Folding bikes are by their nature compact, and generally more transportable than their non-folding counterparts - and electric folding bikes are of course no different, albeit with a few extra kilos. This means that for the most part you should be able to carry electric folders onto public transport without too much hassle. We're focusing on sub-£2k options here, but if you think you can stretch to a bigger budget, we’ve got a broader guide to the best electric folding bikes which will provide a few more options.
When it comes to electric folding bikes, you’ll find the wheels are generally smaller (think 16” and 20” wheels), and the batteries are usually smaller too and thus offer less range. However, they’re still excellent bits of kit for shorter rides. At the £2,000 and below price point, you’ll likely find hub motors and most will offer some choice of gearing. Others, like the FLIT e-bike, use a single-speed drivetrain which offers simplicity and is ideal for flatter terrain.
Best electric folding bikes under £2,000
- MiRider One - best overall | Buy for £1,595 from MiRider
- FLIT M2 - best lightweight folder | Pre-order for £1,999 from FLIT
- Raleigh Stow-E-Way - best under £1,500 | Buy for £999 from JeJames Cycles
- Dallingridge Oxford - best for around £1,000 | Buy for £1,099 from E-Bikes Direct
- Estarli e20.7 Original Pro - best fully equipped e-folder | Buy for £1,480 from Estarli
- Fiido D11 - best under £1,000 | Buy for £930 from Geekbuying
- Volt Metro - best of British | Buy for £1,949 from Volt
- B'Twin Tilt 500 - best for tight budgets | Buy for £699 from Decathlon
- Cytronex Brompton - best Brompton conversion kit | Buy for £1,145 from Cytronex
1. MiRider One – from £1,595 (best overall)
The MiRider One is now in its second edition, and comes with a smaller, lighter rear hub motor as well as some upgrades to the wheels compared to the 2020 version. It’s not the lightest electric folder to ever sit on our scales at 17.65kg, but it is one of the best. The new motor comes with 15% more torque than the old one (up to 40Nm), which is noticeably more powerful on steeper hills as well as longer ascents.
It’s easy to fold and wheel about when compacted, and it can fit in the boot of a car – even small ones like a 1992 Peugeot 205 (with the seats up!). It’s pretty quirky and has retained the looks that made it popular in the first place. For us, it’s hard to beat at this price, and the warehouse is in the UK too, so you’ve got local(ish) customer service if you need it.
For more detail, read our review of the MiRider 2021.
2. FLIT M2 – from £1,999 (early bird pricing) (best lightweight folder)
While we’ve only had a first ride with the M2, we loved the FLIT-16 (their previous model) so much that we had to include it. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the £1,999 price is only an early bird price, with the eventual full price being £2,499.
The M2 offers small but significant enough improvements on the FLIT-16, including upgrades to the rear hub motor and a weld-free frame. This means it’s not only more powerful, but more compact when folded, too. At a claimed weight of 14kg, it’s easily one of the best options out there for multi-modal trips and commutes, without any impact on ride quality.
For more detail, read our first ride review of the FLIT M2.
3. Raleigh Stow-E-Way - £1,199 (best under £1,500)
At under £1,500 this folding electric bike represents good value, and rides like a larger sized bike thanks to the 20” wheels. It’s not the lightest at just over 20kg, but it does come equipped with LED lights, mudguards, a rack, and a kickstand – essentially everything you need to get started.
It’s powered by a rear TransX hub motor, and paired with a 250Wh battery. It’s not going to give you masses of range, but for a couple of short commutes a week or leisure rides it’ll be enough. There’s also a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain which is relatively rare on folding e-bikes, so perhaps one of the better options for hilly areas.
For more detail, read our review of the Raleigh Stow-E-Way.
4. Dallingridge Oxford – from £1,099 (best around £1,000)
The Dallingridge Oxford is one of the better ‘cheaper’ folding electric bikes, and another that comes with 20” wheels. The model we tested had a 504Wh battery but if your budget is tight, you can also opt for something smaller. The Oxford comes with 6-speed Shimano Tourney gears, which makes it more appetising for hilly areas.
That being said, there are some compromises to be expected at this price point. At 22kg it’s not exactly lightweight, so perhaps not the easiest for lugging around tube stations. The folding design could also do with a locking mechanism of sorts when in use, but the motor’s responsiveness and overall ride quality make it worth a look if this is where your budget lies.
For more detail, read our review of the Dallingridge Oxford.
5. Estarli e20.7 Original Pro - £1,480 (best fully equipped e-folder)
Described by our reviewer as a “fun, dependable folder at a reasonable price”, the Estarli e20.7 Original Pro is another popular and affordable e-bike from the burgeoning British brand. Our reviewer, Stu, ended up keeping his for six months, so saw the changing of the seasons through with it, and felt it offered smooth power delivery and excellent handling even on wet days.
At just under 18kg it doesn’t tip the scales either way. It’s hefty enough to be stable on windy days, and light enough to be folded up and wheeled around relatively easily. The motor offers up to 40Nm of torque, and is paired with a 259Wh removable seatpost battery, which Stu only managed to get between 24 and 28 miles out of a charge, so something to consider if you plan on riding it for longer, or don’t want to charge it every day.
