Several promising new technologies and innovations are likely to improve ebikes performance, durability, ease of use and even affordability. We synthetised what seems more relevant:
Battery and energy technologies
Battery improvement is by far the most decisive factor for advancing ebikes and sustainable mobility in general. Be it for cars, boats, airplanes and ebikes, battery performance is essential to produce efficient and affordable vehicles. Add to that the relevance of batteries for smart phones and portable computers, and you can figure how massively worldwide companies are investing to improve their batteries. Fortunately, progress made by batteries of a type of vehicles, e.g. cars, can benefit batteries for other kinds of vehicle, e.g. ebikes. Researchers and manufacturers are trying to improve batteries mostly in three ways:
- Increasing their energy density and capacity: for a single battery, market leaders like Bosch and Giant can now offer 800 Wh batteries weighing a little less than 4 kg. Nowadays, for Bosch and most of its competitors, the weight to power ratio of batteries has climbed to about 205Wh per kilogram (2024 Bosch PowerTube 800 Wh), whereas it was 178wh per kilograms 10 years ago (2014 Bosch PowerTube 625 Wh).
- Faster Charging: charging is also becoming faster and faster, although market leaders don’t exceed the threshold of 6Ah for their chargers. The exception is the Dji Avinox, offering a 12Ah charger for their recent drive. The quicker you charge actual lithium-ion batteries, the more you accelerate their wearing.
- Duration: if one respects some basic precautions, depending on using conditions, any ebike battery should keep at least the 70% of its capacity all the way from at least 10,000 up to 25,000 km.
For all the three above-mentioned points, two new technologies are standing out, that we have already written here about: solid-state batteries, and silicone anodes batteries. Roughly speaking, they boast double to tenfold energy density (and hence range ), charging speed and duration for their batteries. While the former is still in the development stage, the latter has already been deployed on light electric vehicles by Amprius Technology. Although hurdles are still to be overcome, they are both very promising, being supported by sound investments and research.
Other domains of battery & energy improvement
Battery Management Systems (BMS): improving BMS extends battery life, increases resistance to high and low temperatures and safety, also bettering charging and discharging cycles. What brings longer battery lifespan and improved performance.
Hydrogen propelled ebikes : in several respects, these ebikes could be a game changer, although they are way down the road, especially for mass adoption. Hurdles like the difficulty in implementing a hydrogen refueling network, the cost of hydrogen production and its troblesome and costly storage are still to be overcome. Nevertheless, we wrote here about a promising company, Hydroride, that already produces hydrogen ebikes that seem to be viable, if not for consumers, at least for fleets.
Supercapacitors: these devices can quickly store decent amounts of energy from braking, and promptly deliver it on demand. They are widely used in Europe to enable car engines to stop at a traffic light and quickly start without exhausting the battery. We wrote here about two ebike manufacturers, Pi-pop and Anod, which sell ebikes propulsed by supercapacitors, the former without any battery, the latter combined with a light 600g battery. Further developments in the pipeline, you bet.
Wireless charging: considering its costs, it’s not sure that it will be developed in the short to medium-term. It sure could be an advantage for easy charging in ebike parkings, for instance.

ZF-Centrix mid-motor, 90Nm for 2.5 kg
Motor technologies
About 96% of ebikes sold in Europe, in order to be unregistered, are subject to a 250 W and 25km/h power and speed limit. In the USA, all ebikes must top off at 20mph or 28mph. Therefore, it would be useless to increase motor power. Regarding torque, it seems like 85 Nm is a sort of gold standard, or a limit that leading manufacturers haven’t been exceeding in the last 10 years, and probably won’t in 2025. Torque output is already quite well harmonized with pedaling in the best mid motors, although we can expect further advancements even in the short term.
Progress will probably be made reducing electric energy consumption, for increasing battery range, and minimizing their size and weight. The aim to make them less cumbersome, improving ebike handling and more harmoniously integrating them into ebike frames. In this respect, the Dji Avinox equipped Amflow stands out with 105 Nm torque for a mere 2.5 kg of weight, and the ZF-Centrix mid-motor for its reduced size and pleasant round shape. For 250W legal motors in Europe, 120 Nm is the maximum, by the TQ HPR 120S, for 3.9 kg. Anyway, about ten years ago, in Europe, the best 250W ebike motors of quality brands like Bosch, Yamaha/Giant and Shimano delivered roughly 70 Nm of torque for 3 kg of weight, whereas nowadays they sport 85Nm for 2.8 kg. What improves the torque/weight ratio from 23.3 Nm/kg to 3.3 Nm/kg, a hefty 30% increase.
Other motor improvements will probably imply a more modular, flkexible power output. The Bosch Performance CX Gen5, for instance, enables bypassing obstacles as roots and rocks with a boost proportioned to the strenght of a pedal kick, and eases starting on steep climb. Dji Avinox, Fazua and others boost their power about 20% for few seconds, on demand.
We wrote here on motor integrated gearboxes, manual and automatic, notably Effigear and MGU Pinion. In the near term, we can expect new applications of this technology from competitors.

Fazua Remote Rx
Connectivity
Modern ebikes often feature smart displays that provide detailed information about speed, range, battery level, and other metrics such as heartbeat. Integration with smartphone apps allows for route planning, diagnostics, and firmware updates. Expect further progress, like Bosch just did. Their application now enables overviews for comparing your own physical performance and the performance of the motor as well as remote tracking of the charging process and charge. No more leaving your restaurant table or your office before your ebike is sufficiently charged.
GPS Integration: GPS navigation is becoming increasingly common, and will be further improved in the short term.
Connectivity for theft prevention: some ebikes incorporate features like GPS tracking and remote locking to help prevent theft. We can bet on future improvements.
Frame and component design
Improved suspension systems enhance comfort and control. Integration of components, such as internally routed cables and seamlessly integrated batteries, contributes to a cleaner aesthetic and improved durability. Brakes could also see important improvements. 2024 Magura IBS system, for instance, modulates braking power distributing it between front and rear brakes, improving efficiency, safety, and reducing stress.
AI and machine learning
While still t its beginnings, AI is being explored for features like predictive maintenance (anticipating potential component failures) and adaptive power assistance (some manufacturers, like Bosch, already use it for adapting motor assistance to terrain and pedaling).

AI can create futuristic ebike images, but not ebike projects. Notice the missing pedal.
Sustainability
Recycled materials are increasingly deployed in ebike production. Lithium-ion batteries are already recycled, although only around 5% , but recycling and use of more ecological materials are advancing.
Specific ebike types
Cargo ebikes continuously improve their load capacity and handling. Foldable ebikes are constantly bettered, now including foldable e-cargoes. Gravel and mountain ebikes see continuous improvements in shock absorbing and handling.
Progress is good, as long as we beware of ever-changing frenzy
Our ebike, no matter how old, is already a masterpiece of useful and durable technology. Let it give us all it can before jettisoning it for a new one. Many technological advancements are superfluous for many cyclists.
Images: Tern, Fazua, ZF
Lots of legal mid-drives are over 109nm’s. These include Ananda, Bafang, ToSeven, Dapu and Tongsheng. Few are under 8#’s, but some are as much as 140nm’s.
Hi Mark,
Yes, thank-you. For 250W legal European motors, 120 Nm is the maximum, by the TQ HPR 120S.
Luca