Rumors, from the inside

[Jeremy McCreary]

Specialized has never let an e-bike motor manufacturer to become its master.

That may be true, but an ebike operating system is a very complicated thing, and I'm not sure they could work their Turbo OS magic with just any old mid-drive motor — like the HPR40 for example.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

That may be true, but an ebike operating system is a very complicated thing, and I'm not sure they could work their Turbo OS magic with just any old mid-drive motor — like the HPR40 for example.

The point is, the architecture of the e-bike system must be such Specialized could include the e-bike into the Specialized app, and the motor manufacturer would accept the dominating role of Specialized per agreement. So Specialized could build its own infrastructure around the motor. TQ provide their own complete solution like Bosch.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

The point is, the architecture of the e-bike system must be such Specialized could include the e-bike into the Specialized app, and the motor manufacturer would accept the dominating role of Specialized per agreement. So Specialized could build its own infrastructure around the motor. TQ provide their own complete solution like Bosch.

So then the question becomes, are there lightweight motors out there that Specialized could put in a lightweight e-road bike without drastic modifications to either the motor or its Turbo OS? Or would they have to collaborate to develop their own motor, as they did with Brose and Mahle?

If the latter, that would be an impediment to entering such a niche market.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

We know nothing. Specialized 3.1 motor had come as a big surprise.