The bicycle is one of the most sustainable means of transport there is. Because of the very low utilisation of material and vehicle weight, it enables flexible, emission-free, quiet and climate-friendly mobility. What's more, regular cycling is also good for your health. 

The eBike is the next evolutionary step in cycling. It permits longer trips, further distances and overcoming greater differences in altitude. Overall, eBikes significantly expand the possibilities of use without significantly altering any characteristics, or CO2 emissions in the production, of the eBike compared to the bicycle. This is the case even though more energy is required for the battery and drive system than for the bicycle, especially in production. But eBikers increasingly use their electric bikes in everyday life, often as an alternative to cars and other means of transport. Furthermore, eBikers use their eBikes two to three times more often and travel significantly longer distances. In addition, the required energy consumption is very low, averaging around 7 Wh of electricity per kilometre travelled. 

The average power consumption of an eBike with a Bosch eBike system is about 7Wh/km. This value results from the R200 range test for pedelecs with a Bosch eBike system.

Looking at the CO2 emissions caused through electricity consumption, the average CO2 value is 2-5 g/km, depending on the electricity mix. When charging with green electricity, eBike use even completely eliminates CO2 emissions. In comparison, according to the Federal Environment Agency, a car accounts for around 150g CO2/passenger kilometre (Pkm) and public transport between 30 and 80g/Pkm CO2.

Together with TÜV Rheinland Energy GmbH, we have calculated and evaluated the product's carbon footprint according to ISO14067. Over the entire service life of an eBike (incl. all phases: from manufacturing, packaging, transport to use and recycling), the average CO2 footprint is 300 kg-CO2-eq.

This means that the footprint of an eBike is roughly twice that of a conventional bicycle. This is an average value, and it may differ, depending on the model. Over its entire service life, the eBike has an estimated carbon footprint of about 15-25 g/km, depending on the total mileage travelled. If we consider the pure use phase and therefore the emissions caused by electricity consumption, the average CO2 value is 2-5 g/km, depending on the energy mix.

Over the entire life cycle of an eBike (incl. all phases: from manufacturing, packaging, transport to use and recycling), the average CO2 footprint is 300 kg-CO2-eq. This means that the footprint of an eBike is roughly twice that of a conventional bicycle. This is an average value, and it may differ, depending on the model.
For an objective comparison, however, it must be taken into account that eBikers use their electric bike to a greater extent in everyday life and therefore frequently use it to replace a car or other means of transport. Moreover, eBikers use their eBikes two to three times more frequently and travel significantly longer distances.

Overall, an eBike has an average carbon footprint of 300 kg-CO2-eq. Around 120 kg-CO2-eq of this is attributable to the Bosch eBike system.
After only approx. 800 eBike kilometres, the emissions for the eBike system are amortised when travelling by eBike instead of by car, and the emissions for the entire eBike after 2000 eBike kilometres.
These figures are average values. They may differ depending on the model.

For Bosch, climate protection is an essential part of corporate responsibility. With its more than 400 locations worldwide, the Bosch Group has been carbon neutral overall (scopes 1 & 2) since 2020. We achieved carbon neutrality by using four levers: increasing energy efficiency, generating our own energy from renewable sources (new clean power), purchasing electricity from renewable sources (green electricity), and – as a last resort – offsetting residual CO2 emissions. In 2022, residual emissions of 0.7 million tons of CO2 were offset through carbon credits. Scopes 1, 2, 3 are used according to the  Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard.
Sustainability also plays a central role at Bosch eBike Systems and is part of the corporate strategy. At Bosch eBike systems, we are particularly committed to three strategic pillars of the global sustainability strategy:

• minimizing the carbon footprint of our products,
• responsibility and transparency in the supply chains and
• the development of a functioning recycling economy.

More information can be found  here.

Cities face huge challenges in the 21st century. The world's population is growing, resources are dwindling, and our climate is changing. Solutions are required. E-mobility can make a significant contribution to sustainable city development and a liveable urban environment. Pedelecs in particular offer great opportunities. They help save resources as well as reducing emissions.  Pedelecs are an effective and efficient means of transport, particularly over short distances. People who ride eBikes get around faster, cheaper and with less environmental impact. Pedelecs have great potential in terms of transport policy, especially in urban areas. 

Every time we develop a new product or enhance an existing one, we look at how we can reduce the impact of our products on the environment over their entire life cycle. A major factor here is the consistent reduction in the use of materials - we always develop and design subsequent generations of our components to be smaller, more compact and lighter. By reducing the number of parts, we cut down the amount of material required: fewer raw materials are needed and the effort involved in development and production is significantly simplified. One example of this is the reduction in the weight of our drive units. The Performance Line CX in the Bosch eBike system 2 has achieved weight savings of approx. 25% compared to the previous model. By standardising our products and limiting the number of variants and parts, we can scale the manufacturing processes, leading to a reduction in the energy required per part. Further examples can be found in our packaging strategy. Since September 2020, our drives have been delivered to our customers in sustainable moulded fibre packaging. Following extensive safety testing, we were also able to eliminate the use of plastic outer packaging for our PowerTube batteries, saving about a quarter of the CO2 emissions for this packaging.

As a division of Bosch, Bosch eBike Systems is integrated into overall company's plant network. The components for our eBike systems are developed at the Bosch eBike Systems headquarters in Reutlingen, Germany. The drives and the batteries are produced and consolidated at the Bosch plant in Miskolc, Hungary. Most of the production and consolidation of the batteries also takes place at the Bosch plant in Miskolc, Hungary, and some in Penang, Malaysia.

