Bosch has introduced software that lets riders electronically tag their ebikes if they have been stolen, alerting future buyers.

At this month’s CES in Las Vegas, Bosch presented software that adds another layer of digital theft protection to its smart system. In the future, stolen ebikes and batteries can be marked as stolen in the eBike Flow app. This will be available free of charge in the app from the end of this month.

If an ebike or a battery is marked as stolen, it can be identified as such throughout Bosch’s entire digital ecosystem. This makes reselling the ebike difficult and increases the chances of the owner getting the bike back.

Buyers of used ebikes, dealers and public authorities are sent a warning when they attempt to connect to the ebike via the eBike Flow app. This includes the serial numbers of the components that are marked as stolen. In addition, the connection with the app is permanently blocked. It is no longer possible for the ebike to receive over-the-air updates or for custom riding modes to be selected. Dealers also receive a warning in the DiagnosticTool software from Bosch (www.bosch-ebike.com) when they connect the ebike for servicing.

This is made possible by the digital allocation principle used by the smart system. All the components of an ebike – the motor, the battery and the display – have a unique registration in the system and are linked to a specific user profile. If the user marks their ebike or battery as stolen, this information is stored centrally and can be accessed from anywhere in the digital ecosystems. The app, diagnostic tool and Bosch ebike support all use the same data. The digital marking can only be removed via the registered user profile.

This function is an addition to Bosch’s theft protection portfolio. The first theft protection functions were introduced in 2018 and the portfolio, which includes a lock, alarm and battery lock, now offers an additional layer of protection. This makes stealing ebikes even less attractive and represents a step towards Bosch’s mission of preventing all thefts of ebikes with the help of its smart system.

In addition to its theft protection for private use, Bosch is also expanding its range for commercial users. This is because ebike sharing providers, rental firms and company fleets need active control options, for example if ebikes are not returned. The Bosch ConnectModule (help.bosch-ebike.com/us/help-center/ebw-bcm) allows motor support to be deactivated remotely.

Commercial users also have direct access to operating data via a cloud interface, including battery level, range forecast, service intervals, maintenance requirements, GPS position if tracking is activated and usage statistics. This can be integrated into existing fleet management systems and play a role in the growing market of professional ebike fleets. The extended control functions are available immediately to commercial users.