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Shimano, the pioneers of electric shifting, have introduced the brand’s newest innovation in the form of a battery-free automatic shifting system for all Urban, Trekking, and Gravel bikes – named Q’AUTO.
With Di2 making its debut some 16 years ago, this latest innovation brings an entirely other focal point to the fore. ‘Battery-free’ is a significant and highly newsworthy step here. Combining this with automatic shifting takes it a stage further.
Yes, you’re right. Shimano already offer automatic shifting elsewhere in its product portfolio. The brand introduced Free Shift and Auto Shift in 2023, with Deore XT Di2 in 2023 – specifically designed for e-bikes and compatible with the updated EP8 and new EP6 motors.
For everyday bikes
Designed for an entirely different audience, and very different riding needs and wants, Q’AUTO “combines the joy and simplicity of riding a mechanical bike, with electronic shifting.”
- Q’AUTO is designed to make cycling more enjoyable and accessible for riders of every skill level.
That’s right, Shimano is launching a product aimed at making the act of riding a bicycle simpler. And this is an absolutely critical step when engaging and supporting the cycling-as-transport marketplace, where people, not cyclists, represent a significant potential growth opportunity and new customer base.
Here, it also becomes clear why pairing automatic shifting with a battery-free system makes such a powerful offering: No thought needed in changing gears. No thought needed regarding charging the system (because it doesn’t need charging, at all).
- Removing barriers to entry. A massive step forward. A bike that is always ready to go. Q’AUTO is positioned as “the ultimate evolution in comfort and lifestyle”.
With a battery-free design and adaptive learning software, the Japanese powerhouse is delivering a drivetrain solution fully optimised for people turning to a bike as a new mobility solution.
Here, the appeal of a bike that keeps riders in the right gear and adapts to their riding style is clear, enabling a rider to focus solely on the road ahead.
No charge required
Q’AUTO’s hardware and software create a whole new style of bike that provides advanced automatic shifting without a battery to worry about.
The product range is engineered around the Cues FH-U6060, a freehub specifically designed for automatic shifting, featuring a dynamo function inside its body that will generate its own power with each pedal stroke.
Inside the freehub, there are three sensors to track speed, cadence and slope, allowing the intelligent Q’AUTO to collect power while riding and storing the electricity needed for performing shifts.
Launching alongside the Cues FH-U6060 freehub are the Cues RD-U8050-SGS/GS rear derailleur and the SW-EN605-R wireless shift switch.
Point to note: The rear derailleur is compatible with Shimano’s entire range of wireless Di2 switches and shifters – from flat bar to drop bar – covering the widest range of riders and riding styles, with a system designed “for easy integration, and long-term reliability”. Prime commuter and new rider focal points.
Adaptive learning
Q’AUTO is also designed to take the guesswork out of shifting, automatically keeping riders in the right gear, learning as riders shift, and monitoring the relationship between the rider and the riding conditions they are experiencing.
With the Di2 shift switch, riders can provide immediate feedback, so as not to disrupt their riding flow. By tapping the switch to adjust to a different gear, the system will select that gear and remember this setting for similar situations. With over 6,500 possible algorithmic patterns to choose from, Q’AUTO will adapt to each riding style and any challenge it encounters.
Over time, the bike becomes uniquely optimised to the rider, shifting for them, when they prefer—”from (almost) the very first pedal strokes”. The more the system is used, the more in-tune the rider and their bike become.
Wider view and final thoughts
It’s actually quite easy to make the case that Q’AUTO is the single most important Shimano launch since the original 9spd Di2 arrived in 2009.
Cycling-as-transport, not something many in the general population would have considered in 2009, is now a very big, very mainstream talking point. The European Declaration on Cycling has committed EU members to a number of goals, including:
- Increase cycling levels in Europe by at least 50%
- 100,000 km of new cycling infrastructure to be built in Europe
How is this funded? “For the period of 2021-2027 • €3,2 billion is earmarked for cycling projects in Europe. It’s a 30% increase. Co-matched with national and regional funding, the total will be €4,5 billion.”
One goal stands out amongst many here:
“Cycling – sustainable, healthy and efficient – has considerable potential to support the decarbonisation of urban transport and help achieve the EU-wide target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030…”
Factoring these radical social and societal changes in, it’s not hard to see why Q’AUTO is so important to Shimano’s future.
We watch with interest.
