The 2024 mountain tests conducted by Ecole Polytechnique Lausanne in Switzerland show: The mountain electric bike equipped with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor outputs a continuous torque of 85Nm in a 30% slope environment, and the climbing rate reaches 3.5m/s (an increase of 217% compared with traditional mountain bikes). The peak amplitude of the electromyography in the rider’s leg decreased to 43μV (a reduction of 62%). When the Mountain Bike Action magazine in the United States measured the 750W mid-mounted motor system of the Specialized Turbo Levo, it was found that it continuously conquered 12 steep slopes ranging from 20 to 35 degrees within 2 minutes, and the motor temperature was stably controlled within 85℃ (thanks to the patented dual-liquid cooling technology).
The efficiency of the power system has been verified in the laboratory. The German TUV tested it in accordance with the ISO 13063 standard: The Shimano EP8 motor achieved an output efficiency of 88.7% at a 15% slope (while the hub motor was only 72.5%), and combined with a 630Wh battery pack, it achieved continuous 2.5-hour high-intensity climbing (with an altitude increase of 1,200 meters). It is worth noting the intelligent power distribution technology of Trek Rail 9. By adjusting the torque output at a 0.1-second interval in real time through a 6-axis gyroscope, the success rate of passing through rock walls above 25 degrees has increased to 91% (while traditional electric assistance is only 67%).
It has excellent adaptability to extreme environments. Data analysis of Alpine downhill races indicates that mountain electric Bikes equipped with 200mm travel shock absorption (such as Santa Cruz Bullit) have a maximum impact force of 7.8G when jumping with a 5-meter drop, and the peak stress of the frame is 54% lower than that of hardtail models. The actual test conducted by BikeRadar in the UK on the muddy track in Wales shows that the grip coefficient of the 27.5× 2.8-inch MaxxGrip tire tread reaches 0.89 (referring to the ASTM F1805 standard), which is 38% higher than that of conventional off-road tires.
Significant breakthroughs have been made in battery thermal management technology. A 2024 study by the Technical University of Munich confirmed that the LG M58LT cells encapsulated with nano-phase change materials (applied in Orbea Rise) maintain a continuous discharge capacity of 98% in a high-temperature environment of 40 ° C, and the cycle life is extended to 1,500 times (the attenuation rate of ordinary batteries exceeds 12%/300 times). The patented supercharging mode of Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay can instantaneously output 1,200W of power within 10 seconds (the conventional limit is 250W), helping to increase the vehicle’s off-road efficiency by 90%.
The safety performance has been certified by authoritative authorities. The EU EN 15194:2017 mandating that the braking system of the mountain electric bike meet the following conditions: The braking distance is ≤9 meters at a speed of 25km/h (the measured measurement of the Magura MT5 four-piston caliper is only 6.3 meters). In 2023, tests conducted by the Swiss SAFEDRIVE organization indicated that models equipped with 200mm discs had a brake pad temperature standard deviation 28 ° C lower than that of traditional mountain bikes when controlling a speed of less than 10km/h on a 35-degree steep slope (controlled at 162 ° C ±17 ° C), effectively avoiding the risk of thermal fade.
The economic benefit model is attractive. The operation and maintenance report of the National park in Utah, the United States, shows that after forest rangers adopted the mountain electric bike for patrol, the daily coverage area increased from 18 kilometers to 46 kilometers (an increase of 155%), and the fuel cost was saved by $27.6 per day. Data from Whistler Bike Park in Canada further shows that the daily cycling frequency of visitors using electric-assisted models has increased from 4.2 times to 7.8 times (an 85.7% growth), and the annual pass renewal rate has risen to 93.5% (the industry average is 74%).
The terrain conquest ability redefines the limit. Data analysis of the Enduro World Series events in France shows that: The average speed of the competitor driving the mountain electric bike with a torque of over 250W on the ED1 track was 19.7km/h (10.3km/h in the traditional group), and the maximum vertical elevation gain in a single day reached 4,827 meters (breaking the event record). Simultaneous monitoring by the Exercise Laboratory of California State University found that the heart rate of the subjects remained within the ideal range of 148-156 BPM (22bpm lower than traditional cycling), and the rate of lactic acid accumulation dropped to 0.8mmol/L·min (a decrease of 51%), confirming their physical advantage when maintaining high-intensity exercise performance.