Y): The Company’s First Rear Hub Motor
Until now, Bosch and mid-drive motors have been nearly synonymous. The company built its reputation on powerful central drive units that excel at climbing and natural-feeling pedal assistance. With the Hub Line, Bosch is entering the hub motor space for the first time, and the strategic logic is clearly tied to urban mobility. Claus Fleischer, CEO of Bosch eBike Systems, described the Hub Line as part of a new era for urban e-bikes — machines that are light, agile, modern in design, and transformative for city riding.
The Hub Line motor is housed in a black aluminium casing with a diameter of 100 millimetres and a weight of approximately 2.3 kilograms. At first glance, that weight appears higher than some competitors. The Mahle X20 hub motor, for example, weighs just 1.4 kilograms. However, that figure excludes the freewheel, making a direct comparison misleading. Even so, Bosch likely does not match Mahle on weight alone. Where the Hub Line pulls ahead is in power and torque. It delivers peak power of up to 400 watts and maximum torque of 45 Newton-metres. The Mahle X20 achieves 275 watts and 27 Newton-metres. The difference reflects divergent design philosophies: Mahle targets sporty riders who want light assistance on e-road and e-gravel bikes, while Bosch aims at a much broader urban audience that expects a distinctly noticeable boost from the motor.
How the Sensor System Works
The Hub Line system relies on two sensors. A cadence sensor mounted at the bottom bracket measures pedalling speed using a disc integrated into the crank. A position sensor, located inside a control unit hidden within the frame, detects whether the bike is travelling uphill, downhill, or on flat terrain. Together, these sensors allow the motor to adjust assistance in real time. Notably, the system does not include a torque sensor. This limits the available riding modes but keeps the design simpler and more cost-effective.
Available Riding Modes
E-bike manufacturers can choose from seven assistance levels for bikes equipped with the Hub Line: Auto, Eco, Limit, Sport, Sprint, Tour, and Turbo. In practice, any four of these can be activated on a given bike, plus the obligatory Off mode. The Cargo and Race modes are not available, as they are strictly tied to the Bosch Cargo Line and Performance Line CX-R respectively. Automatic modes such as eMTB, eMTB+, Eco+, and Tour+ also cannot be used because they require a torque sensor. The system remains compatible with Bosch’s eShift function and electronic derailleurs, allowing riders to shift manually or leave it to the automatic system.
Wheel Removal and Connector Design
Bosch has designed the Hub Line with a practical approach to wheel removal. A connector cable runs along the chainstay to the non-drive side of the frame. To remove the rear wheel, the rider simply pulls out the connector and proceeds as with a conventional wheel. Mahle’s direct connector on the hub itself appears more elegant, but Bosch’s simpler solution may help keep costs lower for urban e-bikes where price sensitivity is higher.
Bosch Active Line Plus (BDU344Y): Lighter and More Powerful
Alongside the Hub Line, Bosch has updated its Active Line Plus motor. The BDU344Y is now both lighter and more powerful than its predecessor, making it a stronger option for city and touring e-bikes that prioritise efficiency and reliability. The improvements are aimed at delivering a smoother, more natural ride experience while reducing overall system weight. This update aligns with the broader industry trend toward lighter e-bikes that still offer meaningful assistance across varied urban terrain.
PowerTube 360 and PowerTube 720: New Battery Options for 2027
Bosch is also expanding its battery lineup with two new PowerTube models. The PowerTube 360 is a new slim intube battery designed for frames with limited space. It offers a compact form factor without compromising integration, allowing bike designers to create cleaner, more streamlined frames. The PowerTube 720, by contrast, targets riders who need longer range. It provides a substantial capacity increase for those who want to cover greater distances without recharging. Together, these two batteries give manufacturers and consumers greater choice in balancing weight, range, and frame design.
New Bosch LED Controller Replaces the LED Remote
Bosch is introducing a new LED Controller for the 2027 season that will replace the current LED Remote. The new controller updates the interface for controlling assistance levels and viewing key ride data. While the basic functionality remains similar, the refreshed design and presumably improved readability reflect Bosch’s incremental approach to refining the rider interface across its product line.
Bosch Intuvia 200 Display: More Readable, No Longer Portable
The Intuvia 200 display receives an update aimed at improving readability. The screen is designed to be easier to read in various lighting conditions, which is a meaningful improvement for urban riders who navigate changing light environments. However, the new Intuvia 200 is no longer portable. Unlike earlier versions that could be removed and taken with the rider, this display remains fixed to the bike. That trade-off may disappoint some users who valued the anti-theft convenience of a detachable display, but it likely reduces complexity and cost.
ConnectModule Gains Frame Mounting for 2027
Bosch is also introducing frame-mounted integration for the ConnectModule starting with the 2027 season. Previously positioned elsewhere on the bike, the ConnectModule — which enables connectivity features such as theft tracking, ride logging, and system diagnostics — will now be integrated directly into the frame. This change improves both aesthetics and protection from the elements, while also simplifying the overall wiring layout.
Bosch’s 2027 product cycle represents one of the most diversified updates in the company’s history. By launching a hub motor for the first time, updating its mid-drive line, expanding battery choices, refining displays and controls, and improving connectivity integration, Bosch is clearly preparing for a future in which urban e-bikes play a far larger role in the market. The Hub Line, in particular, signals that Bosch recognises the need for lighter, simpler, and more cost-effective drive systems for city riders who may not need the full power of a mid-drive motor but still expect reliable, noticeable assistance. The coming seasons will show whether this hub motor can match the refinement and durability that Bosch has long delivered with its mid-drive systems, and whether urban riders embrace a motor that prioritises broad accessibility over peak performance.
