7 of the Best Folding E-Bikes

Robb Dorr
Written by Robb Dorr
Co-founder, Cycling Enthusiast

A folding e-bike is an electric bike that folds up into a small, compact, portable shape. They are ideal for those with limited storage options – such as in small apartments, student accommodations, or when at the office.

Folding e-bikes can also fit neatly into the trunk of your car if you wish to take them with you on a vacation or a camping trip, and offer a quick and easy alternative travel solution in the event of a breakdown. They are also much easier to carry onto a bus or train than a normal bike.

Folding e-bikes are not usually as powerful as their non-collapsible counterparts and it can be difficult to know how to rate them when comparing models. That’s why we’ve compiled this handy list of seven folding e-bikes for those of you looking for this type of transportation.

Best Limited Storage Space Folding E-Bike

Flyer™ by Radio Flyer logo

Flyer™ Folding Cargo E-Bike

Green Flyer™ Folding Cargo E-Bike drive side

40 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

7 hrs

CHARGE TIME

53 lbs

WEIGHT

Rear Hub

MOTOR TYPE

40 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

7 hrs

CHARGE TIME

53 lbs

WEIGHT

Best For: Adults, Men, Women
Approx. Price:
$1,699
Model Year:
2022
Ideal For
• Camping/RV use
• Small space living
• Fun adventures with the kiddos
• Hauling a ton of gear on a compact frame

Highlights

  • Folds down into a compact 35.5″ x 22″ x 31.5″ size
  • Lightweight but hauls up to 300 lbs (including rider)
  • Wide variety of accessories like racks, baskets, and child seating components

Bottom Line

The Flyer™ Folding Cargo e-bike is at home in the city as much as it is in the back of your camper, ready for hauling your groceries or for toting the kiddos around using the available child seat attachments. The company that brought you the beloved red wagon has unsurprisingly produced a fantastic e-bike that boasts an impressive payload of 300 lbs. while also folding down to a compact size for easy storage. 

The telescoping stem and seat post give plenty of range for riders from 4′ 11″ to 6′ 4″, one of the largest ranges we’ve seen, making the 860 Folding Cargo e-bike one of the most versatile electric bikes for the family. This class 2 folding cargo bike is a must for those looking for a multi-tasking e-bike. 

Things to Consider

One drawback is its ability to climb hills. There’s no rear gearing, so that means no shifting into an easier gear on climbs. So if you live in a city with steep hills or your adventure includes a challenging climb, this bike may not be the best choice. We will say that the 350W motor and light frame allow it to cruise up moderate inclines. It’s just tough on the steeper hills.

Best Fat Tire Folding E-Bike

Rad Power Bikes logo

RadExpand 5

radpower-radexpand

45 mi

RANGE

25 mph

TOP SPEED

4 hrs

CHARGE TIME

62.5 lbs

WEIGHT

Rear Hub

MOTOR TYPE

45 mi

RANGE

25 mph

TOP SPEED

4 hrs

CHARGE TIME

62.5 lbs

WEIGHT

Best For: Adults, Kids, Seniors
Approx. Price:
$1,649
Model Year:
2022
Ideal For
• Hunting or fishing
• Road trips without a bike rack
• Storing in small spaces
• Utility at your campsite or fishing expedition
• RVing
On Sale Now Thru 09/21/23
Save $150

Highlights

  • Chunky durable design
  • Great cargo capacity – 275lbs

Bottom Line

With four levels of pedal assist and a 7-speed drivetrain, the Rad Power RadExpand 5 has pretty good power for a foldable e-bike. The rugged construction and chunky tires mean it can handle even rough terrain.

Perfect for those RV expeditions into the wilderness, the RadExpand 5 also has improved geometry (including an adjustable riser bar that can be moved forward and back) and a comfortable rider position. It is even 5 pounds lighter than its predecessor.

Accessories for the RadExpand 5

For those looking to add extra comfort or utility to their RadExpand5, Rad Power has you covered with an impressive range of accessories, including:

  • Front-mounted baskets in large and small sizes
  • Enhanced comfort saddle
  • Handlebar-mounted mirror

Things to Consider

At over 60 lbs, this is a heavy machine, which means you’ll need to be pretty broad-shouldered to carry it. The irony is that the RadExpand 5 is only suitable for riders up to 5’ 10” in height, so it’s not the biggest people around.

