ZF is best known as an automotive technology and supply company, boasting a history of developing both everyday components and cutting-edge innovations like and . The company also has a micro-mobility division, and from the looks of things, it's hoping to grow its name in the space. Its all-new ebike drive is centered around one of the most compact, inconspicuous electric motors in the biking game, boasting a 48-V electrical architecture, plenty of power and torque, and simple installation and removal.
ZF is introducing its new 48-V electric drive, identified in not-particularly-catchy fashion as the "ZF Bike Eco System," at Eurobike 2024, which kicked off on Wednesday. Obviously enough, it's a complete e-drive system that includes the motor, control hardware, app, cloud connection, and a battery pack with 504 or 756 Wh of capacity, depending on variant. The new CentriX motor and gearing unit is the heart of the system and its most interesting component.
At 12 x 9 cm (4.7 x 3.5 in, H x D) the cylindrical motor unit is only slightly larger than a can of soda (12 oz can = 12.
3 x 6.6 cm). It weighs in at just 2.
5 kg (5.5 lb), a full kilogram (2.2 lb) lighter than ZF's older Sachs RS ebike motor and in line with other ultralight, ultra-compact ebike mid-motors like the .
The CentriX is still about 700 grams (1.5 lb) heavier than the , a darling of light, fast ebike , but it doubles that motor's available power to a 600-W peak and nearly doubles max torque to 90 Nm (66 lb-ft), com.
