In December 2024, the German ebike manufacturer Waldbike was the first brand to announce that it would be launching bikes featuring the new Brose Drive 3 in 2025. Now, Campus is the next manufacturer to reveal that it plans to introduce models with this e-drive. So it’s high time to take a closer look at Brose’s new system.
1. Brose Drive 3 – the motor
2. Brose Drive 3 – the batteries
3. Brose Drive 3 – the control units and displays
4. First ebikes featuring the Brose Drive 3
1. Brose Drive 3 – the motor
Anyone who visited the Eurobike 2023 in Frankfurt am Main knows that Brose is developing a new ebike system. At its booth, the Berlin-based manufacturer showed an e-mountain bike designed for test rides. On this bike, not only was a new motor on display, but also other components of the upcoming drive system, including a battery, a display integrated into the top tube and a small control unit.
Until then, we knew these motors from Brose:
- Brose Drive C for city ebikes
- Brose Drive S for e-mountain bikes
- Brose Drive T for trekking ebikes
- Brose Drive TF for speed pedelecs
- Brose Drive H for e-cargo bikes
There was a variant of each motor with an aluminium and a magnesium housing. These were then called Brose Drive C Alu, Brose Drive C Mag, Brose Drive S Alu, Brose Drive S Mag and so on.
Higher voltage in the future
The new products – both the motor and all the other components – differ from their predecessors in one crucial detail. This is the operating voltage. Brose is switching to a voltage of 48 volts for the Brose Drive 3. Previously, it was 36 volts. ZF, for example, is pursuing the same approach with its Bike Eco System. In general, the following features are considered advantages of 48-volt systems compared to 36-volt systems:
- more power and higher speeds feasible
- easier heat management in the motor
- batteries with higher capacity allowing for longer ranges
- higher charging speeds
- greater flexibility when connecting additional components
- synergy effects from using parts from the automotive sector due to the 48-volt standard used there
At this point in time, we can’t say for sure how many different motors will be available for the Brose Drive 3. At the moment, you can only find one unit on the manufacturer’s website with the Brose Drive 3 Peak. At Eurobike 2023, it was announced that at least three further configuration levels and a few special applications for speed pedelecs and e-cargo bikes are in the planning stage. It is not yet known whether each motor will again be available with different housings.
Top model presented first
The Brose Drive 3 Peak is set to be the top model in the range. As the most powerful motor, it is primarily intended for use in e-mountain bikes and other ebikes that require particularly high performance. Despite this increased potential, the Brose Drive 3 Peak is about 15 per cent smaller than previous motors. Space has been gained, especially at the rear, where the motor comes into contact with the pivot points of the rear triangle and the shock in an emtb frame. This will give ebike manufacturers more freedom for integration in the future.
Shrinking the motor is the result of a complete change in strategy. Brose is moving away from a design with a belt and instead switching to a gear drive. So the inner workings have been completely turned upside down. Ultimately, the new design is also the reason why the housing now takes up less volume.
New technology, familiar advantages
According to the manufacturer, the top-of-the-range model will continue to feature characteristics typical of Brose. This applies in particular to high power delivery, usability even at low cadences of 60 revolutions per minute, and a pleasantly quiet motor noise. Corresponding test rides will show whether this is the case. At least the motor power can already be seen on the data sheet. With the 95 newton metres of torque mentioned there, the Brose Drive 3 Peak, for example, exceeds the 85 newton metres of the current Bosch Performance Line CX. However, it is quite a way off the DJI Avinox motor and its maximum 120 newton metres.
Basically, it is a motor for pedelecs. In continuous operation, it consequently delivers the usual 250 watts. If you get the most out of it, it can produce up to 600 watts at peak times. The Brose Drive 3 Peak supports you up to a speed of 25 kilometres per hour – and up to a maximum of 420 per cent. Weighing 2.9 kilograms, it tips the scales around 200 grams more than a Bosch Performance Line CX.
We are currently unable to provide any information on the number of support levels. The only thing that is certain is that a walk-assist will be available in any case.
Motor Brose Drive 3 Peak at a glance
- Operating voltage: 48 V
- Continuous rated power: 250 W
- Peak power: 600 W
- Assistance up to: 25 km/h
- Torque: 95 Nm
- Maximum assistance: 420 %
- Weight: 2.9 kg
- Axle width: 136 mm
Update: Under its new name, Qore Drive3 Peak, Yamaha has now announced an update for the motor. This will give it more power, higher torque, and more support at the end of 2025. Find all the details here.
2. Brose Drive 3 – the batteries
At least at the beginning, Brose relies exclusively on solutions that can be fully integrated into the downtube of the ebike frame, i.e. intube batteries. When it came to their design, Brose followed the principle of ‘keep it simple’. There is a single aluminium housing. This is kept very sober, without any frills, and simply angular. Depending on the version, there are different numbers of cells inside. The larger of the two batteries available offers a capacity of 814 watt hours. The smaller version comes in at 632 watt hours.
