A wonderful benefit of technological advancements at the top end of the electric bicycle industry is the trickle-down effect of lower price points. An e-bike that may be listed at $1,500 or less would have cost nearly two or three times that amount just a few years earlier.
In the price band we look at here — e-bikes under $1,500 — you’re almost always looking at an electric equipped with a hub motor rather than a pricer and more sophisticated mid-drive motor. Components won’t be any brand’s ‘halo’ offering, either, but reliable, serviceable, and downright solid-performing parts are have become much more common.
So let’s look at six of the best e-bikes you can find in different categories, from commuting to cargo hauling.
Best Commuter E-Bike Under $1,500
Aventon Soltera Step-Through
41 mi
RANGE
20 mph
TOP SPEED
4 hrs
CHARGE TIME
43 lbs
WEIGHT
Rear Hub
MOTOR TYPE
41 mi
RANGE
20 mph
TOP SPEED
4 hrs
CHARGE TIME
43 lbs
WEIGHT
Highlights
- Diamond or step-through frame
- Lightweight
- Integrated lighting
Bottom Line
The entry-level model in Aventon’s broad line of hub-drive e-bikes, the Soltera city bike comes in step-through and step-over frame options — with two sizes for each — to fit riders 4’11” to 6’1” and 5’3” to 6’4” respectively. That’s a wide fit range ensuring a comfortable riding position for all but the tallest and shortest customers. It offers Class 2 pedal and throttle assist up to 20 mph via a 350W brushless rear hub motor with cadence sensing, powered by a 346Wh battery integrated into the downtube of its aluminum frame.
You get a lot of bang for a relatively small ‘buck’ with the Soltera: a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain, Tektro mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors, grippy and fast-rolling 700x35c Kenda tires, integrated front and rear lighting (the rear lights house in the frame’s seat stays are particularly slick), and a comfy Selle Royal comfort saddle.
Things to Consider
While the Soltera boasts considerable acceleration, its electric assist tops out at 20 mph, rather than the Class 3 (pedal assist only) standard of 28 mph. To hit that higher speed, you’ll need to increase your price point for a model like Aventon’s Level.2 commuter at $1,799 and tune it to Class 3 status through Aventon’s smartphone app.
Best Folding E-Bike Under $1,500
Engwe EP-2 Pro
50 mi
RANGE
28 mph
TOP SPEED
4 hrs
CHARGE TIME
75 lbs
WEIGHT
Rear Hub
MOTOR TYPE
50 mi
RANGE
28 mph
TOP SPEED
4 hrs
CHARGE TIME
75 lbs
WEIGHT
Highlights
- 750W sustained/960W peak motor
- 20 x 4” tires
- Compact storage
Bottom Line
A folder that’s no lightweight commuter, this 74-pound beast seeks the roads and trails less traveled. It’s outfitted with meaty 20 x 4” fat tires to float over sand, gravel, and a bit of snow, and packs plenty of power with its 750W rear hub motor putting out 55Nm of torque. And Engwe claims the 624Wh battery will get you up to 74.5 miles of range using pedal assist and as much as 31 miles relying on the bike’s throttle alone.
The Engwe EP-2 Pro comes equipped with a rear rack and has a total payload capacity (rider included) of 330 pounds. In three steps, it folds down to dimensions of 38.9 x 29.9 x 21.6” for carrying in your car’s trunk, but keep in mind you’ll need to hoist 74 pounds of mass to make that happen.
Things to Consider
The EP-2 fits a wide range of riders (5’2” to 6’3”). Still, at almost 75 pounds, it might be a lot of bikes for smaller and lighter riders to manage — especially if it needs to be lifted into a trunk or hatchback.
Best Cargo E-Bike Under $1,500
Lectric XPedition Cargo
150 mi
RANGE
20 mph
TOP SPEED
8 hrs
CHARGE TIME
68 lbs
WEIGHT
Rear Hub
MOTOR TYPE
150 mi
RANGE
20 mph
TOP SPEED
8 hrs
CHARGE TIME
68 lbs
WEIGHT
Highlights
- Dual-Battery Option
- 450-lb Payload Capacity
- Longtail Design
- Powerful Hub Motor
- Variety of Accessories Available
Bottom Line
Lectric endorses the XPedition cargo e-bike to carry up to 450 pounds (including rider) — more specifically, 300 pounds max on the included rear rack and as much as 35 pounds on a front rack should you add one to bolt onto the frame’s headtube mounts.
It’s a cargo hauler that comes ready to accessorize, and Lectric offers packages and individual add-ons galore for carrying cargo, kids, or even an adult passenger. A muscular 750W sustained/1310W peak rear hub motor with 85Nm of torque helps propel that load, and a second battery (a $300 add-on) can be run simultaneously with the base power pack to double the XPedition’s range.
