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Shimano Shows E8000 Electric Assist Motor for Mountain Bikes

Shimano introduces the E8000 drive unit and the accompanying battery, display and control system, all aimed at adding sought-after electric power to your existing mountain bike. The advantages of the pedelec have quickly penetrated the MTB world, and the extra grunt provided by electric pedal assist systems are now part of everyday fun.
Shimano E8000 mid-mount motor 14 photos
Photo: Shimano
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The Shimano E8000 is a cool mid-mount drive unit that can put extra 70 Nm (51.6 lb-ft) of torque at your feet (pun intended). The system comes with small Q-factor cranks that retain the classic feel of MTBs, while at the same time providing improved cornering capabilities when pedaling.

This motor can offer three levels of pedal assist that are easy to cycle through using the handlebar-mounted computer. The neat LCD screen displays info on speed, battery status, boost level and more, and everything looks as intuitive as it gets.

Power comes from a weatherproof 500 Wh pack that is secured to the bike's downtube. The battery has an all-new bracket that is tougher, rattle-free, and comes with a key lock.

The Shimano E8000 drive unit is compatible with 34T or 38T chain rings, and can be used in conjunction with both 11-speed or 10-speed Di2 or mechanical XT/XTR rear derailleurs, and 11-speed or 10-speed cassettes.

Riders can communicate with the new Shimano drive unit via Bluetooth, using their smartphones or tablets. So far, Shimano has not surfaced more detailed tech specs, but we can relate to those of the previous E6000 model. The battery of the E6000 was a 36Vm 11.6 Ah 418 Wh unit that needed 2 hours to go from zero to 80% and double that time to reach a 100% charge.

Provided that the voltage remains the same, the E8000 most likely packs just under 14 Ah and might recharge just as fast as previous models, in case Shimano upgraded the chargers, too. More than 1,000 charging cycles without significant loss of performance are also expected. Prices to be announced soon.
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