What is an electric folding bike?
An electric folding bike is simply a regular folding bike that has been fitted with an electric motor. All folding bikes can be folded down in less than a minute, transforming them from capable commuters into an easy-to-carry package.
Electric folding bikes, like all road-legal electric bikes, are fitted with a motor and a rechargeable battery that provides pedal assistance. It doesn’t mean you can stop pedalling, just that when the motor is on, it’ll provide pedal assistance. The motor will help propel you to a speed of 15.5mph – the UK limit. Travel faster than that, and your legs will be doing all the work.
Bike designers have invested a massive amount of time in creating folding bikes that can accommodate the battery pack and motor. They’re no bigger than traditional folding bikes but are a little heavier.
If you’re interested in purchasing an electric folding bike, here are some of the things you should consider while making your selection:
Battery Power and Range
The most expensive and essential part of an electric folding bike is its motor and battery. Bigger batteries will power you for longer distances, but they can be bulkier and heavier.
It’s a good idea to compare your commuting distance with the bike’s range. There’s no use in buying a bike with a 30-mile battery range when your daily round-trip commute is 40 miles, for example.
Also, consider that the range figures are best-case estimates, and there are lots of factors that can affect how many miles you will get out of a full charge. Weight, weather conditions and the level of assistance will all affect how long your battery will last, so treat the estimates as just that and be conservative.
The good news is, even if the battery power runs out then you can pedal the bike as normal.
Weight
An electric folding bike will be heavier than traditional bikes, because of the added weight of a motor and battery. You will find details of the weight of each bike on their listing so you can compare models.
You can fit accessories such as carry handles that make moving a bulky bike a little easier. Other folding bikes have removable batteries which can be great if you want a temporary reduction in overall weight.
Some models such as the Gocycle GX enable the rider to wheel the bike along when it’s folded, making it easier to transport.
Don’t be put off by the numbers. We recommend visiting your nearest Halfords to see how each bike feels.
Wheel Size
Folding e-bikes come with smaller wheels than full-sized bikes. Brompton bikes come with 16” wheels, whereas many other folding bikes have 20” wheels.
They’re lighter and more compact, making the bike easier to transport when it’s folded. Smaller wheels improve handling, which can come in useful when nipping in and out of traffic. The pay-off is that you won’t gather as much momentum on the road when you get up to speed, which means you may need to put in a little more effort while pedalling (or use more of the motor!).
Gearing
Most folding e-bikes come fitted with a single chainring at the front and an 8-speed rear sprocket. That gives you a choice of 8 gears and a ratio of 1:8.
You’ll need to ensure that your bike has the gears you need for your commute, but remember you’ll have the motor there to provide extra pedalling power.
Racks, mudguards, lights and a kickstand
If you’re commuting, then accessories such as mudguards, racks and kickstands are essential. Some bikes are sold as complete commuters and come fitted with a rack, mudguards, front and rear lights, and a kickstand. Others may come with only some of these accessories, so keep that in mind when comparing packages.
It can be cheaper to purchase a bike with everything included than adding your own choice of accessories.
Brakes
Folding bikes come fitted with a couple of different braking options. Models at the lower end of the price spectrum are more likely to run V-brakes, where the stopping force is applied against the rim of the bike’s wheel. More expensive models use disc brakes, which offer greater stopping power.
One of the benefits of disc brakes is they require less maintenance and can be more reliable. Both types of brakes provide the stopping power you need.