Things to Consider
You’ll need space to store this longtail e-cargo bike. The handlebar mast folds to save more than a foot of vertical space, but you’re still left with six full feet of length to fit somewhere. Unlike pricier mid-motor cargo e-bikes such as the Yuba FastRack or Tern HSD, the XPedition cannot be stood up on its back end to eat up less floor space in your garage or home.
Best Beach Cruiser E-Bike Under $1,500
Denago Cruiser Model 1 Top-Tube
53 mi
RANGE
20 mph
TOP SPEED
3 hrs
CHARGE TIME
55 lbs
WEIGHT
Rear Hub
MOTOR TYPE
53 mi
RANGE
20 mph
TOP SPEED
3 hrs
CHARGE TIME
55 lbs
WEIGHT
Highlights
- Oozes Classic Style
- Ultra-Relaxed Riding Position
- Integrated Battery
- High-Step and Low-Step Options
Bottom Line
Does this bike look the part or what? Those arcing twin frame tubes, wide, swept-back chrome handlebars, a sprung comfort saddle, and classic aluminum chain guard will no doubt pluck at the heartstrings of riders of a certain age. Just a classic-looking beach cruiser, with seamless integration of a 396Wh battery into the frame’s downtube and a discreet 350W rear hub motor barely betraying that this is even an e-bike. She’s a head-turner, for sure.
You get Class 2 pedal and throttle assist up to 20 mph, mechanical disc brakes with motor cutoff switches, a 7-speed drivetrain, front and rear fenders, and frame mounting points for front and rear racks. The Cruiser Model 1 also comes in a low-step frame version to fit riders down to 5’1”, while the Cruiser Model 1 Top-Tube fits riders 5’4” to 6’3”.
Things to Consider
If you have other bikes, they will start feeling lonely and neglected. The Cruiser Model 1 is just too delicious-looking to resist taking out for a spin over any alternative.
Best Fat Tire E-Bike Under $1,500
Velotric Nomad 1
55 mi
RANGE
20 mph
TOP SPEED
8 hrs
CHARGE TIME
73 lbs
WEIGHT
Rear Hub
MOTOR TYPE
55 mi
RANGE
20 mph
TOP SPEED
8 hrs
CHARGE TIME
73 lbs
WEIGHT
Highlights
- 4”-wide fat tires
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Suspension fork
- Full-coverage fenders
Bottom Line
Deflate the Nomad 1’s 4”-wide tires to single-digit psi for riding sand, gravel, and snow, or firm them up for faster bike path and road riding. You’ve got that versatility with Velotric’s fat tire offering. It’s also rated to carry up to 33 pounds on a front and 55 pounds on a rear rack, should you add those to the bike. The frame has mounting provisions for both.
Velotric equips the Nomad 1 with a high-capacity 691Wh semi-integrated battery and says the bike gets up to 55 miles of range on pedal assist and 52 miles on throttle alone (hmmm). It comes in both high- and low-step frame versions, fitting riders 5’1” to 6’9”.
Things to Consider
This is another heavy bike, so it’s a lot to manage. This is part of the tradeoff at this end of the price spectrum. As mountain bike legend Keith Bontrager aptly put it ages ago, “Strong, light, cheap: pick two.”
Best Low-Step Leisure E-Bike Under $1,500
HOVSCO HOVCity 27.5″ Step-Thru
45 mi
RANGE
28 mph
TOP SPEED
4 hrs
CHARGE TIME
54 lbs
WEIGHT
Rear Hub
MOTOR TYPE
45 mi
RANGE
28 mph
TOP SPEED
4 hrs
CHARGE TIME
54 lbs
WEIGHT
Highlights
- Smooth-Welded Frame
- Adjustable Top Assisted Speed
- 540Wh Samsung/LG Battery With Flashlight
Bottom Line
Hovsco builds the HovCity 27.5” Step-Thru Cruiser on a smooth-welded aluminum low-step frame with components including a suspension fork with 75mm of bump-absorbing travel, cable-actuated disc brakes with 180mm rotors, a 7-speed drivetrain with a Shimano shifter, and front and rear fenders.
The heart of the HovCity is a 500W brushless rear hub motor that delivers pedal and throttle assist up to 20 mph, making it a Class 2 e-bike out of the box. However, customers can dial up the pedal assist to 28 mph through Hovsco’s app if they wish. Of course, that extra speed will reduce the bike’s range, which Hovsco claims to be up to 60 miles on pedal assist or 40 miles relying on the throttle.
Things to Consider
The e-bike does not come with any lights except for a strip of LEDs on the side of the frame-integrated battery. You’ll need to add a headlight and taillight for front and rear visibility. Hovsco offers a $19 add-on taillight but no headlight accessory. However, aftermarket options for both can be found in any bike shop or online.
