The best folding electric bikes of 2024

Here are some of our favorite folding electric bikes on the market.

While foldable bikes have long been a popular source of transportation for urban commuters, foldable electric bikes are now entering the fray, helping to fuel a local biking trend. With their onboard motors, foldable e-bikes give you more range, allowing you to cruise around town, commute to work, go to the grocery, or explore San Francisco’s Wiggle bike route.

And unlike a standard e-bike, foldable bikes give you the additional convenience of portability, allowing you to fit the bike in the back of a hatchback or RV. Some are even compact and lightweight enough to carry onto public transportation or into the office.

There’s a lot to think about when shopping for a foldable electric bike, including size, weight, power, range, and price. We researched and tested a variety of foldable e-bikes to find the top models. Here’s what we found.

I narrowed in on the top foldable e-bikes through a mix of research and hands-on testing. I road tested the MOD City+ for more than a week, taking it through urban roads and even on a few gravel paths, evaluating its power, ride, and range. For those bikes that I didn’t test, I conducted extensive research, carefully comparing specs for each bike while also scouring through dozens of user reviews. In making my picks, I considered many factors, including weight, power, portability, and price. Since folding e-bike needs can vary, I included two class C e-bikes capable of reaching speeds of up to 28 mph, a lightweight foldable e-bike for those looking to take their bike on public transportation, and a budget option that falls well under the $1,000 price point. I also included one non-electric folding bike that I've been testing out.

The MOD City+ Step-Thru 3 is equipped with a 500W rear hub motor, five pedal assist options, and a throttle for motor-only power. It pairs that power with a set of hydraulic brakes with large 180mm rotors. It sits on 20-inch wheels with 3-inch-wide tires.

A 576-watt-hour battery provides up to 45 miles of range depending on the terrain and power assist use. As a Class 3 e-bike, it can reach speeds of up to 28 mph with pedal assist and 20 mph with throttle only. It can also handle a total payload, including rider, of 275 pounds.

The MOD City+ folds into a relatively compact size of 42 by 15 by 26.5 inches, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bike you can take on the local city bus. At 65 pounds, putting it in the back of a trunk or carrying it into your home is doable. Lugging it up a few flights of stairs to an apartment or onto public transportation isn’t.

MOD City+ Step-Thru 3

There’s a lot to like about the MOD City+. First and foremost, it’s a very comfortable bike to ride. The step-through frame makes it easy to mount, and the frame geometry puts the rider in a back-friendly, upright position. A heavily padded seat, front suspension, and thick 3-inch tires smooth out bumps in the road, making for a comfortable and stable ride.

As a class 3 e-bike the MOD City+ certainly doesn’t lack power. While its heavy weight made it difficult to ride with no pedal assist, the combination of small wheels and a powerful motor makes it quick and responsive on each pedal assist mode. I put the MOD City+ to the test on one of the steeper roads in my neighborhood to see how well it could climb hills, and it had no problem reaching the top using only throttle power.

While the inherent small wheels in most foldable bikes typically result in squirrely handling, the MOD City+ is surprisingly stable. That’s because its wheelbase — the distance between the front and back wheels — is similar to a standard bike.

MOD City+ doesn’t just have a lot of get-up-and-go; it also doesn’t skimp on stopping power. Given its heavy weight, I was impressed with how quickly I could bring it to a stop, a real credit to its hydraulic disc brakes and large 180mm brake rotors.

MOD City+ Step-Thru 3 folded.

The MOD City+ is a top-notch foldable e-bike. Its 500W motor makes it feel quick, and the frame geometry, 3-inch tires, front suspension, and large seat make it feel stable and comfortable. The battery provides ample range. And with its exceptional stopping power, riders should feel comfortable using that powerful motor to reach speeds in the 20s. While the bike folds up into a compact enough size to fit into a hatchback trunk or store in a closet, it’s not a bike you can tuck under your desk at work. It’s also too heavy to function as a foldable commuter bike you could carry into an office building or take on public transportation.

Riding the MOD City+ Step-Thru 3 on the street.

The Mod City+ 3 is a zippy e-bike with ample power thanks to a 500W motor. Its step-through frame design, upright position, wide wheelbase, and 3-inch tires make riding on pavement or compact off-road surfaces comfortable.

At 65 pounds, the Mod City+ 3 is on the heavy side of the folding e-bike spectrum, making it unsuitable as a true foldable commuter bike.