Bosch eBike Systems does not purchase any raw materials such as lithium, but buys them as part of the cells from lithium-ion cell suppliers. A key pillar of the sustainability activities in the eBike area is a transparent supply chain that enables comprehensive tracing of so-called critical raw materials. Comprehensive information on the supply chain through to material procurement, is requested from our cell suppliers and traced. In general, our suppliers have to meet stringent requirements based on the principles of the UN Global Compact, the core International Labour Organization (ILO) standards and other more stringent Bosch standards.

The use of materials with recycled content is examined in every development project and critically reviewed, particularly with regard to product requirements and safety standards. We will also continue to drive this forward in the future. The current status is that the proportion of recycled materials in eBike components is still low. The material mix in our products is designed for the specific application and therefore must meet high requirements in terms of strength and durability. Optimised reliability and reproducibility. In the case of packaging materials, we examine how the material mix can be designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible in order to reduce the use of disposable packaging, for example, and to continuously increase the use of sustainable packaging materials and reusable packaging. One example can be found in our packaging strategy. Since September 2020, our drives have been delivered to our customers in moulded fibre packaging.

The ability to retrofit and repair are key issues in the context of sustainable product development, and therefore an important part of our sustainability strategy.
Maintenance and minor repairs to the drive unit can be carried out by specialist dealers. This can include, for example, use of a drive unit repair kit, relubrication or the replacement or retrofitting of bearing protection rings. If a major fault is detected, the motor will be picked up from the dealer by Bosch. In some cases, we remanufacture the drive units during a service case. This means that the drives that qualify following appropriate testing are reconditioned and, after an "end-of-line" test, are made available to the customer again with full functionality.
However, we also always consider repair concepts in the context of product safety. For Bosch eBike Systems, the safety and reliability of its products are paramount. Thus, if a product is damaged, it may be that a repair is not feasible under these aspects. In such cases it is necessary to replace the entire product. It is important to Bosch to find the best possible solution, so that the eBiker can use their bike quickly again and continue to enjoy it for a long time.

Cylindrical lithium-ion cells are used in Bosch eBike batteries. The cell technology is very similar to the cells used in some electric vehicles. About 5,000-8,000 cylindrical cells are used in an electric car, compared to just 40 to 60 for the most common eBike batteries. Therefore, one electric car corresponds to an average of about 130 eBikes in terms of the number of cells used.

The lithium-ion cells used in Bosch eBike batteries are state of the art. Currently, cobalt is still required: Cobalt is responsible for high energy density in battery cells and thus improves the performance of the battery. Together with our suppliers, we are working on further developing the battery cell technology in order to continuously reduce the proportion of critical raw materials such as cobalt in eBike batteries. Since 2013, the cobalt content in the cathode has already been reduced by 65%.

You can hand in your old or defective eBike battery free of charge to any bicycle retailer, who will recycle it in an environmentally friendly way. No purchase of a new battery is required to do so.

Please note that heavily damaged batteries should not be touched with bare hands, as electrolyte may leak out, causing skin irritation. Please keep any defective batteries in a safe place outdoors, with the contacts taped off, and take them to your bicycle retailer for proper disposal as quickly as possible.

The first priority for our products, including our batteries, is a safe design. High quality and safety standards enable robustness and durability. Optimally adapted cell specification, and lifetime-optimising electronics, help maximise the service life and energy throughput of the battery, thus ensuring the most sustainable deployment of the materials used. With appropriate use and treatment, the distance covered by a Bosch eBike battery during its service life can reach up to 60,000 km. In order to keep the ecological impact of the batteries low, we try to keep the proportion of so-called critical raw materials in the cells as low as possible when developing of the products while at the same time increasing the proportion of recycled materials, while complying with safety requirements. Since 2013, for example, the cobalt content in the cathode of battery cells has already been reduced by 65%. Furthermore, by supporting our cell suppliers, we ensure that we can trace the entire supply chain to ensure more socially responsible extraction of raw materials.

Some providers claim they can recondition batteries. Bosch strongly advises against this because the safety, and optimum interaction with the Battery Management System, cannot be guaranteed in this case. In addition to the safety risk opening or modifying the battery may void warranty or guarantee claims.

Before buying a Bosch eBike battery you can check whether information is available for the relevant battery serial number.

You will find an eBike battery check  here.

Our batteries are specially designed and certified for use with eBikes. We cannot guarantee reliable operation in other application areas.
Therefore, we strongly discourage second use and consider the proper return of defective or used lithium-ion batteries for recycling to be the best method. New recycling processes recover valuable raw materials to a large extent, so that they can be used to produce new cells. In addition, the recycling processes are considered to be environmentally friendly and provide a positive CO2 balance through the recovery of raw materials.

When a battery has reached the end of its life, it must be disposed of appropriately. The GRS battery return system operates in Germany. We urge the users of our eBike systems to take defective or disused batteries to their local specialist dealer, who will ensure that they are disposed of in the appropriate manner. Recycling is free for eBikers and dealers.
Appropriate recycling practices save resources and valuable materials are returned to the raw materials cycle. This means that raw materials such as aluminium, copper, cobalt or nickel can be recovered with high recycling efficiency and made available for new products.

The legal basis for recycling is regulated at national level. Responsibility for recycling lies with the battery manufacturer. However, as soon as the eBike crosses a national border as a product, the importer automatically becomes the manufacturer. In countries outside Germany, this is the bicycle manufacturer or bicycle retailer. Because of this national aspect, Bosch eBike Systems can only provide a direct solution for battery recycling in Germany. In all other markets in which we are active, e.g. the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, we provide our customers with the best possible support in this regard, and promote country-wide industry solutions if these don't yet exist in some areas.

Bosch eBike Systems is in contact with many recycling companies and supports new and sustainable recycling methods. The efficiency of recovery depends on the recycling process. New recycling processes can have a recycling efficiency of over 90%.