At present, Shimano is significantly behind its competitors in the field of electric transformation, even if it is the top product in the lineup, it is a semi-wireless design, and there is no news of updates for a long time, but it is undeniable that Shimano's sales are significantly higher than SRAM or Campagnolo by several orders of magnitude.
Shimano is also happy to infiltrate technology into the product line, so that more users can experience top-of-the-line technology. In many ways, this is not only the golden age of bicycle technology, but also of Shimano products. Can Shimano do more, though? The answer is yes, and the recent new 13-speed patent information is one of the proofs.
There are currently no commercially available electric 13-speed kits, and there are no 2×13 kits available. Although the patent drawing does not mention the speed difference, it can be seen from the number of flywheels that the new variable speed is most likely a 13-speed design. The patent shows that the new 13-speed package will be compatible with the 2x drivetrain.
Another interesting aspect of the patent is the battery arrangement, with the rear derailleur having a separate battery, so the future will also be a purely wireless design. There's also a charging port on the rear derailleur, the same as Shimano's current 12-speed Di2 kit. The rear derailleur can be charged directly.
Although the patent drawings do not determine whether this is a mountain or road package, from the design structure, it is likely to be a new road shift package.
Editor: Hamma