Best Folding Electric Bikes 2022

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One of the top folding electric bikes of the year, the Rad Power Bikes RadExpand 5 is the epitome of a great e-bike made better.

For years the RadExpand’s predecessor, the RadMini, was a mainstay on our list of the best electric folding bikes. The name change wasn’t all that was new as Rad made some notable refinements to its peppy folding e-bike – keeping what made the RadMini great, but adding welcome new features in the process.

One of those noteworthy changes is the handlebars. Since nearly all folding e-bikes don’t merely fold at the frame but include the ability to fold down the handlebar as well, most manufacturers choose a funky handlepost design that’s compact and flat. Rad welcomed the engineering challenge and instead fitted the RadExpand with a short stem and BMX-style handlebars that still fold down fairly simply. The handlebars make for better handling, and in our opinion, it does wonders for the aesthetic too.

Rad also swapped out the old semi-slick tires for new, beefier 4” tires that add more comfort. The bike is fully rigid, meaning there isn’t a suspension fork, but the tires really help offset that when set to a lower PSI as they can soak up road vibrations, and we like that the lack of fork means the bike both weighs and costs less.

The motor and battery are reliable performers as we’ve come to expect from the other Rad Power Bikes’ models; the 750W motor accelerates well to 20 MPH while the battery delivers a very solid 25 – 45 miles per charge.

If you’re in the market for one of the best class II electric folding bikes, you’ll be hard pressed to find better value than the RadExpand 5

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The Electric Bike Report team spends a lot of time hanging out in the public lands of southern Utah. And no matter where we go — from St. George to Moab and everywhere in between — we’re bound to see a Lectric XP parked outside a nearby RV or campsite.

I’m not kidding, we see them everywhere. It’s easily the most common e-bike we’ve tested that we spot out in the wild. The Lectric XP is this popular for a few very good reasons: It’s cheap, it works and it’s just a ton of fun to romp around. Designed in Arizona, the Lectric XP is a super affordable fat folding e-bike powered by a 500W motor and a 48V, 9.6 Ah (460.8Wh) battery.

At under $1,000, the XP is not a luxury e-bike, but golly is it fun. The motor packs a satisfyingly powerful punch and the 2.0’s suspension and 3-inch tires provide plenty of cushion to take the edge off dirt roads and beaten paths. At 64lbs, it’s no featherweight, but the XP packs down small enough to easily fit in the back of a car or stow inside an RV (These seem really popular with the RV crowd).

For one of the most affordable e-bikes on the market, the Lectric XP punches above its weight class. It’s a fun and reliable choice for anyone looking to get into e-biking.

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Aventon updated their uber popular Sinch model earlier in 2022 and it had a host of new features that made it a no-brainer option as one of the year’s best folding e-bikes.

It all started with the new frame. The Sinch used to come in only a high-step version, but Aventon made a new step-through design that made it more accessible for riders to hop on. That wasn’t all that was new with the frame though, the tubes are more boxy and modern, and this time around you have better color options than the run-of-the-mill black and white. The moss green version we reviewed turned heads while we were on theroad, and was backed up by equally eye-pleasing tan wall tires.

But of course looks aren’t everything and there is a lot about how the Sinch rides that people love. First, the frame is rock solid – we often forgot that the bike could fold in half. No additional flex or rattling could be found at the hinge which can occur in cheaply made folding bikes.

Also, the ride quality is superb once the Sinch gets going. Usually 4” tires come with a chunky tread pattern to encourage some exploring in dirt or sand, but the Sinch is outfitted with a semi-slick tread instead which holds speed well while still offering good cornering.

The new frame and wheels are still fueled by tried and true componentry; the 500 W motor provides impressive, measured assist on flats and hills, while the 672Wh battery will provide around 28-39 miles per charge. The Tektro brakes and Shimano 7-speed drivetrain both perform well, and should be easy to find replacements for when maintenance time comes.

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A popular e-bike from Santa Cruz-based firm Blix, the Vika+ Flex has a distinctly European styling. Based around a 500W motor and 48V, 12.8Ah (614Wh) battery, the Vika+ Flex has enough oomph to flatten hills and keep you rolling all day – it reminds us of a peppy little go kart.

Blix says the Vika+ Flex was designed with versatility in mind. It’s a compact folding bike that, with the right racks, can double as a light-duty utility bike. It comes with a rear pannier-style rack, lights and can be fitted with Blix’s modular racking system to increase its storage capacity. Many folding e-bikes seem built with a hyper focus on the folding aspect and less on ways to outfit it to your needs, so the customization here is a very welcome addition to this roundup of the best folding e-bikes.

We also really like the battery placement on the bike; low and behind the seat tube. This helps keep the center of gravity low and the ride stable. Overall the Blix Vika+ Flex is one of the better handling folding e-bikes featured here: it’s lighter than most, nimble, and just a lot of fin to take around town.

The Vika+ Flex has a throttle and pedal assist up to 20 mph, so that makes this a Class 2 e-bike. The styling is smart, and looks different from many of the other folding e-bikes on the market. And on the topic of folding, Blix says (and our experience can attest) that the Vika+ Flex will pack down in less than 20 seconds. A gripe we often have with the more affordable folding e-bikes is there is no way built in to help keep the bike folded, but Blix included magnets on both axles that help keep the folded bike together while maneuvering it around.

For those in the market for a classic design and a folding e-bike that won’t empty your wallet, the Blix Vika+ Flex is a choice that won’t let you down.

