Exploring by e-bike
How Bosch’s Performance Line PX is redefining long-distance e-trekking adventures
A large pannier is attached to the bike on both sides, with another one on the luggage rack. Even from a distance, you can see that Daniel Schwenk is carrying a lot on his trekking bike. But after what was a tough ascent, there’s not a single bead of sweat on his face. It’s hardly surprising — the 45-year-old has worked hard to achieve this. Not only in the gym, but above all at Bosch eBike Systems, where Daniel Schwenk is the product manager responsible for a new drive unit that makes electrically assisted long-distance and multi-day cycling even more comfortable. We’re talking about the Performance Line PX.
“The market for e-trekking is constantly growing,” says Schwenk, who is responsible for the overall strategy of the new product. “And we see even more potential in the coming years.” A look at the German key market confirms this — according to data from the industry association ZIV, e-trekking bikes are now the second-best selling category in the e-bike sector. Only electrically powered mountain bikes (eMTBs) are in higher demand.
“We monitor the market closely and track how our drive units are received,“ adds Claus Fleischer, CEO of eBike Systems who himself loves spending days at a time out on his bike. So far, the popular Performance Line CX — originally developed for eMTBs — has proven extremely versatile. “That’s why we saw the need for an additional drive unit designed specifically for trekking and adventure tours.”
Special requirements
That was more than three years ago — when the trend was at the beginning of a new development. Today, the team went on a test ride starting from their own doorstep in Reutlingen, at the foot of the Swabian Jura. The team always tests new drive units themselves. “That’s when I get to enjoy my hobby as part of my job,” says Daniel Schwenk, with a laugh.
Long rides — sometimes on asphalt, sometimes on gravel or forest paths — often lasting several days, and involving heavy luggage. Sometimes they take place under the blazing sun of Spain, other times in Norway’s rugged countryside. E-trekking bikes need to meet special requirements and be as quiet as possible. Noise is much more disruptive on long journeys, where you spend hours in the saddle, than on short, intense trails or brief trips through noisy city traffic.
Tested in rugged terrain
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Swiss cyclist Santina Malacarne also appreciates this. In addition to mountain bikes and racing bikes, she also regularly gets on her e-bike — especially when she embarks on adventures with heavy luggage. That’s why she took the new Performance Line PX to the mountains of Andalusia in March.
“I always want my riding experience to be sporty — and that includes when I’m riding e-bikes,” says the 33-year-old, who regularly takes part in cycling competitions. “With the new Bosch drive unit, I can do technically demanding multi-day tours with luggage and enjoy spectacular scenery at the same time.” There was plenty of both for Malacarne: her e-bike trekking route took her through the Gorafe Desert, a spectacular semi-desert landscape shaped by erosion, featuring ochre-colored badlands, ravines, and fairy chimneys, often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Andalusia.”
Technical challenge
“The biggest technical challenge was to develop a powerful drive unit which operates quietly,” explains Roman Braig, also responsible for the new Performance Line PX as product manager. How did they achieve this? “We use a slow-turning motor that has a two-stage gearbox with optimized gear surfaces,” he says. “This provides cyclists with quiet support, barely perceptible even during extended tours or with fluctuating loads.” Bosch currently offers one of the quietest drive units in this market. “We are setting standards here.”
And the market seems to agree. “Every second customer already has the Performance Line PX in their portfolio, even in the first year” says Schwenk. “More will follow.” It is already installed in 150 e-bike models. The drive unit has been available in Bosch-relevant markets worldwide since July 2025 — from Europe and South Africa to Norway and North America. One of the first customers was the Dutch company Accel Group, which has installed the new drive unit in numerous e-bikes, including models from the brands Haibike, Ghost, and Lapierre.
“We are definitely seeing a trend towards long trekking tours on e-bikes,” says Nicolette Neupert, who is responsible for this product category at the Accel Group. “The Performance Line PX is the right solution for us because it’s compact, quiet, and reliably meets the requirements of the e-trekking sector — especially in terms of range.” That’s more than 200 kilometers in eco-mode, with a weight of 2.9 kilograms.
“The market for e-trekking bikes will continue to evolve dynamically and grow significantly in the future,” says Neupert. “It’s being driven by the increasing demand for sustainable mobility and technological progress in drive units and batteries — plus new user groups, including more and more younger riders.”
Big market demand
An analysis by the German Cyclists Association (ADFC) shows trekking bikes are now the most popular two-wheeler for both short and long tours. While only 18 percent of cycling trekkers used e-bikes in 2017, the latest ADFC analysis revealed that this has already reached 43 percent.
Product manager Schwenk confirms this trend. “E-trekking is particularly popular among people who have an active lifestyle and who are interested in day trips or multi-day excursions — but who want to enjoy nature rather than push themselves to the limit.” The target group is a broad one. “At IAA Mobility in Munich, a major mobility trade fair, around 80 percent of our booth visitors fit this description,” he says, laughing. “That clearly showed us where the gap in the market was.”
Performance Line PX
The Performance Line PX is a drive unit for demanding bike tours, weekend trips and extended bike-packing excursions. With a maximum output of 700 watts and a drive torque of 90 newton meters, it is perfectly suited for e-trekking bikes. Weighing just 2.9 kilograms, it is setting standards in its segment.
