Peace of mind when buying pre-owned eBikes: Certified by Bosch creates trust in the second-hand market

Stuttgart/Reutlingen – Pre-owned or refurbished eBikes are becoming an increasingly attractive option for many people.¹ However, potential buyers are often unsure about the condition of pre-owned models and therefore want more transparency for peace of mind when making a purchase decision. With Certified by Bosch, Bosch eBike Systems is the first manufacturer of eBike drive systems to create a digital certification for the pre-owned market. The certificate digitally displays the condition of the battery and drive unit of the smart system, shows important information about the model and confirms that the eBike has not been reported as stolen in the eBike Flow app. From July 2026, refurbishment specialist Rebike will be the first partner to certify all eBikes with a Bosch system and issue them with the Certified by Bosch certificate. From the beginning of 2027, Bosch will also use the certificate to support specialist bicycle retailers in the sale of pre-owned models.

“Our products are designed to a high quality and for a long service life, making them ideally suited for a second life in the pre-owned market. This market is important: it makes eBikes accessible to more people and contributes to sustainable mobility. With Certified by Bosch, together with Rebike as our first refurbishment partner, we are establishing a transparent and professional offering that provides buyers and sellers alike with a high level of trust,” says Claus Fleischer, CEO of Bosch eBike Systems.

Certified by Bosch: clarity about battery, drive unit and system condition

Anyone buying a pre-owned eBike is faced with a challenge: it is difficult to realiably assess the condition of the battery and drive unit from the outside or compared with other offerings. At the same time, these components significantly determine the value and thus the purchase price. This is precisely where Certified by Bosch provides clarity: the digital certificate for the smart system records the condition of the battery and drive unit at the time of certification and displays it in an intuitive star-based rating display, with a higher number of stars reflecting a better condition.² For the battery, information such as the number of charge cycles and the remaining capacity in percent can be displayed. For the drive unit, values such as the distance already travelled and the power used so far are included in the rating. The certificate also shows important model information such as brand, model year and frame number and confirms that the eBike has not been reported as stolen in the eBike Flow app and that there are no indications of tuning. By comparing the serial numbers of the battery and drive unit with the serial numbers displayed in Certified by Bosch, it is possible to ensure that the certificate actually belongs to the eBike being sold. To better protect eBikers against fraud, authenticity can also be easily checked using a QR code.

Widespread availability: Rebike to become the first partner from July 2026

Rebike is the first partner to rely on Certified by Bosch: refurbished eBikes with the Bosch certificate will initially be available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands from July 2026. The certified models will be available in the Rebike online shop, in the company's own stores, on partner marketplaces and in selected shop-in-shop areas at Decathlon. Belgium, Spain, Italy and other European markets are also set to follow.

“Our customers appreciate the security we offer as a professional provider when buying a refurbished eBike. In addition to our own services, such as our TÜV-certified Premium Refurbishment Programme and the two-year Rebike warranty on the motor and battery, with Certified by Bosch we are creating even more transparency about the condition of our models with the Bosch system. Together, we are strengthening confidence in refurbished eBikes and making the pre-owned market as a whole even more attractive,” says Sven Erger, COO and co-founder of Rebike.

From 2027, Bosch eBike Systems will also be using the Bosch certificate to support specialist dealers in Europe with their pre-owned eBike sales. Digitally certified eBikes will be available at more contact points and the transparent second-hand market will continue to grow.

Buying pre-owned eBikes: an environmentally conscious choice

Buying a pre-owned eBike with a Bosch system is a conscious decision for the environment. Compared to the new production of a similar model, CO₂ and CO₂ equivalents savings of up to 208 kg can be achieved.³ This corresponds to around 80% of the emissions of a new eBike. The reason: no new materials are required and no new components are manufactured.³ Buying second-hand conserves valuable resources and saves money. With Certified by Bosch, eBikers don't have to compromise on safety and transparency when buying a pre-owned bike.

_{1 Source: ZIV market data 2025, last accessed on 15/04/2026.
2 The following information is displayed: certification information (certificate creator, creation date, certificate ID, overall star rating), eBike information (model, brand, model year, total distance and frame number), registration (confirmation that the eBike is not marked as stolen in the eBike Flow app. If the eBike is marked as stolen, a Bosch certificate will not be issued. The theft status is checked solely on the basis of the messages in the eBike Flow app. A comparison with police search databases or other external registers does not take place); information on whether components are locked and registered, the drive unit (product name, product code, serial number, supported distance, tuning detection (no certificate is issued in the case of tuning), star rating, potentially logged faults), the battery (product name, product code, serial number, number of charge cycles, remaining capacity in percent, star rating, potentially logged faults), the system and services (software status, star rating, potentially logged system faults); the star rating is based on Bosch's own evaluation criteria.
3 Bosch eBike Systems has considered the effects of CO₂ as well as other greenhouse gases and climate-relevant substances, insofar as these are relevant to the analysis. For ease of reading, Bosch eBike Systems uses CO₂ synonymously with CO₂ equivalents. The basis for calculating the carbon footprint of an eBike is a Trekking eBike with a Performance Line CX, PowerTube 500 and Kiox 300 and a mileage of 11,000 km. The remaining 20% is made up of transport, packaging, recycling and use. The calculation was carried out by TÜV Rheinland (as of April 2024).}