E-Performance: The automotive supplier and manufacturer of e-bike drives Brose and the connectivity expert Comodule are presenting the Brose Connected Drive, a coordinated, plug-and-play solution for e-bike sharing for the first time. They combine the proven Brose Drive C drive with a connectivity module that was specially developed for the needs of fleet operators. Maintenance, service and organization can be carried out decentrally and automatically via remote access. With the combination of high-quality drive technology and an open cloud platform, both partners offer a simple and customizable solution for the future market of micromobility.
Brose Connected Drive: The advantages at a glance
– High-quality, Brose drives and digital real-time networking
– Low integration effort thanks to plug-and-play
– Remote access via Comodule cloud interface ensures easy management
– Developed for fleet operations and compatible with common fleet management tools
– Individual configuration options for every application
In the fleet operation of sharing providers, connectivity solutions are often used, which are very complex to develop and maintain. Brose Connected Drive reduces this effort with coordinated components that can be conveniently installed via plug-and-play. It is aimed at operators of e-bike fleets such as sharing providers, large companies or municipal utilities who want to offer their customers urban electric mobility at low cost. "The Brose Connected Drive offers fleet operators the reliability of the system components as well as intuitive digital functions that the COMODULE platform enables - i.e. remote access, remote maintenance and software updates," explains Horst Schuster, Head of Marketing and Sales at Brose Antriebstechnik.
Brose Connected Drive: digital interface with cellular technology
The connection between the fleet operator and his e-bikes is provided by a COMODULE connectivity module in the bike frame that is connected to the Brose Drive C and has a standardized digital programming interface (API). In this way, the e-bikes can be quickly and individually integrated into established fleet management systems. “The reliable, location-independent real-time connection to the e-bikes is crucial for professional fleet management. The bikes are therefore equipped with their own SIM card for mobile internet," explains Sven Bernhardt, Sales Manager at Brose's development partner COMODULE.
An online platform provides the fleet operator with real-time data on the status of the bike, regardless of location - for example position, charge status, charging cycles or error codes. Firmware updates can be conveniently carried out remotely. A geofencing function ensures that a loan process is only possible within a previously defined area and that, for example, the speed in the inner city area can be individually limited. In addition, the fleet operator can make further adjustments to the motor control - for example in terms of response or support level - and react flexibly to local requirements.
The heart is the drive Brose Drive C in the aluminum or magnesium variant. "The technology has already proven itself in several hundred thousand e-bikes and is therefore ideally suited to the increased requirements in the rental business," emphasizes Horst Schuster. With its low power consumption and the harmonious driving experience typical of Brose, the Brose Drive C meets the high requirements here.
It will be exciting to see which bikes and which fleet providers use the solution. We will keep you up to date.