Tired of getting stuck in traffic or wedged into public transport on your daily commute? Looking for a fun and eco-friendly way to zip around town?
We’ve tested a vast number of electric bikes aimed at commuters. Here we’ve focused on two types – road bikes and folding bikes, each of which have their own advantages, and we’ll tell you exactly what they are...
Jump to:
Folding electric bikes
- Engwe Zip - £999
- ADO Air 20 - £1,099
- Ryd Bike Aero 16 - £1300,32
- ADO Air Carbon - £1,799
- Volt Lite - £2,899
Electric road bikes
- Engwe L20 Boost - £1,099
- Qreate City Pro - £1,599
- Fiido C21 - £1,635
- ADO Air 30 Pro - £1,699
- Estarli E28.9 - £1,850
Folding electric commuter bikes
For many commuters, folding electric bikes are a game changer, combining the convenience of an electric bike with the portability of a folding design. They’re ideal for city dwellers facing the daily grind of public transport or limited storage space, and blend power with practicality. Many let you zip through traffic and then fold up to carry onto a train or tuck under your desk.
Engwe Zip - £999
Folding | Weight: 19.4kg | Range: up to 70miles
The Engwe Zip is Engwe's brand new folding commuter bike and its small and sleek deign rivals a classic commuter bike: the Brompton. I was really impressed with this folding bike and I really enjoyed riding it. The 250W motor combined with the torque sensor provided a great riding feel with fast and 'zippy' acceleration. (It certainly lives up to its name!)
I must admit that I did not find this as easy to fold as a Brompton but I'm sure that as the joints loosen over time it will become much easier and quicker.
The battery on the front is super easy to clip on and off when you want and it doubles as a phone charger which is always handy!
(Use code 'ELECTROHEADS' at checkout for a discount!)
ADO Air 20, £1,099
Folding | Weight: 16-18kg | Range: 62 miles
We think the ADO Air 20 is a standout choice for city commuters, offering top-notch features at an incredible value. The single-speed belt drive eliminates the hassle of maintenance and gear shifting, ensuring a smooth, worry-free ride. Although some single-speed bikes can struggle on hills, the ADO Air 20's torque sensor adds immediate electric assistance so we found ir very responsive.
It has a lightweight design (18kg), a long range (62 miles) from its removable battery that’s integrated into the seat tube, and hydraulic disc brakes that feel great to use. It’s also quick and easy to fold and boasts agile handling in tight spaces - we found its narrow handlebar width makes getting around traffic jams a doddle.
(Use code 'ADOELECTROHEADS' at checkout for a discount!)
Ryd Bike Aero 16 - £1,300.32
Folding | Weight: 14kg | Range: up to 37miles
The Ryd Bike Aero 16 is a beautiful looking bike with a sleek design. The seatpost battery not only looks super sleek but it also means that it is not going to attract lots of unwanted attention. The battery is also removable so you can recharge the battery and make the bike less attractive to thieves. You can also lock the battery in the bike and unlock it with a key, making sure that your bike and battery are super secure.
I did find that when you get up to about 20km/h on Level 5 Assist you do start to get a bit of a ghost pedal, meaning that your legs are spinning with minimal resistance and it can make you feel disconnected from the bike. The feeling of disconnect might not bother some riders who don't want to break a sweat or have a leisurely route but for those on busy urban roads it might reduce your feeling of being in control and subsequently your confidence to be able to react quickly.
I used this bike on my commute in London and it was really nimble as we were able to easily carry it upstairs and quickly fold it down on the platform in three simple moves. It is easily one of the lightest e-bikes on the market and that is one of my favourite aspects! It then also fit neatly under the luggage rack and didn't get in the way of other commuters.
(Use code "ELECTROHEADS" at checkout for a discount)
ADO Air Carbon - £1,799
Folding | Weight: 12.5kg | Range: up to 62miles
The ADO Air Carbon is the lightest folding ebike we’ve tested, and it shows. With its carbon fibre frame and sleek lines, it feels more like a high-end city bike than an electric one. But press the pedals and the smooth assist from the BAFANG motor kicks in, making climbs effortless. The torque sensor gives you precise control, while the hydraulic brakes and belt drive keep things quiet and refined. Add in smart features like GPS tracking and movement alerts via the ADO app, and it’s one seriously clever commuter.
It’s a premium package, while the frame is ultra-light, the tech-packed design means folding it isn’t quite as compact as some rivals. Still, for urban riders who want style, smarts, and featherweight performance, this is the one to beat.
(Use code 'ADOELECTROHEADS' at checkout for a discount!)
