The main selling point of folding e-bikes is that they’re easier to store – but that doesn’t mean that they can’t also be great fun to ride. We’ve tested a whole range of options, whether you want to carry your e-bike on the train as part of your commute, or sling it in your car boot for weekend leisure rides.
- Tern Vektron Q9 – £3,300
- FLIT M2 – £2,499
- Pedibal Navigata – £1,399 with throttle (£1,199 without)
- MiRiDER 16 GB3 – £2,495
- Brompton Electric P Line – £3,699
- Estarli e20.7 Comfort Pro – £1,510
- Eovolt Afternoon Origins Vintage – £2,199
Clearly size is always a central aspect of a folding e-bike, but it’s important to note this doesn’t necessarily go hand-in-hand with low weight. While some are designed to be small and light and suitable for carrying up and down stairs or on and off public transport, others really only fold so that they don’t occupy too much storage space.
That means some can be quite heavy – although that’s not necessarily a significant downside if you don’t actually need to carry the bike. The extra weight might be a sign of a more adaptable bike that offers superior ride quality.
It’s therefore worth assessing your needs before committing to a purchase. Where relevant, we’d advise checking the policies of local bus/rail operators too, as they may have size limits or other restrictions.
Size, shape, motors and range
Some electric folding bikes weigh as little as 13kg, but you can also find some with large batteries that weigh twice as much.
There are two main wheel sizes, grouped by the approximate diameter of the wheel plus the tyre: 16in and 20in. Those with the smaller wheels tend to offer a more compact fold and lighter weight, with the downsides being the extra rolling resistance of a more sharply-curved tyre together with rather more sensitive handling.
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Conversely, folders with 20in wheels tend to result in a larger and heavier folded package, but may offer a more efficient, comfortable and predictable ride. You might find 20in wheels more of a struggle to get on a train luggage rack though.
Small wheels are easier to pedal up to speed quickly compared to larger ones, but less efficient at maintaining that speed over longer distances, pedalling steadily at a consistent pace. This is one reason all types of folders are popular as ‘start/stop’ machines for nipping through city traffic.
Unlike on larger e-bikes where mid-drives are common (particularly when you move above the £1,500 price point), hub motors are the default on folders. That’s simply because they are lighter than most mid-drives and also less likely to get in the way of the fold. Mid-motor folders do exist though, if you need more power at low speeds. (You can read more about hub motors versus mid motors here.)
Batteries are often smaller in capacity too, both to keep weight down and to help simplify the fold. The battery sizes on our recommended selection of e-folders are pretty typical, spanning 150Wh to 400Wh. On full size e-bikes capacity tends towards 300-625Wh, with options for dual battery systems meaning 1,250Wh is possible. You can of course always buy a spare battery for an e-folder and carry it with you to extend your range.
The fold
The most common design is the ‘fold in half’ style, where the frame hinges in the middle and the seat post and handlebar post fold down. This is pretty quick and easy, but often results in a bigger folded package than other designs.
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The main other type of design is where the frame hinges in two places. By its very nature this is a little more complicated, but it generally results in a smaller package than a ‘bi-fold’. The Brompton is the classic example of this and its quick, compact and secure fold is an absolute classic of bike design. The electric version retains the same superb mechanism.
The best folding e-bikes we’ve tested
We review a lot of e-bikes here at ebiketips. All of those listed below have been thoroughly tested by members of our team. Here’s a bit more information about how we review e-bikes, if you’d like to know more.
You’ll note that some of them are quite expensive. If you’re on a tighter budget, you might prefer to take a look at our narrower guide to the best electric folding bikes under £2,000.
Tern Vektron Q9 – £3,300
Buy for £2,999 from E-Bikes Direct
Something of a rarity for an e-folder, the Tern Vektron Q9 comes equipped with a mid-drive motor as well as bringing a few other full-size e-bike qualities to the table. The motor used is a Bosch Active Line Plus which provides up to 50Nm of torque – more than enough for most urban environments. The battery is also large for the bike’s size, at 400Wh, which we got 60-70km out of on flat terrain.
It may be easier to think of the Vektron Q9 as a micro-cargo bike, with space on the rear rack for a YEPP child seat, and panniers. It’s like a smaller Tern GSD model in terms of practicalities, with the added benefit that it folds into a neat package. It is relatively heavy for a folder at 21.9kg, but it’s a lot more capable than most in the category and it can be stored folded or vertically if you’re stuck for space.
