To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Electric Bike Technologies. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Electric Bike Technologies products.
If you haven’t noticed, Electric Bike Technologies has been keeping their new bike names straight forward and simple. Such is the case with the bike we are reviewing today, the ‘Electric Folding Bike’. To reduce redundancy and confusion, we will refer to it as the EFB for the rest of the review. As the name says, it is just that; a folding electric bike… it should also be noted that it is competitively priced at $2,600. It is powered by a Dapu Mid drive motor that features torque based pedal assist, a thumb throttle, and adjustable speeds in the menu. More on that later, for now, let’s jump into some of the features. Almost every folding bike I see has a hub drive motor in either the front or the back, so it is wonderful to see a mid drive here. Since the battery sits center in the main tube next to that motor, all the weight is nice and center. Having this distributed weight, and the handle bar frame near the seat, makes this thing easy to carry around when folded. Like most folding bikes, it is low to the ground, thanks to these 20” x 1.75 tires. The tires here have both puncture protection and reflective sidewalls. As a big fan of safety and convince, having both means visibility for riding at dusk or dawn as well as peace of mind against potential threats to your tires. Folding bikes are typically best used as ‘last mile’ options (something that gets you from the bus stop to the train stop, etc), so it is common not to see a lot of comfort options. So yes, the fork is rigid, and the saddle is probably not best for long distances… but I really like that Electric Bike Technologies add other features that make the ride better. Features like these plastic fenders that won’t scratch easily, stitched ergonomic grips, telescoping stem, and a nice wire loom to keep everything out of the way. I love the battery integrated lights here, they have them both in the front and the rear. Like I said, safety has always been a priority for myself (and other cyclists), so it’s nice to see that more and more companies are including these on ebikes. The rear rack here is nice too, it can easily handle some panniers whether single or double sided, and you could add some bungie straps too. Other features include an integrated bell and a center mounted kickstand (although you could get pedal lock when reversing the bike since the kickstand could obstruct the crank rotation).
Driving the bike is a Dapu MD250. Despite the 250 in the title, the motor can be configured in a number of different ways to meet the needs of bike manufacturers and users alike. On the EFB here, it is set for a rating of 350 watt nominal and 720 watts at a peak rating. This is using both a trigger throttle on the left and cadence based pedal assist. The modes of assist go from 0-5 and there is even a thumb throttle on the left which I found to be a lot of fun along with the assist. This system was designed somewhat for light trail riding, but I think it shines perfectly here on this folding bike, I am really impressed with the feeling. Mechanically, the EFB makes use of a 7 speed Shimano Tourney system. This has an 14-32 tooth cassette in the front with a 48 tooth chain ring in the front and trigger shifters. 14-32 is not the largest pedaling range in the world, but I think for a last mile option, it works just fine. Stopping the bike is done with a set of Zoom mechanical disc brakes. The handles are 4 finger lever handles, and the disc rotors themselves are 160mm in both the front and rear with dual piston calipers. Mechanical disc brakes are easy to maintain as well as adjust, however, they lack the immediate stopping power that hydraulic brakes offer. Mechanical brakes are still quite capable, but they take a little bit more hand actuation compared to hydraulic brakes.
Powering the bike is a lithium ion battery at 48v 7ah. With the combination of the voltage and amp hours, I would consider a very high capacity pack. As I mentioned before, it is mounted inside the main tube and you have to unlatch the bike’s main folding joint to take it in and out. You can however charge it or turn it on (via an ON/OFF switch) while it is mounted on the bike. Again, the weight is very center because of this, and the 7ah rating is able to make it a bit lighter of a battery. However, that same 7ah rating is not really going to take you as far as something like a 14ah battery. To really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells. Try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry.