The Expand 5 offers tremendous versatility and power at a very reasonable price. It’s fitted with a large 750-watt motor that gives you four pedal assist levels with a seven-speed drivetrain. And with its 4-inch tires, you can take it onto unpaved terrain without feeling unstable. A large 672Wh battery gives it a range of up to 45 miles, and a 55-pound capacity rear rack. We only wish it had hydraulic brakes versus mechanical disc brakes, given that this is one of the heavier e-bikes at more than 60 pounds.

A large 750 watt motor with four speed options gives you ample pedal assist power. We also like the large 4-inch tires, which help absorb shock while keeping the bike stable on loose surfaces.

Given the bike’s heavy weight, we wish it was fitted with hydraulic brakes versus mechanical brakes.

Lectric offers one of the more affordable and lighter foldable electric bikes on the market. It’s well under the $1,000 price point and weighs significantly less than most at less than 50 pounds. While you won’t be carrying this bike around for long distances, you’ll need less pedal assist to push it forward. With its 300-watt rear hub motor, it peaks at pedal assist speeds of 20 mph. With its 7.8AH battery, you’ll get an impressive 45 miles on a full charge. It also has large hydraulic disc brakes that give you plenty of stopping power.

Per its name, the Lectric XP Lite weighs a good 10 pounds less than most foldable electric bikes, which means it requires less leg power to move forward. It also comes with beefy 180mm hydraulic disc brakes, ensuring you can stop quickly when needed.

With its 300W rear hub motor, the Lectric XP has less power, hence a lower top speed and less ability to climb steeper hills than electric bikes fitted with 500W motors.

Most foldable electric e-bikes are simply too heavy and large, even when folded, to carry up flights of stairs or tote onto the subway. Brompton’s Electric C-Line Urban folding bike is an exception. It folds down to a compact size and weighs a very manageable 35 pounds. And while it’s no powerhouse, its 250-watt motor and 300WH battery is capable of providing two levels of pedal assist up to 15.5 mph with a range of up to 45 miles. Adding to its function as a commuter bike, the C-Line’s well-designed folding system allows you to break it down in under 30 seconds, plus it has rollers that allow you to pull it like a piece of rolling luggage.

Its lightweight design and ability to fold down quickly into a very compact size make it one of the best e-bikes for commuting.

The weight savings and compact size come with a power compromise as the C Line’s small 250W motor tops out at 15.5 mph.

With its ability to fold down into a compact size, the Priority Folder is the perfect affordable bike for intermodal commuters. It has three points of folding and smaller 20 inch wheels, which allow it to fold down to a compact 31 by 16 by 30 inches. Couple that compact size with a total weight of just 29 pounds and you have a bike that you can stow in a trunk, pick up and carry up a few flights of stairs or tote onto public transportation.

The Folder also uses a belt drive and sealed 8-speed hub, so there’s no greasy chain to worry about rubbing up against your work attire. You also don’t have to worry about periodically cleaning and lubing the drivetrain. The Folder also has a large rack on the back for cargo.

A low 22.5-inch step over height and geometry that puts the rider in an upright position also make the Folder conducive to commuting.

Riding the Priority Folder bike on the street.

Folding bikes typically compromise performance in order to fold down into a compact size. Such is the case with the Priority Folder, though not to the extent I’ve seen with other foldable bikes. Its smaller wheels make for a twitchier ride, which makes it very responsive for unpredictable city traffic. Typically, smaller wheels make the bike feel less stable at higher speeds, but the Folder counters that with a wheel base that’s about the same as you would find on a standard commuter bike.

The Folder’s drivetrain is reliable. It shifts smoothly and quietly through its eight gears, a testament to the belt drive and sealed Shimano hub. Along with making the bike more maneuverable, the smaller wheels also accelerate more quickly than larger ones, giving the Folder a zippy feel on flat terrain.

Where the Folder really shines is in its portability. I was able to fold up the Folder in under 30 seconds. Once folded up, it was easy to lift and carry or throw in the trunk of my Toyota RAV4. The Folder uses numerous quick release clamps and levers to speed along the folding and unfolding process. While I liked this, it does require some care to ensure everything is properly tightened down before you mount up.

Priority Folder in trunk of car.