For more detail, read our review of the Tern Vektron Q9
FLIT M2 – £2,499
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Since we reviewed the FLIT-16, the brand has launched a new model: the M2. It shares the same philosophy that made the FLIT-16 popular with the emphasis on keeping the weight down.
Ideal for train commuters who want something to help propel them those last few miles to the workplace, the 14kg FLIT M2 is one of the lightest electric folders out there that doesn’t compromise on performance. It’s single-speed and hub-motor powered, yes, but the Bafang motor does a stellar job, even on reasonable hills.
For more detail, read our first ride review of the FLIT M2 and our full review of the FLIT-16
Pedibal Navigata – £1,199 with throttle (£999 without)
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Folding e-bikes controlled by a throttle are common. Legal ones… not so much. But here’s one!
For an extra £200, Pedibal will fit the Navigata with a throttle and go and get it tested at a DVSA centre so that it can legally be ridden the same as any other e-bike, without a licence or insurance.
It’s also (and this is no small detail) a very good little e-bike. At 21.2kg, it’s about what you’d expect for a 7-speed fold-in-half e-bike with alloy mudguards and a removable 345Wh battery. It’s also worth saying that if you’re not bothered about a throttle then the standard pedal assist version is very, very competitively priced at just £999.
For more detail, read our review of the Pedibal Navigata with throttle
MiRiDER 16 GB3 – £2,495
The MiRiDER 16 GB3 (also known as the MiRiDER One GB3) impressed us just as much as the brand’s 2021 model. It was the first MiRider to come with gears – three, to be precise – and it also boasts a fancy display unit on the handlebars.
Perhaps the biggest upgrade is the hydraulic disc brakes, which go some way towards explaining the big price jump from the other MiRiDER One models. It’s 19.1kg in weight so an unlikely candidate for everyday multi-modal commuting for most of us, but it’s compact enough to fit in a car boot or the back of a caravan for some enjoyable leisure rides on top of day-to-day riding.
For more detail, read our review of the MiRider One GB3
Brompton Electric P Line – £3,695
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The latest addition to the electric Brompton range is the Electric P Line – and there is now also a 12-speed option to make the bike even more enticing. It follows the introduction of the non-electric P Line in 2022 and is essentially an upgrade on the Brompton Electric M6L. The main difference between the two is the introduction of a smartphone app.
While this may not seem like a big deal, it means you no longer have to reach over the handlebars to press the assist buttons on the battery. Instead, you have the power in your hands.
The P Line comes with a 312Wh battery pack that’s easily removable and a front wheel hub motor. It’s also Brompton’s lightest e-bike. It weighs 13.3kg with the battery removed but including the optional ‘Roller Frame’ – so it’s lighter still if you go for the Urban model without the rack.
For more detail, read our review of the Brompton Electric P Line
Estarli e20.7 Comfort Pro – £1,510
The Estarli e20.7 is not just great value, it’s also incredibly stable and bypasses a lot of the typical handling issues smaller wheeled bikes often exhibit. With wide Schwalbe tyres and the extra weight from the motor and battery, we found the e20.7 to be enjoyable and responsive in urban areas – and it’s had a few updates since then. (There’s also a slightly more expensive e20.X version with automatic gearing.)
The e20.7 can do everything from bumbling around town to smashing it through traffic – and it’s easy to get the hang of, even if you’re not a seasoned rider. The hub drive motor (which has been upgraded since our review) is paired with a 259Wh battery, which sits within the seat post.
For more detail, read our review of the Estarli e20.7 Original Pro
Eovolt Afternoon Origins Vintage – £2,199
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There are several versions of the Eovolt Afternoon. We tested the original in 2022 and we’ve since had a look at the Afternoon Pro. The latter’s a bit more expensive at £2,999, but you do get auto-locking hinges, a Gates Carbon Belt Drive, a Bafang dual-speed hub motor and a hidden AirTag compartment for GPS tracking.
We’ve still got a soft spot for the Origins Vintage model though. Like its siblings, it’s a well-rounded folding e-bike that combines style, comfort, and performance and which is suitable for both daily commuting and leisure rides.
The torque sensor helps ensure smooth assistance with power output responsive to your pedalling; battery range is decent; and it offers good comfort and handling. With 20in wheels, the folded package isn’t the smallest or lightest, but overall it’s a stylish option with quality components.
For more detail, read our review of the Eovolt Afternoon Origins Vintage
