Five radical electric folding bikes you can buy today

Battery-powered bicycles already outsell electric cars in Europe by seven times and a new generation of electric folding bikes promises to further boost that figure. Electric folding bikes are small enough to take on public transport and light enough to be carried into a house to be re-charged. Best of all, the latest technology allows them to recharge themselves.

1. The Vello Bike+

This brand new electric folding bike claims to be the most compact and lightweight electric folding bicycle in the world – at 12 kg in its standard form and only 9.9 kg in carbon, it is substantially lighter than other battery-powered bikes on the market.

The folded bike measures 53 x 72 x 23 cm - a package compact enough to fit inside a standard-sized Samsonite suitcase.

The Vello Bike+ features a battery that recharges itself using the energy generated while cycling. It’s a system that does away with the need to plug the battery into a socket as well as any risk you will run out of battery power. Energy is harvested during braking and pedalling and the company claims it allows up to 100 per cent recharging while riding the bike.

As with most electric bicycles today, you can choose the level of motorised assistance that suits you best. And if you run out of puff, a  full battery allows for up to 20 miles at 15 mph without any rider. The low weight means it should be easy to pedal even with the power assistance turned off completely. The bike can be pre-ordered for around £1,500.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vellobike/vello-bike-the-worlds-best-electric-folding-bike

2. Fat Bad

There’s no doubting the practicality of the folding bicycle, but small wheels can feel at the mercy of pot-holed city streets – a challenge the Fat Bad overcomes with balloon tyres sitting on reinforced 4” rims.

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Available in matt black, matt green, fluorescent green or pearl white and with a choice of 250-watt or 500-watt motor, the manages up to 43 miles before a charge. The 25-kg bike does not fold as efficiently as a Brompton - it's like a Dahon, with hinges on the frame’s central tube and handlebar stem.

3. Tern Elektron

Tern has stolen a march on Brompton by launching the Elektron – a bicycle described as the smallest, most powerful folding e-bike ever.

The long-awaited electric Brompton has been in development for over five years and remains months away from launch. According to Cycling Industry News, the electric Brompton advanced prototype tips the scales at 16.5 kg and retains the company's distinctive folding mechanism. The battery is housed within a rear rack and will include a USB connection to charge a phone or laptop.

The Elektron boasts a Bosch motor mated to a 400Wh battery that promises a 50-100 km range. Stopping power is courtesy of Deore disc brakes. Mudguards and LED lights front and rear come as standard as does a luggage rack. Expect prices starting at around £2,000 when the Elektron goes on sale here in spring 2017.

4. QiCycle

QiCycle electric folding bikes boast cutting edge technology, uses the same batteries as a Tesla, and retail for the equivalent of £335.

With the growing realisation that pollution from car use must be drastically reduced, China is embracing the electric bicycle; 200 million e-bikes are currently on the roads in China, a tenfold increase in the last decade. The speed of uptake is being matched by the development of new electric bicycle models, such as the QiCycle, which features Shimano hub gears, a 36 v 250 W Panasonic Li-ion battery, built-in lights and a trip computer. Tech fans can use a companion smartphone app to display bike status, GPS navigation and ride stats.

The QiCycle measures the torque you apply through the pedals and adjusts the power delivered from the electric motor accordingly. Weight is a respectable 14.5 kg and the maximum range is a claimed 50 km.

5. RadMini

The ultimate urban electric bicycle needs to be tough, compact and ready to haul cargo – If the Brompton is a Morris Minor, the RadMini is the Hummer of folding bicycles. Fitted as standard, 4”-wide, all-terrain tyres more than soak up potholes, a folding frame makes multi-modal travel a breeze and heavy duty front and rear cargo racks put both Morrisons, and Morocco, within reach. With the bike fully laden with 50 kg of cargo, powerful 180 mm front and 160 mm rear disk brakes with automatic power shutoff, stop you easily and shut off power to the motor even if the throttle is accidentally applied.

So what’s the rub? Well at around £1,000, it's not the price, but unfortunately for commuters in Britain who fancy trading their car for this tough and stylish cargo bike, its 750 watt 48 volt power system falls foul of current law that defines electric folding bikes. It’s unfortunate because the RadMini tops out at 20 mph – a speed easily attained by a cyclist on a conventional road bike.

Unlike most bicycles on sale today, the RadMini comes equipped with a set of lights. The LED headlight runs directly from the battery pack and is controlled via a switch on the handlebars. A large LCD screen on the handlebars displays battery charge, distance travelled, power consumption, and speed. Two USB charging ports allow you to charge your portable electronics while on the go. radpowerbikes.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XLFEvYwaB8

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