Operating the bike is simple enough. I’m kind of a control center geek and I always love to see comprehensive stats while riding. The control center on the EFB does just that. It displays pretty much everything, including current speed, top speed, average speed, range, battery level, pedal assist mode, wattage output and more. More importantly, I could read it in direct sunlight! I love that it is color and uses an automotive motif. A big win here is that the battery power is listed in percentages. Some ebikes use just 4 or 5 ticks on the display to portray battery life. This can leave you guessing at the last tick. Do you have 25% battery life left? Do you have 2% left? You simply will have to guess. Not with this display… since it is written in percentages, you know exactly how much battery you have at all times. The only downside to this display was that it’s not removable, so I might worry about it getting dinged up when the bike is being parked or transported and just taking more sun and rain damage over time. It does however angle, and I love that the controls can be pressed easily by your left hand since they are positioned well as to keep your eyes on the road. Electric Bike Technologies was kind enough to enter a deep menu mode. By holding the UP and DOWN button, it will allow you to get in there and change things like the top speed or motor output. A great feature that goes well with Electric Bike Technologies customer support that can help you get it to where you want.
At the end of the day, there are a lot of folding bikes to choose from out there in the electric world. What sets the EFB apart from the others would probably be the mid-drive motor performance and weight distribution. But there are some considerations to take into account, so let’s go over the tradeoffs really quickly. The kickstand is center mounted, so you can get ‘pedal-lock’ when reversing in a garage or maneuvering the bike backwards with the stand down. The brakes are mechanical disc brakes, which work well, but we are seeing more and more bikes upgrade to hydraulic brakes these days. And finally, the battery amp hour rating, narrow handle bar, and somewhat flat seat mean this will likely not be a good choice for those looking to ride very long distances. The EFB does shine as a last mile vehicle, and I love how easy it is to fold and carry around. I want to thank Electric Bike Technologies for letting me try out this bike, and I look forward to looking at the rest of their lineup.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Electric Bike Technologies Ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- An electric folding bike with a powerful mid-drive motor and battery, easy to stow and use as a last mile vehicle, and some great features
- 3 sets of lights for safety and visibility, each front and rear has a main battery integrated light, and there are reflective sidewalls on the tires
- A set of 20” x 1.75” tires that have good tread and they are even complimented with puncture protection
- The bike features a rear rack, plastic fenders, telescoping stem, and grips for smooth and relaxed riding
- I love the wire setup here, it uses internally routed cables and this great wire loom zipper case, having this helps for maneuverability, keeping the frame from being nicked, makes it easy for maintenance
- The Dapu MD250 is powerful, here it is set for a rating of 350 watt nominal and 720 watts at a peak rating, and keeps weight centered for better riding by making it a mid-drive
- Not only do you have a trigger throttle here, but it also makes use of torque based pedal assist, I feel the Dapu MD250 works really well and the pedaling feels very natural
- Mechanical 160mm disc brakes in both the front and rear, mechanical brakes are easy to maintain as well as adjust, and the rotor size works great for this application
- A strong battery with a 48v 14ah rating, it is positioned center in the main tube to increase riding stability as well as making it easy to carry when folded
- The display is color and is easy to read, it also has a percentage readout for the battery, which keeps out the guess work of how much you have left
- Electric Bike Technologies has added a deep dive menu into the system which will allow you to tinker with your bikes electric capabilities if you so wish, the support is great and the company will help you change things like top speed or number of pedal assist levels for example
Cons:
- The center mounted kickstand can produce ‘pedal lock’. Pedal lock is an annoying occurrence that happens when you reverse a bike with the kickstand down. The crank rotates back and strikes the kickstand, causing the bike to lock up until you push it forward a bit and stow the kickstand back up
- I love the color display, but it should be noted that it is not removable and could be vulnerable to the elements if you left it outside
- The brakes are mechanical disc brakes, which work well, but we are seeing more and more bikes upgrade to hydraulic brakes these days
- The battery amp hour rating, narrow handle bar, and somewhat flat seat mean this will likely not be a good choice for those looking to ride very long distances
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