Folks, take it from those who do nothing but pay attention to e-bikes for a living: there are A LOT of e-bike companies our there. MOD Bikes represents a brand that was new to us until recently, and when we first tested out the City + we weren’t too sure what to expect. What we got was a bike we enjoyed so much it made the cut as one of the year’s best folding electric bikes, making it a good sleeper pick for those wanting something a little different.

So what it it that we enjoyed so much? It’s just a solid all-around performer that scored good to great across most of the criteria we value when reviewing electric bikes.

Unfolded, it’s got a wheelbase, weight and overall size that’s comparable to a non-folding e-bike. This gives it pretty great handling. The real highlight of this bike, though, is its speed. The Class 3 500W rear hub motor is surprisingly powerful, putting up average speeds in our circuit testing above 24 mph. All that speed requires good brakes, which the MOD City + has in spades. The City + was a surprise upset as one of the best braking e-bikes we ever tested, not folding e-bikes, but all e-bikes we’ve ever tested.

So while the go and stop portions of the ride do well, the range is sure to impress also. Our ranges tests yielded 22-49 miles of riding per charge, and you’ll go the distance while rolling on comfortable 20X3” semi-slick tires that are a joy to ride on.

If you’re like us and hadn’t heard of the MOD City + before, it’s worth a closer look for a great performing folding e-bike.

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No list of best folding e-bikes would be complete without a GoCycle.

The brainchild of a former McLaren engineer, the GoCycle fast-folding and ultralight design has become a design icon in the e-bike world. For several years they’ve been setting the bar high for what an urban folding e-commuter should be, and their new G4 model continues that trend. Almost identical to former models at first glance, the new G4 is flush with carbon fiber frame pieces that bring down the weight and give the bike better vertical compliance. The new bike also comes with a redesigned front hub motor system, new tires and an updated folding system that keeps the bike perfectly aligned.

We recently tested out the Gocycle G4 and found that it lives up to the expectations of a premium electric folder. Our testers described it as a “blast to ride” that “literally folds up in seconds.” The G4 model appears to have only made improvements on things we loved about its predecessor, the GX; it’s a great riding and folding bike.

The GoCycle G4 is a perfect fast-folder for the serious commuter who’s low on space. It’s compact, rides well and folds like a dream. It is one of the pricier bikes featured on our best electric folding bikes list, but if it’s within your budget and you need something for navigating the urban jungles, or just want to impress friends and family with an engineering delight, the GoCycle G4 is one to look at.

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We always talk about “car-killer” e-bikes here at EBR; the bikes that work so well they could inspire someone to ditch gas-guzzler. In the world of folding e-bikes, that car-killer would be the Tern Vektron.

The S10 is the flagship model of Tern’s Vektron range. It’s not the lightest nor the least expensive, but it is really good at what it was designed to do. The S10 is equipped with a Bosch Performance motor and 400Wh battery, giving it lots of grunt to carry you across town. It also folds nicely into a 41 × 86 × 68 cm cube and stands upright on its rear rack when folded, making it easily stowable in tight spaces.

But while the S10 is small, it can carry big loads. A hallmark of Tern is their sizable and strong rear racks that can hold nearly 60lbs and is compatible with a number of aftermarket carrying systems. Tern also mounted the Bosch Powerpack battery low over the rear wheel, helping to bring the center of gravity down and keep the bike stable and planted.

The Tern Vektron S10 is no bargain bike, but it’s not built to be. It’s an urban weapon for the commuter who needs a bike that can handle the transportation and storage gymnastics of modern city life, plus carry a few things along the way.

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The Brompton name has become synonymous with folding bikes. They’ve taken their tried-and-true M6L model and, with the help of a specially-built front hub motor designed by Formula E engineers, turned it into an e-bike.

Despite its small stature, the Electric M6L is a premium folding electric commuter that fetches a cool $4,200 (if you can get one). Aside from the small hub motor laced into the front wheel, the Electric M6L looks only slightly different from its non-motorized counterpart. The 300Wh battery is housed inside a small bag mounted to the front of the bike, which makes it look like a piece of luggage instead of e-bike paraphernalia.

The folding capabilities of the electric M6L are exactly the same as the non electric version, though the electrical bits make it slightly heavier. But it’s not obnoxiously heavy. At about 40 lbs, the Brompton is one of the lightest e-bikes on this list, so it’s still small enough to take up stairs or on to public transport.

An iconic piece of cycling history, the Brompton brand is ideal for commuters in dense urban environments who want the best folding bike they can find. Their Electric M6L just adds a dose of power to the already acclaimed folder.

It’s not always obvious why someone is attracted to the idea of a bike that folds. Some people want them because they save space; others want them because they make great commuters; and some people just like them because of the novelty and unique look.

Whatever your reason for buying a folding bike, make sure you think long and hard about what you want to do with it, because not all folders are created equal. Just like other realms of the cycling world, there are subsets of bikes inside the folding e-bike category that are designed for different uses. A lightweight commuter folding e-bike won’t perform well off-road, and a heavy all-terrain folder would be tough to carry up a set of stairs. So make sure you’re getting the right bike for you. Also, think hard about whether a folding bike is the right choice for your needs. Folding bikes often ride much differently than their full-sized counterparts, so keep in mind you might be trading ride quality for compactness. But, after all that thinking, if you’re still looking for an e-bike that packs down small but is still capable, you’ve come to the right place.

If you want to explore other categories of e-bikes, we’ve got some great reviews that look in-depth at virtually any type of e-bike you can think of. Or, if you’re new to the world of e-bikes, we’ve got a handy guide that’ll help you get started.