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Bosch has introduced a new 250Wh range-extending battery to work with e-bikes using their SmartSystem and Flow e-bike app.
If 250Wh sounds like a modest amount of power, it’s important to keep in mind that this is meant to work with Bosch mid-drive motors which do not need the kinds of capacity that are necessary to give an e-bike with a 750W hub motor reasonable range. Also, as this is a range extender and not a primary battery, we wouldn’t expect it to be huge.
The Bosch PowerMore 250 is meant to take a big day and make it bigger while also serving as an insurance plan: With the PowerMore 250, you can be confident that you’ll have enough power to make it home.
The PowerMore 250 does have limitations on just which Bosch-equipped e-bikes may use it. According to Bosch it is compatible with SmartSystem e-bikes from model year 2024. To learn whether your e-bike is compatible, you can find out in the Bosch Flow app. If you’re not using the Flow app, that might be your first indication that your e-bike may not be compatible.
If your e-bike is recent and you’re using the Bosch Flow app, then you can verify your e-bike’s compatibility by going to: System Settings > My eBike > eBike pass > Components. Also, if you are using a Bosch e-bike display, you can find out within its settings; click on: My eBike. If you see a menu item for PowerMore, then you’re in luck.
Bosch does not include the connecting cable; it must be purchased separately. That may seem inconvenient, but there is a good reason why: The PowerMore cable comes in a variety of lengths, ranging between 50mm—if the reach is short—up to 750mm. This helps to ensure you are using a cable of appropriate length for your e-bike.
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Considering that 250 is 62.5 percent of 400, we expected the Bosch Powermore 250 to add another 15.5 mi. of range to the Norco Fluid. Instead, what we saw is closer to a 50 percent increase. Expectations can be a tricky thing. When we set our expectations for the PowerMore 250 aside and simply consider the value of an external battery that can increase an e-bike’s range by half, we quickly conclude that it’s a very valuable accessory.
Justin observed that the CompactTube 400 gave him enough range to handle the rides he does during the week. What the PowerMore 250 offers is the sort of range increase to allow for the kinds of longer rides that most of us can only find time for on the weekend.
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