Which German drive systems for ebikes are you familiar with? Bosch, Brose, Fazua, TQ and Co. probably spring to your mind straight away. Those who have dug deeper into the subject will also know about Pinion and ZF. But would you have thought of SEG Automotive? Two years ago, the Stuttgart-based company unveiled its first ebike motor. A few weeks ago, the automotive supplier expanded its portfolio with a new drive called BMM 85 Hypershift.
Lightweight and powerful at the same time
The public got its first glimpse of the BMM 85 Hypershift from SEG Automotive at the world’s largest bicycle trade fair, Eurobike in Frankfurt am Main. It is a mid-drive motor. With its weight of 2.45 kilograms and its volume, it is comparable to well-known full-power motors such as the Bosch Performance Line CX or the Brose Drive 3 Peak. It also performs comparably well in terms of important technical characteristics. Its standard torque of 85 Newton metres rises to a peak of 100 Newton metres.This corresponds to the maximum value of the Bosch Performance Line CX and even slightly exceeds Brose’s flagship product.
The picture is similar when it comes to pure power. Starting from the usual 250 watts in continuous operation, the BMM 85 Hypershift increases to 600 watts. This means that it remains slightly behind the 750 watts of the Bosch CX, but is still on a par with the Drive 3 Peak. And even with its maximum 400 percent assistance, the newcomer from SEG Automotive proves to be absolutely competitive compared to its two renowned counterparts.
BMM 85 Hypershift always in the right gear
For a standard ebike motor, this interim conclusion would already be a respectable result. However, the BMM 85 Hypershift is no ordinary motor. It is a unit with integrated automatic gear shifting. This means that you do not need to operate any gears. The drive system takes care of this. Depending on the riding situation, it automatically shifts to the appropriate gear ratio.
That said, the solutions differ from what we know from drives such as the Pinion MGU, the E2 Drives Owuru and the Intradrive GD8. Shifting is done using intelligent software instead of a mechanical gearbox. Sensors continuously record and analyse the pedalling frequency and the current riding situation. Adaptive software translates this data into the appropriate gear ratio. The manufacturer talks about a dynamic riding experience that should feel natural and responsive to riders. Compared to mechanical transmissions, the BMM 85 Hypershift should prove to be more powerful and easier to control in terms of heat management.
Potential candidate for various types of ebikes
SEG Automotive received active support from the Dutch start-up Octagon in Amsterdam, particularly with regard to the electronics and software. The result is a drive that, according to the manufacturer, could be integrated primarily in urban ebikes as well as trekking and touring ebikes in the future. Since the motor and automatic transmission eliminate the need for a separate gearshift, the system is likely to score points with low maintenance and servicing costs, among other things. In addition, only a belt is required to drive the motor at any time. This should further reduce its inherent noise.
SEG BMM 85 Hypershift at a glance
- Continuous rated power: 250 watts
- Peak power: up to 600 watts
- Assistance up to: 25 km/h
- Torque: maximum 100 Nm
- Max. assistance: 400 %
- Weight: approx. 2.45 kg
- Operating voltage: 36 V
Premiere with VanDijck
As things stand at present, the Dutch brand VanDijck will be the first ebike manufacturer to launch a model with the BMM 85 Hypershift. Kronos Hypershift Pro can already be seen on its website – albeit with only a few details. The urban ebike with low-step frame features a battery integrated into the down tube with a capacity of either 700 watt hours or 882 watt hours. The model will cost 3,299 euros in its most affordable configuration.
SEG Automotive’s experience with ebikes to date
As mentioned briefly at the beginning of this article, SEG Automotive is not a newcomer to the ebike market. Since the end of 2023, Spanish bicycle brand BH Bikes has been equipping some of its ebikes with motors from the manufacturer. However, this is a drive system called BHZ. At its heart is a mid-drive motor that is smaller and lighter than the BMM 85 Hypershift. Weighing 2.1 kilograms, it generates a torque of 65 Newton metres and delivers 500 watts at peak power. Control units, an intube battery with 630 watt hours and a range extender with 180 watt hours complete the ebike system. BH Bikes currently uses BHZ in e-mountain bikes, trekking ebikes, e-road bikes and e-gravel bikes.
Pictures: BH Bikes Europe, S.L.; Octagon E-bike solutions B.V.; SEG Automotive Germany GmbH