Best All-Terrain Folding E-Bike

Aventon E-Bikes logo

Aventon Sinch

aventon-sinch-foldable

40 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

4.5 hrs

CHARGE TIME

68 lbs

WEIGHT

Rear Hub

MOTOR TYPE

40 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

4.5 hrs

CHARGE TIME

68 lbs

WEIGHT

Best For: Adults, Kids
Approx. Price:
$1,799
Model Year:
Ideal For
• RV holidays
• City riding/commuting where space is a premium
• Light off-roading
• Utility riding with cargo

Highlights

  • Great wide tires
  • Lots of torque
  • Front suspension fork

Bottom Line

Boasting a great retro look and available in both step-through and step-over frames, the Sinch from Aventon is a masterclass in off-road technology in a foldable package. You pay for this power in a slightly heavier and bulkier bike compared to other foldables, but when you get it out on the roads and trails, you’ll appreciate where all that weight comes from.
The throttle can also be unplugged and removed should you find yourself in an area where they are not allowed.

Accessories

To further augment your ride, Aventon has a fantastic catalog of accessories for you to choose from:

  • Aventon Suspension Seatpost
  • Aventon Fanttik Portable Air Pump
  • Aventon Rear Luggage Rack

Things to Consider

Again, this is a really weighty bike. At 68 lbs, the Sinch isn’t ideal for multi-modal commuting where you have to hop on and off buses and trains on your way to work. There are lighter foldables out there if you need to do this, though they may be more expensive.

Best Long-Range Folding E-Bike

Lectric logo

Lectric XP 3.0

Lectric XP Lite 3

55 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

4 hrs

CHARGE TIME

64 lbs

WEIGHT

Rear Hub

MOTOR TYPE

55 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

4 hrs

CHARGE TIME

64 lbs

WEIGHT

Best For: Adults, Men, Women
Approx. Price:
$999
Model Year:
2022
Ideal For
• Apartment living
• RVing
• Camping
• Boating
• Commuting
• Utility runs
• Multimodal commuting

Highlights

  • Powerful motor — 1000W Peak
  • Large LED screen
  • Upgradeable racks and baskets

Bottom Line

The XP 3.0 from Lectric provides a powerful riding experience with all the convenience and portability you’d expect from a foldable e-bike. The 48V lithium-ion battery offers standard and long-range options to power your ride for up to 45 or 65 miles, respectively, and the upgraded 1000W peak rear-hub motor gives you an impressive 55 Nm of torque.
A striking design and robust construction complete the package.

Accessories

In the same striking blue and black scheme as the bike itself, there is a range of accessories designed with the specific needs of the modern rider in mind.

  • Lectric Mirrors (safety first!)
  • Thule-Yepp Maxi Child Seat
  • Lectric Phone Mount

Things to Consider

This is yet another heavy foldable e-bike, so not too friendly for those wanting a bike to haul on and off public transportation. The other potential issue with the Lectric XP 3.0 is that you can’t remove the key when riding the bike. This means that you can’t really keep the key on your keychain, as your keys would be dangling as you ride — and by keeping the key separate, you risk losing it.

Best Lightweight Folding E-Bike

Brompton logo

Brompton Electric P Line Urban

brompton-p-line-urban

45 mi

RANGE

15.5 mph

TOP SPEED

4 hrs

CHARGE TIME

35 lbs

WEIGHT

Front Hub

MOTOR TYPE

45 mi

RANGE

15.5 mph

TOP SPEED

4 hrs

CHARGE TIME

35 lbs

WEIGHT

Best For: Adults, Men, Women
Approx. Price:
$4,700
Model Year:
2022
Ideal For
• Multimodal commuting
• Small space living
• RVing
• Boating
• Camping
• Commuting
• Utility runs

Highlights

  • Incredibly light
  • Folds in just 20 seconds
  • Superlight 4-speed gearing system

Bottom Line

The Brompton Electric P Line is a lightweight and simple-to-operate foldable e-bike for urban commuting. Designed for convenience, its titanium Advance Rear Frame and premium weight-saving components combine for ultimate portability. The P Line is a great choice for students, office workers, or anyone looking to get from A to B with a minimum of fuss.

The innovative dual-locking seat post means you can steer the folded bike by the saddle, and the larger, lighter Advance Roller Wheels simply glide from street to building. The battery is easily removable and can be charged separately from the bike, just like your smartphone.

