Home / Guides / Every e-bike drive-system maker
Every e-bike drive-system maker
The companies that make the motor at the heart of an e-bike, each with its own drive units, torque ratings and battery ecosystem.
Why the motor maker decides everything
On an e-bike the drive-system maker, not the frame brand, decides which battery, charger and spare parts will fit. Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha, Brose, Bafang, Fazua and Mahle each build a closed ecosystem where the pack is proprietary to the motor. Knowing which of them powers your bike is the first step to buying anything for it.
Each page below lists that maker's published drive units, their torque ratings and how its batteries are matched to the system, with sources.
Mid-drives versus lightweight systems
The makers split into two camps. Full-power mid-drives from Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha, Brose and Bafang mount the motor at the cranks and quote high torque, around 85 to 95 Nm, for climbing and cargo use. Lightweight systems from Fazua and Mahle put a smaller motor in the frame or rear hub, quote lower torque, and prioritise a light bike with a natural feel over maximum power.
Which camp your bike is in shapes everything from the size of the battery to how the bike rides, so the maker page tells you what to expect before you look for parts.
One closed ecosystem per maker
A recurring theme across every maker is that batteries do not cross brands, and often do not even cross generations within a brand. A Bosch pack will not power a Shimano motor, and a Bosch smart-system pack will not run an older Bosch eBike System 2 bike. Each maker page explains that maker's battery families and the compatibility traps specific to it, so you buy the exact pack the system will accept.
Find the exact part that fits your e-bike
Open the Fit My E-bike toolBattery, charger and adapter by drive systemFind e-bike battery on eBayaffiliateRelated
Sources: Manufacturer specifications, e-bike statute and government guidance, cited on each linked page