The Best Electric Bikes 2023

So long as you don’t need a bike with suspension or one that can fold up for easy storage, the VanMoof S3 is hard to beat.

The automatic gears, powerful motor and good range make it a joy to ride. There are lots of useful extras including a built-in lock, alarm and tracking system, and you get LED lights and mudguards as standard – plus a generous three-year warranty.

Do note that if you’re under 170cm (5ft7), buy the X3 instead as the S3 has a large frame.

One of the biggest attractions of the S3 when we first reviewed it was the low price compared to the S2, but VanMoof has had to increase the price several times, so it’s no longer the bargain it once was.

The MiRider One is a thoughtfully designed folding bike which is well built and great to ride.

It’s more affordable than some of its rivals, yet has very few compromises. It’s relatively lightweight, built with good-quality components and is covered by a two-year UK warranty.

Mudguards and a front light are included as standard, and there’s no app to complicate things: you just unfold and ride.

Like some others here, it’s no longer as cheap as it used to be. The current model costs £200 more than the 2021 version did, but has a larger-capacity battery for a better range (up to 45 miles) and a new motor with 25% more torque, so it isn’t just inflation.

It’s worth noting that there are no gears, which makes it harder to ride – especially up hills – if the battery runs out. But if you’re careful to ensure it doesn’t, it isn’t a problem.

The L3 is a fold-up city bike that’s cheaper than you’d expect, and has a much bigger battery than most rivals. Some people will dislike that this makes it heavy, while others – maybe cycle couriers – will appreciate that it will allow them to get around all day (perhaps even multiple days) without running out of juice.

It’s a budget bike, but that massive battery and the fact it’s a 48V system will be more than enough to persuade some that it’s the best choice over other foldable models here.

Built to a budget, the Vengeance E offers a good overall specification, with a Suntour HESC system that uses a torque sensor rather than inferior cadence sensors.

The range of up to 40 miles is fine at this price, and unlike Chinese imports, you can take the Vengeance E to your local Halfords store to get it repaired should anything break.

The cheap-looking control panel from the 2019 model has been swapped for the much superior Suntour compact OLED and, aside from the slightly noisy motor, it’s great value compared to many electric mountain bikes.

The RadRunner 2 is a utility bike that should appeal to anyone looking for an inexpensive electric bike for carrying luggage (or a second person) to replace their car for short journeys.

Range is relatively limited compared to other bikes here and optional accessories (of which there are many) can push the price up a lot from the attractive-looking purchase price.

If you can’t tell from the photo, this is a chunky, heavy bike but strangely it’s not well suited to tall riders, who may well find the frame too small for comfort.

Volt’s Pulse has been around for ages, but got an update in 2021. One of the big changes is that the battery now slots into the frame, making it much neater.

The price includes the mudguards, lights, kickstand and built-in Dutch-style lock, and unlike the VanMoof S3 (which has GPS, Bluetooth and and embedded SIM for tracking it), it hasn’t got loads more expensive over the past couple of years.

If you’re not bothered by the absence of tracking features, then the Pulse is a great choice. Just bear in mind it’s a big, heavy bike: this is great for touring around, but not if you have to regularly lift it up steps or onto public transport.

The Fiido X V2 is a superb folding e-bike which rides exceptionally well and has just about all the features you’d want. It’s well priced, too.

The battery is built into the seat post and can be removed for charging, though the keypad security system is actually less convenient than if Fiido had opted for a simple key lock.

But it’s not a deal-breaker by any means, and you get built-in lights, a torque sensor (for smooth power delivery) and hydraulic disc brakes. Thanks to seven gears, you can still ride this bike when the battery runs out, something that’s not as easy on single-speed electric bikes.

Like all Fiido models, watch out for the short warranty on many components: only the frame itself gets the full three-year cover.

The Eskute Polluno Pro is an e-bike that’s well suited to commuting. But with its mid-mounted motor, torque sensor and comfortable, noiseless ride, plus nine gears and a step-through design it’s great for all kinds of on-road cycling.

It is heavy, though, and shorter riders may find it too big: there’s only one frame size available. Eskute also sells a non-Pro model which is cheaper and has a motor in the rear wheel hub instead.

The Array is Raleigh’s entry-level electric bike. You can pick between three different frame styles, including a ‘shopper’-style step-through model. The one shown above is the ‘open frame’ design. Each comes in three frame sizes to suit wide variety of riders.

The classic looks are certainly a highlight, and there are seven gears to help when you’re pulling away from a standstill, as well as on hills. But the powerful motor makes light work of those and the removable battery has a range of up to 60 miles. That, as with all e-bikes, varies a lot depending on many factors.

The price includes lights, a kick-stand and mudguards, but there’s nothing in the way of security: no lock and no tracking tech. Amazingly, the price has dropped since we reviewed it, bucking the trend here, and making the Array more attractive.

And as long as you’re able to keep it locked up securely and don’t have to leave it, say, on your local high street or at a railway station regularly, that may not be an issue for you.

If you’re not convinced by the Carrera Vengeance E, or you don’t live in the UK and therefore can’t buy one, the Eskute Netuno is another hard-tail mountain bike to consider. It’s the follow-up to the Voyager and – at a glance – it’s impossible to tell them apart.

There are some upgrades here, though, including a neat display built into the handlebar stem. The battery is removable for easy charging, which will be a critical tick-box for some people.

The fork and chainset are entry-level components, but this leaves room in the budget for a decent Bafang motor.

It costs $400 / £300 more than the Voyager, which isn’t ideal, but it’s still at the more affordable end of the scale for anyone wanting an electric bike for some off-road fun.

Most folding bikes are designed for commuting, but not the Fiido M1. If the tyres and suspension don’t give the game away, it’s for off-road riding.

Unlike cheap Chinese folding bikes we’ve tested, the M1 is sturdily built and feels sure-footed at speed, both on and off road.

Battery life is pretty good, but the 25kg weight and those wide tyres mean you’re not going to enjoy riding it under pure pedal power – especially if you have to cycle up any hills.

However, our main concern is that there’s limited warranty support should any components fail: Fiido doesn’t have a repair centre in Europe yet.