The Priority Folder is an excellent foldable bike. It rides well and folds up into compact size. Its eight gears make it easy to ride over flat terrain and modest hills. Plus, it’s light enough to carry into an office building, up a flight of stairs or onto‌ a city bus. It’s also one of the more affordable foldable bikes you’ll find at a price point that’s under $1,000.

The Priority Folder offers a comfortable and stable ride with its wide wheelbase and thick tires. With its manageable weight and ability to fold down to a compact size, it works well as an intermodal commuter bike.

While the Priority Folder does well on mainly flat terrain, its weight makes it more difficult to ride over hilly terrain.

There’s a lot to think about when shopping for a foldable e-bike, including weight, power, folding mechanism, and battery capacity. Ahead, we’ll discuss all these factors and more.

Since most people buy a folding bike so they can carry it into their office or up several flights of stairs to their apartment, paying close attention to weight is crucial. Even the very lightest foldable electric bikes aren’t particularly light at nearly 40 pounds. The heaviest ones tip the scales at more than 60 pounds. making them very difficult to carry over beyond very short distances.

The point of a folding bike is to reduce its size to something that’s easier to carry — depending on its weight — and store in tighter living confines, such as in an RV or apartment. Most folding bikes have a quick-release lever that folds the bike in half with handlebars that fold down. Others, like the Brompton folding electric bike, uses a series of pins and wheels to make folding and unfolding it a faster process. Along with the time it takes to fold and unfold the bike, it’s also important to note how compact the bike is when it’s folded up, especially if you plan to store it in your cubicle at work or tote it onto public transportation.

Most foldable e-bikes have their motors in the rear hub as opposed to located mid-bike on the frame in order to save weight and space, both of which are important with foldable bikes. Foldable bike motors run the gamut from 250 watts up to 750 watts. While higher wattage offers more torque for climbing hills and providing pedal assist up to greater speeds, the motors are also heavier and burn through batteries more quickly.

A bike’s range is determined by the capacity of its battery, which is given in watt hours and volts. While the battery’s capacity largely determines how far the bike can go before it needs a recharge, those factors are also impacted by the bike’s weight and the level of pedal assist the rider uses. That said, most foldable e-bikes get about 45 miles on a single charge.

Wheel size on a folding bike is typically small to allow it to fold up into a compact size. E-bikes usually have 16-inch or 20-inch wheels. For the sake of comparison, a full-sized bike typically has wheels that are 26 to 28 inches. While a 16-inch tire allows the bike to fold up into a more compact size, a larger 20-inch wheel offers more stability and better cushioning over rough pavement or unpaved paths. If you’re looking for a more compact bike and don’t mind the compromise in stability, go with a bike with 16-inch wheels. If you value stability over portability, stick to a bike with 20-inch wheels.

Along with wheel size, also consider tire size, which can range from 2 to 4 inches on most e-bikes. Thicker tires, though heavier, absorb shock better.

Choosing the right electric bike depends on what you plan to use it for. If you see yourself riding it to the bus station, quickly folding it up for a ride on the bus, then carrying it with you into the office or onto the metro, then go with a lightweight model that folds into a very compact size, such as the Brompton C Line. If you’re looking for a bike that you can ride for touring or pleasure over varied terrain, the Mod City+, with its powerful motor and comfortable design, is your best choice.

With its quick acceleration and high top speed, the MOD City+ is one of the quickest folding electric bikes you’ll find. Looking for a bike that’s quick to break down? Go with Bromtpon’s C Line, which folds up in about 30 seconds.

There are some tradeoffs with folding electric bikes, and it mainly has to do with stability. Folding electric bikes use smaller 16 inch or 20 inch wheels. While this makes them more maneuverable and compact when you fold them up, it also reduces their stability, making their handling more twitchy at higher speeds while providing less cushioning over bumps and potholes.

Electric bikes are significantly heavier than their non-electric counterparts. While a standard aluminum hybrid might weigh around 30 pounds, an e-bike will weigh 45 to 65 pounds. Even the lightest folding e-bike still weighs around 35 lbs.

Electric bikes are broken into three classes based on the amount of assistance the motor provides. Class 1 e-bikes can reach pedal assist speeds up to 20 miles per hour. Class 2 E-bikes can also reach a max speed of 20 mph, but can do so with pedal assist or solely with a throttle. Class 3 e-bikes can reach 20 mph with just a throttle and up to 28 mph with pedal assist.

Here's how we choose products to recommend to you. Prices are accurate at the time of publication and subject to change.