We’re not going to beat around the bush: Shimano‘s new electronic that claims to have eliminated the need to charge batteries isn’t going on your next road or gravel bike. But if you’re building up a city bike or cargo bike, the new Shimano Q’Auto system could be huge.
The new Q’Auto system a new automatic, electronic drivetrain system designed to bring electronic shifting tech to urban bikes with or without electric assist. Unlike existing Di2 setups, Q’AUTO eliminates the need for a central battery by incorporating a miniature dynamo within the FH-U6060 rear hub, which powers the system autonomously via an onboard lithium-ion capacitor. Shimano claims this capacitor can store energy for over a year, removing the need for manual recharging.
At the heart of Q’Auto is what Shimano says is a machine-learning algorithm that uses input from over 6,500 preset patterns to shift gears automatically based on real-time data like cadence, speed, and gradient. The system uses Shimano’s new Cues RD-U8050 rear derailleur and is compatible with 10- and 11-speed LINKGLIDE cassettes, with long and short cage options to accommodate a range of gear ratios.
Despite the built-in dynamo system, the battery isn’t fully self-sustaining. Q’Auto also includes a bar-mounted wireless shifting switch (SW-EN605-R) powered by CR1632 coin batteries. This lets riders override automatic shifts, toggle between manual and automatic modes, and fine-tune system behavior using Shimano’s E-TUBE Project app. These rider inputs are stored and learned, allowing the system to adapt over time to individual shifting habits.
While Q’Auto builds on Shimano’s earlier Auto Shift systems used in e-bikes with Cues, Nexus, and Deore XT Di2, this marks the first application in a non-electric platform. The key innovation lies in the hub’s ability to generate its own power, making the system completely self-sufficient.
Although targeted initially at utility-focused bikes, Q’AUTO uses a standard 142x12mm thru-axle and HG freehub body, which raises the possibility of future compatibility with Shimano’s higher-end Di2 road and gravel groupsets, such as 105, Ultegra, GRX, or even XTR. The derailleur is already compatible with existing Di2 shifters, including both flat and drop-bar formats.
Additional functionality includes a derailleur-mounted selector button to switch between shifting modes—though Shimano hasn’t yet detailed the settings, it’s reasonable to expect fully automatic, manual, and a learning-based hybrid mode.
Pricing for Q’AUTO-equipped bikes is yet to be announced, and Shimano has not confirmed whether the system will be sold as an aftermarket upgrade. For now, it’s expected to appear primarily on complete bikes from OEM partners.