In terms of pure weight, there are only minimal differences. Four kilograms for the larger battery compares to 3.8 kilograms for the smaller. At the very most, this will have an effect on the distribution of the weight at a later stage. The cells in the 632 version are placed so that they are as close as possible to the bottom bracket. This shifts the centre of gravity of the ebike exactly where it can be best controlled. The housing tends to be shorter and wider. Brose wants to make sure that the battery with the largest capacity fits into even the smallest frame sizes if needed.
Ebike manufacturers can either integrate both batteries permanently into the frame or make them removable. In the latter case, the battery cover offers the option of attaching a magnetic lock from Fitlock. It remains to be seen how many manufacturers will ultimately choose to do so.
Brose Battery 48V at a glance
- Capacity: 632 Wh / 814 Wh
- Weight: 3.8 kg (632 Wh) / 4.0 kg (814 Wh)
- Dimensions in mm: 388.5 x 83.3 x 65.3
3. Brose Drive 3 – the control units and displays
Brose Allround Control Unit
With the Allround, Brose added a solid, easy-to-use control unit to its range for its previous e-drives. The manufacturer has apparently taken this as a model for the Brose Drive 3. On the corresponding product sheet, it is still called Brose Allround. To provide a certain distinction, one could perhaps speak of a Brose Allround 2.0.
Once again, the control unit combines buttons with a small display. The display is now rectangular instead of square and has a TFT colour display that has increased to 1.9 inches. The display shows the following information:
- speed
- riding mode
- battery charge level
- range
- distance travelled
- total kilometres
- time
- error and service information
Improved ergonomics
Both the shape and the arrangement of the buttons on the control unit have changed. According to Brose, the inspiration for this probably comes from motorcycles. The aim was to simplify operation for those who prefer to ride with full-finger gloves. From now on, the buttons provide tactile feedback so that you can tell immediately whether you have clicked correctly or not. If it is not too loud around you, this can also be registered acoustically.
In addition to the two up and down buttons, there are two further rockers on the side. These can be used, for example, to switch between the different screens on the display. Above all, the rockers are designed to serve as a reserve for the future, so that functions can be implemented that are not yet on board.
The USB-C interface for charging external devices is brand new. It is hidden behind a small rubber cover on the front of the control unit below the display.
Brose Control Remote
As an alternative to the Brose Allround 2.0, the Brose Control Remote can be found on the handlebar. This small control unit without a display is connected wirelessly to the e-drive via Bluetooth. This makes it similar to the Mini Remote from Bosch, for example. The Brose Control Remote’s multi-purpose buttons can be used to select the riding modes, control the menu, activate the walk-assist and switch the ebike’s lights on and off.
Brose Control Integrate
The Brose Control Remote is always combined with the new display integrated into the top tube. Brose calls this the Brose Control Integrate. Its portrait-format TFT colour display measures two inches diagonally, making it slightly larger than that of the Brose Allround 2.0. The following information is displayed on it:
- speed
- cadence
- riding mode
- battery level
- range
- distance travelled
- total kilometres
- time
- error and service information
Apart from the cadence, the scope of information is the same as for the Brose Allround 2.0. Just like the handlebar display, the Brose Control Integrate also features a USB-C port. This allows various mobile devices to be connected to the ebike system’s power supply and charged while riding. The port also serves as a service interface for bicycle workshops. A sensor integrated into the display adjusts the lighting to the brightness of the surroundings.
Important: The complete new Brose Drive 3 is not backwards compatible. Consequently, none of the new components can be added to and replace older drives on eBikes. The reason for this is the difference in operating voltage between 48 volts and 36 volts.
4. First ebikes featuring the Brose Drive 3
At the end of last year, Waldbike surprised the industry with the news that it intended to present several ebikes with the Brose Drive 3 at the end of 2025. What was surprising was not the fact that Waldbike would be installing a Brose drive. The manufacturer from Calw has been doing this since its foundation in 2022. Rather, the fact that this was the first publicised integration of Brose’s 48-volt technology was impressive.
Now, with Campus, another manufacturer is coming along that is pursuing the same goal. Here, the goal is to start delivering new models in autumn 2025. According to the company, these will be city, trekking and SUV ebikes. Waldbike has announced touring ebikes, hardtail e-mountain bikes as well as full-suspension all-mountain and enduro e-mountain bikes.
Pictures: Brose Antriebstechnik GmbH und Co.; Campus Fahrräder GmbH; Waldbike GmbH & Co. KG
Thanks for a very informative article
Is there an option for an extension (additional) battery in addition to the main battery ?
Hello,
Actually, we don’t know of any such plans. However, the system is still in its starting phase. So, maybe Brose will come up with such a solution in the future.
Cheers, Matthias