What does maximum power mean in the context of drive units?

Maximum mechanical power (also called peak power) describes the maximum power that the motor can call up for a short time under optimum conditions (e.g. sufficiently charged battery), for example on climbs.
The duration depends on several factors, such as the cooling of the eBike components, the charge level of the battery and the outside temperature. By calling up the maximum power, the eBike components continue to heat up, which means that the maximum power cannot be called up permanently to protect the components.