Volt Lite - £2,899
Folding | Weight: 18kg | Range: up to 50 miles
The Volt Lite packs a powerful punch! The central crank/mid-drive Bafang M820 motor delivers smooth power through the carbon belt drive, and an impressive power delivery of 75Nm of torque, higher than you'd normally find on a bike of this size. This means that if you're a heavier rider, or you have a few hills on your commute, then this could be a good option.
The battery is integrated into the seat post, making it easy to remove and take with you for security reasons, or to charge the battery inside without having to take the whole bike with you.
This is not a cheap e-bike but the comfort of the saddle and the riding position, how compact it is, as well as the power that it gives you means that this bike is everything that you pay for.
If you want to know more about folding electric bikes then you can check out our comprehensive reviews here and here, or watch our full review on Youtube:
Non-Folding Commuter electric bikes
While non-folding ebikes don’t have the storage and portability advantages of a folding machine, they offer plenty of other plus points. Their priorities tend to be stability and ride quality, usually giving you a more traditional cycling experience. They generally have larger frames and wheels, which give you faster and smoother rides that are ideal for longer commutes. Without a folding mechanism, they can be lighter, too.
Engwe L20 Boost - £1,099
Fat Tyre | Weight: 34kg | Range: up to 78miles
This is the only bike of this style on the list: this is the Engwe L20 Boost and it is a fantastic fat tyre commuter bike. The fat tyres work with the front suspension to soak up any bumps or dips in the road and the front basket and rear rack provide more than enough room for any spillover cargo you may need to carry.
I really liked the riding position that this bike gave and the step-through frame because to eradicated the need for me to try and balance the bike as I kicked my leg over the back. The fat tyres not only work as shock absorbers but they also help you to feel more connected to and planted on the road as you ride.
The 48V13Ah gives plenty of range to get you to and from the office but I found that Engwe's claimed range does of course decrease when you load the bike up with cargo (which I quite often do!).
(Use code 'ELECTROHEADS' at checkout for a discount!)
Create City Pro - £1,599
Step-through | Weight: 24kg | Range: up to 60miles
The Qreate City Pro defiantly the top choice when it comes to sleek city design. The lighting system on this bike is unmatched with a fully integrated front and rear lighting system as well as lights in the battery. The battery lights can be turned on and off on the LCD display and enhance your visibility on the road, especially at night. The battery light does also work when it is removed from the bike! It can be tuned on at the click of a button and used as an extra light source when you are either locking your bike in the dark.
This bike feels very comfortable to ride and the motors both feel very powerful, the only difference is the delivery of power. The City Pro has a torque sensor which delivers a more natural feeling of assist when you are riding as the motor matches its power output to the power output of your legs.
Fiido C21 - £1,635
Classic | Weight: 17.5kg | Range: 62miles
The Fiido C21 is what some might call an e-bike 'in disguise'. With a sleek integrated battery design to the untrained eye you wouldn't know that this is an e-bike, which makes it perfect for locking up in urban areas where your bike may be more at risk.
The 9-speed system and torque sensor work together to create a natural feeling of assist when riding. The 'classic' frame also means that if you're switching from an analog bike then your riding feel and position wont be altered too much, your power will just be electrified!
ADO Air 30 Pro - £1,699
Classic | Weight: 20.5kg | Range: 62miles
This is another classic style bike but the ADO Air 30 Pro is built to be low-maintenance with a carbon belt drive chain. This means no mucky or oily chain, which is music to my ears.
It has an integrated 2-speed automatic motor by BAFANG that uses a carbon belt drive. A carbon belt is great because it's really strong so it won’t break and it is really low maintenance. A carbon belt drive doesn’t usually have gears but this BAFANG system has two gears, meaning that it automatically switches between the two gears and two speeds based on your riding, informed by the torque sensor. (For £100 more the ADO Air 30 Ultra model comes with a 3-speed system.)
I found this system to be really intuitive and I liked how well it worked. I was also thankful for the rear rack that could carry any extra cargo that I had while commuting.
(Use code 'ADOELECTROHEADS' at checkout for a discount!)
Estarli E28.9 - £1,850
Classic | Weight: 16.7kg | Range: up to 55miles
All of us at Electroheads were massive fans of the Estarli E28 and the Estarli E28.9 is just a step up from that!
This bike is a breeze to handle, whether you're cruising through city streets or carrying it up steps. Estarli’s whole range has done well in our testing. With this model, despite its lightness, you still get a solid battery range of up to 55miles, perfect for your daily commute.
It's a sleek bike, featuring a minimalist yet informative display and internal cable routing for a clean look. The 360Wh battery, paired with a rear hub motor, Shimano 9-speed gearing, front suspension and Tektro disc brakes, completes the package, although we do wish that it included hydraulic stoppers rather than mechanical.
While it's not built for steep climbs, we found it handled moderate hills with ease. It’s a great bike for taller riders.