Accessories

For those of you looking to really invest in your Brompton experience, there are a host of fantastic accessories waiting for you:

  • Lezyne LED Femto USB Drive Bike Light Set
  • Brompton Quad Lock Phone Mount
  • Brompton Toolkit

Things to Consider

At last we have a folding e-bike that’s light enough to reasonably carry on and off buses and trains during your commute, although portability comes at a cost. The Electric P Line will cost you a little more, but if portability is what you need, this is it.

Best Commuting Folding E-Bike

Gocycle logo

G4i

gocycle-g4i

50 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

3.5 hrs

CHARGE TIME

37.7 lbs

WEIGHT

Front Hub

MOTOR TYPE

50 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

3.5 hrs

CHARGE TIME

37.7 lbs

WEIGHT

Best For: Adults, Men, Seniors, Women
Approx. Price:
$5,499
Model Year:
2021
Ideal For
• Multimodal commuting
• Boating
• RVing
• Camping
• Small space city living

Highlights

  • Clean and modern design
  • Affordable low price
  • Fabulous power to weight ratio

Bottom Line

Now in its fourth generation, the foldable G4i from Gocycle has some decent power tucked away in its lightweight and portable frame. Smooth and quiet, Gocycle’s proprietary new G4drive electric motor delivers impressive torque in class-leading and compact packaging.

An intuitive folding mechanism makes it possible to fold and stow the Gocycle G4 into a compact package in just ten seconds, making it ideal for the morning commute. Once folded, it can easily be rolled on its wheels, making it incredibly versatile and easy to transport and store.

Accessories

If you need to carry laptops, tablets, or textbooks with you on your daily commute, GoCycle has you covered with a terrific range of luggage solutions:

  • GoCycle Travel Case
  • GoCycle Front Pannier Bag
  • GoCycle Pannier Rain Cover

Things to Consider

Slightly heavier than the P Line, but at 39 lbs, the G4 is still light for a folding e-bike. One potential issue is that the display only gives you a scant handful of metrics, so you’ll need to download the app and attach your phone to the handlebars to get reads like speed, pedal-assist level, and battery life.

Best Cargo Folding E-Bike

Tern logo

Tern HSD P9

tern-hsd-p9-2

60 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

6 hrs

CHARGE TIME

57 lbs

WEIGHT

Mid-drive

MOTOR TYPE

60 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

6 hrs

CHARGE TIME

57 lbs

WEIGHT

Best For: Adults, Men, Seniors, Women
Approx. Price:
$3,699
Model Year:
2022
Ideal For
• Grocery stores/boutiques offering delivery
• Smaller delivery businesses
• Utility use instead of a second car
• RVing with longer rides planned
• Car replacement with optional child seat

Highlights

  • Fantastic motor from Bosch
  • 375 lbs load capacity
  • Terrific range of color and customization options

Bottom Line

The HSD P9 features a Bosch® Active Line Plus motor with Purion display, which makes this e-bike punch well above its weight in terms of power, though does result in a little inconstancy when it comes to the battery life. A Custom Suntour suspension fork and the 9-speed Shimano Alivio Shadow RD derailleur allow for better handling on more difficult terrain.

For those of you wanting to take little ones on your ride, you’ll be delighted to learn that the HSD P9 fits one Thule® Yepp Maxi, Yepp Nexxt Maxi, or Bobike® GO Maxi child seat with no adapters required.

Accessories

If you do have kids, you’ll understand all too well the need for luggage solutions on your e-bike. Thankfully Tern has you covered with a host of options.

  • Footrests, kickstands, and attachable passenger handle bars
  • Front and rear bags, side panniers, cargo racks with straps
  • Pet carriers and multiple passenger seating configurations

Things to Consider

This bike can get pretty pricey, especially once you factor in the additional accessories, but it’s worth it when you’ve gotten that ride dialed in just right. This bike can feel a bit sluggish at times when carrying a beefy payload. Nonetheless, it is meant for carrying heavy cargo rather than nipping around at high speeds.

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About Our Editorial Team

Robb Dorr
Written by Robb Dorr
Co-founder, Cycling Enthusiast
Robb is a massive cycling enthusiast who has more than 20 years of non-motorized cycling experience. He started eBikes.org to lower the barrier of entry to cycling and reduce the intimidation people can experience when getting into the cycling world.

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