Shimano is bringing the second generation to the bikes after the E8000 motor, and this one is packed with new features. Many of the features of the Shimano EP8 lie in its more powerful yet lighter construction, smoother pedaling, neatly integrated and noise-reduced drive unit, which should also manage to keep cooling more efficient and offer improved handling over its predecessors.

The new system follows Shimano's long-standing e-biking principles of creating a natural riding experience with controllable high performance. The system is packed into a complete Shimano package.

Drive unit

The new EP8 drive unit (DU-EP800) is capable of delivering 85 Nm of torque to conquer the toughest trails and steepest climbs. This 21% increase in performance compared to the previous Shimano STEPS E8000 model is accompanied by a weight reduction of 300g to 2.6kg (10% reduction) thanks to a new magnesium drive housing. This low weight and high peak performance make it one of the best drive units in its class in terms of power-to-weight ratio.

This increased performance is also not at the expense of the background noise. On the contrary, the new drive unit of the EP8 is quieter and works at the same level as the E7000 motor.

In addition, the smaller magnesium housing of the drive unit has improved heat conduction properties with redesigned internal parts - optimized gear structure and new so-called EW-SD300 wires - to support cooling and improve performance when operating at maximum torque on long, steep climbs.

The drive unit housing is also more closely matched to the smooth lines and angles of bike frames, which improves ground clearance and, together with the internal batteries, makes Shimano EP8-equipped bikes impressively stylish packages.

All of these factors should result in a natural and refined power delivery through a lighter, quieter, more compact and more powerful motor with less pedaling resistance and a 20% greater range.

The EP8 drive unit runs with a Q-factor of 177 mm and has its own cranks, which are available in a new length of 160 mm and also ub 165/170/175 mm.

The system is typically equipped with Shimano's new XTR/XT/SLX/Deore 12-speed drivetrain with Dynamic Chain Engagement+ (12-speed) and three chainring options (34T/36T/38T).

DU-EP800 uses the same frame mounting pattern as DU-E8000 and DU-7000, meaning manufacturers can use the same frame design between multiple Shimano drivetrain models.

Shimano EP8 is also compatible with mechanical shifting systems (9/10/11/12-speed), Di2 (11-speed) and hub shifting systems (11/8/7/5-speed). In particular, EP8 is fully compatible with the recently introduced NEXUS Inter-5, making the powerful Shimano internal gear hub for city & trekking bikes a reality.

A new derailleur (CD-EM800) is also available. The new, mud-resistant design offers additional chain management and is compatible with 11- and 12-speed Shimano STEPS setups with 56.5 mm or 53 mm chainlines thanks to an adjustable distance between the guide and chain.

The system can be switched on via buttons on the computer, the battery or a button in the frame (EW-SW300), which is usually located on the top tube.

Controls on the handlebars: computer and switch

The EP8 computer screen (SC-EM800) shares many external similarities with the familiar E8000 computer screen, but with a new feature that allows riders to switch between customizable profiles. It has a 1.6-inch color screen, which is said to be readable even in bright sunshine, and with its compact and flat housing is suitable for demanding mountain bike trail conditions.

The SC-EM800 computer communicates wirelessly via Bluetooth with Shimano's E-Tube Project app, allowing riders to change drive unit characteristics on the fly while riding. The SC-EM800 can also communicate with third-party bike computers via ANT to display gear and battery information.

To operate the drive unit, riders can use the EP8's new SW-EM800-L drive unit assist switch. This allows riders to switch between the support modes 'Off', 'Eco', 'Trail' and 'Boost' as well as the Walk Assist mode. The switch has a new shape with concave buttons with a wider input range, making them easier to press and control. The shifter comes in Shimano's I-Spec design standard, which makes it compatible with dropper post levers (e.g. Shimano's SL-MT800-IL). Alternatively, the drive unit assist switch can be removed completely if riders prefer to change assist modes via their EW-EN100 toggle switch.

Removing the shifter, however, completely eliminates the possibility of the very practical walk assist function found on all Shimano Steps systems. This has been updated for the EP8 Mechanical systems to create an intelligent walk assist mode. A double press of the assist switch on the drive unit causes the pedals to turn and the bike to ride forwards at 4km/h, regardless of which gear the bike is in.

And the batteries?

Battery options include the new Shimano batteries that were launched in May 2020, the two 630Wh batteries, the BT-E8016 down tube battery and the BT-E8036 internal battery or the smaller but faster-charging 504Wh BT-E8035-L internal battery. Like their predecessors, the Steps batteries are extremely durable according to Shimano and require up to 1000 full charge cycles before they drop to 60 percent of their original capacity, which in many cases is longer than the average ownership of a bike.

And this is what the software can do

Refining the EP8 software is the other half of Shimano's formula for a more natural-feeling e-mountain bike. This has been achieved through adjustments to the three support levels and the customizability of these modes. Boost mode now peaks at 85Nm of torque, which is achieved when the rider's input torque is low.

Trail mode also reaches 85Nm, but it is also more responsive to rider input, either conserving battery power at low input torques or riding the power output up quickly to reach the maximum output of 85Nm at around 60Nm of input torque. This is much earlier than its predecessor, and it is this smarter assist ratio algorithm that makes Trail mode so versatile that you can forget about switching modes for the most part.

Eco mode peaks at 30Nm, which is achieved in a similarly responsive way. Aside from the increased range, Eco mode can of course also be used to give riders a workout if they wish.

In addition, unassist by motor is highly customizable, both at home and while riding via the E-Tube Projec app, giving riders more control over how and where they ride. Boost, trail and eco modes can be customized with ten different levels, torque can be set between 20 and 85 Nm, five levels of launch assist are available, and these can be set for different rider profiles for different types of rides (e.g. high performance/extreme rides, occasional endurance rides, etc.) or different riders. All this information can be saved as preferences in the rider profiles, for example a battery-saving commuting mode and a high-performance climbing mode, and riders can easily switch between these modes via the computer display

Meanwhile, an updated E-Tube Ride app can be used by e-bike riders to view all their ride information on a smartphone display. The on-screen display options show ride info in Eco, Trail and Boost modes, as well as newly added features such as ride history, live maps and user-friendly graphical updates.

Both the E-Tube Project app and the E-Tube Ride app will be available to download from iPhone or Android app stores from September 1st and are fully compatible with Shimano EP8. Alternatively, you can access the apps via this link: https://www.Shimano-steps.com/e-bikes/europe/en/service/E-tube.

When will the EP8 drive unit be available?

Shimano EP8 is the name of the system, but of course it needs a bike to realize its unique features. Over the course of fall 2020, we can expect to see e-mountainbikes from numerous manufacturers that have the EP8 system installed.

bike.shimano.com