Mahle System X35+ Ebike Drive: Just Don’t Draw Attention

Mahle is presenting the next generation of its drive system for ebikes just in time for the new 2021 model year. What used to be called “ebikemotion X35” has now been boiled down to “System X35+”. Apart from the slight name change, the manufacturer from Stuttgart remains true to itself. Its drive should first and foremost be unobtrusive, slim and light.

The X35+ system fulfils this requirement completely. The motor with the designation HUB Drive M1 for the rear wheel hub, the intube battery and the control units together weigh only 3.5 kilograms. By comparison, the recently introduced fourth-generation Bosch Performance CX mid-mounted motor and a matching Bosch PowerTube 625 easily weigh twice as much together.

The X35+ ebike drive from Mahle is holistically designed.

Fast and elegant, please

Of course, in terms of power, the Mahle drive with its motor output of 250 watts, the torque of 40 Newton metres and the 245 watt hours of battery capacity cannot hold a candle to the Bosch power. However, that is not what the X35+ wants. This product is aimed at a completely different class of ebikes and thus has a completely different clientele in mind. Mahle is interested in manufacturers who want to integrate a drive system into sporty bikes that don’t look like ebikes at all. For a good reason, the list of Mahle’s cooperation partners mainly includes illustrious names from the racing bike sector: Colnago, Pinarello, Bianchi, Orbea.

The second central group of interested parties are manufacturers like Schindelhauer from Berlin. They produce urban ebikes that appeal to their customers with a design that is strongly influenced by regular bicycles. Classic frame geometries with slim tubes meet batteries hidden invisibly in the frame. The equipment is rather minimalist and prefers the simple operation of the ebike to a complex and deeply structured control system. I’m sure there are some of you who can make friends with this type of bike or have already done so.

On a bicycle with an X35+ from Mahle, you have to look closely to recognise the ebike drive.

Technical characteristics almost the same

It fits into the picture that the battery of the X35+ has 5 watt-hours less than before. By the way, the battery is actually made by Panasonic. As before, the battery is permanently installed in the frame. Consequently, charging must take place directly on the bike. Panasonic also produces the range extender battery with 208 watt hours, which is available on request. Externally, the extender still looks almost like a water bottle. It is shorter than other additional batteries, but not as streamlined. From our point of view, mounting it on the seat tube is the most harmonious solution.

App with new interface

While nothing has changed in terms of the performance data of the motor and battery, there is a real innovation in the app. In future, it will be possible to connect to more mobile devices than before. These include smartwatches, for example. The basis for this is the new ANT+ interface. However, no new functions seem to have been added. The app displays standard values such as distance, speed, pulse and remaining range. The reminder of the next review, the selection of the desired support level, the GPS and the recording of tours based on this were already part of the range of functions before.

The app for the X35+ can be used mobile and on the computer.

Of course, anyone who wants to can still do without the app. To switch the motor assistance on and off and to select the riding mode, a few times pressing the button on the various control units iWoc and iWoc TRIO for the handlebars and iWoc ONE on the frame is still sufficient.

New housing as a key factor

The most significant achievement of the new X35+ will be noticeable to you at best indirectly. According to several blogs, Mahle has worked most intensively on the motor housing. It is probably more robust than its predecessor. Bicycle manufacturers can now supposedly integrate the hub motor into higher-quality wheels that promise better durability. So it is quite possible that more ebikes with this drive will appear on the market in the near future.

Background: From cars to ebikes

Mahle founded its ebike division ebikemotion four years ago. The Stuttgart-based automotive supplier used its own in-house resources to design the first motors. Power steering motors, which are used in mechatronics for automobiles, turned out to be an excellent starting point for the first prototypes. A few development stages later, the first ebike motor made by Mahle was ready for the market. Today, the company’s product range includes hub and mid-mounted motors. They are part of a holistic OEM package that includes batteries, on-board computers and apps.

Pictures: Mahle GmbH