For more detail, read our review of the Estarli e20.7 Original Pro.
6. Fiido D11 - £930 (best under £1,000)
At just under £1,000, the Fiido D11 is a striking pice and it isn’t too shabby a bike either. It folds easily, making it ideal for mixed transport commutes. While it weighs a not-lightweight 19kg, the battery is easily removed from the seatpost for charging. (This also means you don’t have to haul the bike indoors to do so.) Removing the battery brings the weight down to 13.5kg, which is far more manageable for carrying.
The motor is rear-hub mounted and paired with that 417Wh battery, which our reviewer found extended to about 50km of mixed assist use on flat terrain. It’s a short, sitting-upright sort of position on the bike, so best suited to short journeys rather than long-distance riding, but ideal for commuters who need a little something to get them from A to B.
For more detail, read our review of the Fiido D11.
7. Volt Metro - £1,949 (best of British)
With integrated Spanninga lights, a rear rack, a kickstand and mudguards, it’s hard to beat the practicality of the Volt Metro. And at just shy of £2,000, it’s good value, too. The Volt Metro is powered by a 250W rear-hub mounted Spintech motor, and is paired with a removable 504Wh battery which Volt claims can provide up to 50 or 60 miles of range in favourable conditions.
While we haven’t reviewed the Metro yet, we have tested and liked several of Volt’s other bikes like the Volt Connect and Volt Alpine, so we have no doubt the Metro would be of a similar quality.
8. B’Twin Tilt 500 - £799 (best for tight budgets)
At under £800 the B’Twin Tilt 500 is a pure budget beater. It weighs 18.6kg so it’s not the most portable folder in the world, but is reasonably compact when folded. It comes with a 6-speed Shimano drivetrain so likely suited to both hillier and flatter areas, although the rear hub motor is not the most powerful.
It provides up to 26Nm of torque, and the battery is also quite small at 187Wh, providing an estimated range of 35km. But, if you’re on a tight budget and want something to zip around on, it’s likely a good starter bike.
And if you have a Brompton you already love...
9. Cytronex Brompton - £1,145 (best Brompton conversion kit)
If you’ve already got a folding bike (namely, a Brompton), and fancy giving electric a go, there’s no better kit than the Cytronex Brompton conversion kit. A UK based company, Cytronex offers you the chance to turn your unassisted Brompton into an electric version through a geared front hub motor and a bottle shaped battery atop the top tube.
Our tester was impressed by the quality of the build, and how lightweight (3.2kg) and neat it was when fitted to the test Brompton. The motor is nice and quiet during operation, and our tester calculated they could get about 25 miles of assistance from one battery charge on a very hilly Pennine test course.
For more detail, read our review of the Cytronex Brompton.
How to choose from the best electric folding bikes under £2,000
Which cheap electric folding bike is the best?
It’s hard to define which electric folding bike is the best, let alone what is considered to be cheap. It’s better to look at whether you’re getting value for your money, rather than what will work for a few months and cost a couple of hundred pounds. In the long-term, it may well work out cheaper to spend a little more now and buy something of better quality.
Figure out what your electric bike needs are and work from there. We have plenty of buying advice articles to read through to help you narrow down your options. If a cheap electric folding bike is what you’re after, then there are a few suggestions under £1,500 on this list, and even one or two below £1,000 to get started with.
What size wheels do electric folding bikes have?
You’ll likely see a variety of wheel sizes on folding bikes. The smaller, more compact electric folding bikes tend to have the smaller wheels - think 16”. Whereas, the larger, slightly less compact folders have bigger wheels, like 20”.
This does mean there’s a trade-off in terms of comfort versus the ability to cram your bike onto a train or bus. The larger wheels will offer a nicer ride, whereas the smaller 16” wheels are more compact and thus generally feature on lighter, more portable folding bikes.
What kind of gears are on electric folding bikes?
Again, this depends. You’ll see some electric folding bikes with derailleur gears, and anything from three- to seven- or eight-speed drivetrains. Alternatively, some use single-speed operations, and others use hub gears. It all depends on the brand and, not coincidentally, the price.
Hub gears are a bit more durable as they’re hidden from the elements, whereas derailleur gears are more exposed and open to damage from getting bashed into things when the bike is being carried around or stored on public transport.
How do electric folding bikes fold?
Many electric folding bikes simply fold in half. A mechanism hinges the frame in the middle and the handlebars fold down for a more compact fold. The seat post also tends to use a quick-release mechanism so you can easily lower it when folding the bike.
There are, of course, exceptions to this. Some electric folding bikes fold in multiple places, which can make them more compact when folded, yes, but it also means there are more steps involved in getting them to that size.
What kind of motors are on electric folding bikes?
With weight a big factor on electric folding bikes, you are unlikely to see heavier, mid-drive motors being equipped. Instead, most folding bikes will use a hub drive motor in either the front or rear wheel. These are generally lighter, and won’t get in the way of the folding mechanisms.
What kind of mileage range do you get on electric folding bikes?
Typically because of the size and weight of an electric folding bike, their batteries are a little bit smaller. This does mean that the range can be less than on bikes with larger capacity batteries. Think more in the 20-50 mile range than beyond that. If you need something to go further, then consider looking at other, non-folding e-bikes.
