Bosch E-Bike Batteries, Explained: Everything You Need to Know

Written by: Rémy Rossi | May 23, 2025 | Time to read 5 min

Bosch is the gold standard when it comes to batteries and motors on electric bikes. It even goes beyond the stereotypical superiority of German engineering— Bosch is undoubtedly one of the best e-Bike battery manufacturers out there, with a company reputation that reaches back over a century. Here’s your comprehensive guide to Bosch’s family of top-quality batteries for electric bikes. 

Let’s zoom out. Bosch doesn’t just do batteries (or e-Bikes for that matter). Bosch makes electrical components like drive units, displays, control units, chargers, and an e-Bike app which combine to constitute the entire e-Bike system. The thing is that Bosch now has two e-Bike systems: the smart system and Bosch e-Bike System 2.

Bosch’s newest and most advanced e-Bike system, the smart system was introduced in 2021. All components of the system are connected to the eBike Flow app, which unlocks a whole range of new functions and controls, including an optional e-Bike alarm. And as additional functions are released, riders can upload them to the e-Bike via the app.

If your control unit looks like one of these, you have the second-generation Bosch smart system:

There are several categories of batteries in the Bosch e-Bike systems. The main types are: the PowerPack (frame battery), PowerPack rack (rack battery), and the PowerTube (integrated battery). There’s also the CompactTube and options for extended range, including Dual Batteries and a Range Extender add-on.

The number in the battery’s name refers to the capacity in watt-hours— for example, the PowerTube 600.

All PowerPacks are visibly mounted on the outside of the bike with different battery locations. Removal is simple, and charging can be done easily on or off the bike. You cannot switch between battery types, but you can replace a battery that’s the same model— for example, PowerPack Frame for PowerPack Frame or PowerTube for PowerTube.

PowerPack Frame batteries are externally mounted to the e-Bike’s seat tube or downtube. There’s a carrying handle for convenience and LED indicators that show remaining charge.
PowerPack Frame batteries of the smart system use the same mount so they can be interchanged, even between models with different capacities, if you want to reduce weight or increase range. 

These Bosch batteries are located on or under the rear rack. This rearward position moves the battery off the frame, which is especially common for step-through e-Bikes and city e-Bikes. The battery is super easy to remove, and the high position stays farther away from water splashes or ground debris.

PowerTube batteries are integrated into the frame, blending perfectly into the sleek design of the e-Bike. A safety latch prevents the batteries from falling out, and they can still be easily removed when desired. The PowerTube is especially common on performance models such as electric mountain bikes and road e-Bikes.

There are two types of PowerTube batteries, depending on orientation: Vertical and Horizontal. However, the Horizontal variant is extremely rare and typically only on high-end e-Bikes with a dual battery setup. It’s much more common for the PowerTube to be integrated inside the downtube.

The new PowerTube 600 and PowerTube 800 in the smart system are generally interchangeable if the e-Bike manufacturer allows for it. There are PowerTube 500, 600, 625, 750, and 800 sizes.

For even sleeker integration, there’s the CompactTube. The 400 Wh battery only weighs around 2 kilograms and is used on lightweight e-MTBs, gram-saving gravel e-Bikes, and minimalist hybrid e-Bikes. 

There are also Bosch battery options for electric bikes that require extra juice.

Bosch-equipped e-Bikes can have dual batteries. This is most common on cargo e-Bikes that need extended range to compensate for the energy strain from the added weight of the payload. Bosch specifies which batteries can be combined, though e-Bike manufacturers do this work when designing the bike anyway.

Bosch makes a Range Extender battery pack that can complement your e-Bike’s main battery. The PowerMore 250 is the size of a water bottle and mounts where a bottle cage would be in the main frame triangle, supplying extra juice for those long outings. Ask your bike shop or specialist dealer if you can use the Range Extender for your e-Bike.

Range anxiety is an issue many e-Bike riders encounter. Will your e-Bike have enough juice to get you to work and back all week without needing a charge? How does the capacity (given in Wh) relate to the power of your motor? And does it impact things if you’re carrying extra weight on the bike?
 
To help ease these worries, Bosch has developed a seriously cool e-Bike battery range calculator. This neat tool lets you customize the metrics according to your specific setup, expected terrain, riding mode, and more to calculate the estimated range.

Looking to add some extra range and flexibility to your rides? You’re in luck! Upway sells brand-new Bosch batteries for those looking to have a spare on hand.