Bosch Standard Charger 4A vs Shimano STEPS EC-E8004

The Bosch 4A Charger and the Shimano EC-E8004 are the charger counterparts to the two dominant mid-motor ecosystems on the Dutch e-bike market. They don't compete directly: your charger must match your motor. But when buying a new e-bike this is a relevant ecosystem comparison. On specs they're strikingly similar. The Bosch 4A Charger delivers 4 A, fills a PowerPack 500 Wh in 4.5 hours, weighs 800 g and costs €119. The Shimano EC-E8004 also delivers 4 A, fills a Shimano STEPS BT-E8036 504 Wh in 5 hours, weighs 620 g and costs €99. Both are CE certified, both have 100-240 V auto-voltage for international use. The difference isn't in the chargers themselves but in which motor your bike has: Bosch motors require a Bosch charger, Shimano STEPS requires Shimano — they're not interchangeable.

For most Dutch e-bikers this "choice" is already made at bike purchase. Bosch dominates the premium segment (Gazelle Ultimate, Sparta D-Burst, Riese & Müller), Shimano STEPS lives on Cube, Merida and some Gazelles. As a spare charger for vacation or the office you simply check which logo is on your motor. Bosch costs more but has a wider Dutch dealer network; Shimano is €20 cheaper and lighter (620 vs 800 g) — nicer for travel.

We recommend the Bosch 4A Charger if your bike has a Bosch motor (the vast majority of Dutch premium e-bikes); otherwise for Shimano STEPS-powered bikes the Shimano EC-E8004 is the mandatory and €20 cheaper choice.