Morfuns Eole X folding e-bike review: A throttle-enabled electric bike with psuedo-suspension
The Morfuns Eole X is a folding e-bike that offers a bit more than you’d expect from most barebones options. Instead, the Eole X has better parts like hydraulic disc brakes, throttle-enabled riding and even rear suspension. Actually, make that psuedo-suspension.
You might expect a rear suspension electric bike to have a spring shock in the rear, or perhaps even nicer oil-damped rear suspension.
Instead, the Eole X comes with what I’d describe as a more passive form of rear suspension. There’s an elastomer stopper like you’d find on the end of a pinball plunger, though in this case it’s designed to absorb a shock instead of transferring one.
That bright red rubber bumper may not provide the cushiest ride compared to true rear suspension, but it does help reduce the shock of hitting a pot hole edge.
To see what I mean, check out my video review below. Or keep reading if you’re more into the written word.
Morfuns Eole X video review
Morfuns Eole X tech specs
- Motor: 250W/350W rear geared hub motor
- Top speed: 30 km/h (18 mph)
- Range: Up to 75 km (46 mi)
- Battery: 36V 10Ah (360 Wh)
- Weight: 19 kg (41.9 lb) with battery
- Frame: Aluminum alloy
- Wheels: 20×1.75″
- Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes
- Extras: Integrated LED lighting, eight-speed shifter, minimalist LED display, five pedal assist levels, battery built into seat post, optional throttle, optional rack
What do we have here?
Earlier this year I reviewed the Morfuns Eole S, which has a similar-looking setup but used a carbon fiber frame instead of the aluminum alloy frame on the Eole X. The Eole S came with a torque sensor but didn’t have any rear suspension like the Eole X, though I’m starting to think that might have been a less than equal tradeoff.
The cadence sensor on the Eole X here isn’t much to write home about. It works just fine, but it doesn’t give the same quick feedback that the torque sensor on the Eole S provided.
The saving grace is that the Eole X comes with a throttle, or at least the North American version that I reviewed does.
That allowed me to blip the throttle while I was getting up to speed while waiting for the cadence sensor to kick in.
The throttle is a bit of an odd design. It’s still a thumb throttle, but not of the conventional type. It’s a smaller paddle throttle. It works fine though, and it even saves space on the bars compared to the typical wider thumb throttles.
The Shimano Altus 8-speed derailleur isn’t anything special, but it allowed me to run through the gears and always find a good pedal cadence for the bike.
The Eole X only gets up to 18 mph (30 km/h), so it’s not like it needs a particularly high gear ratio. If you get the European version of the bike, you’ll have an even slower 15.5 mph (25 km/h) top speed.
The bike comes standard with a 360Wh battery, though there’s an option to upgrade to a 540 Wh battery if you’re so inclined.
The base model’s smaller battery is still likely good enough for 20 miles or so (32 km) if you’re easy on the throttle and maybe a solid 30 miles (48 km) if you can add in some healthy pedal assist. If you need longer ranges, that larger battery might be a good idea.
The battery is stored in the seat post, meaning you can remove the seat when parking outside to take the saddle and battery inside with you, all in one action. Of course if you don’t spring an extra $60 for the locking seat post clamp, then you’d better bring the battery in with you or it’d be easy pickings for thieves.
The Eole X isn’t particularly fast, but they still give you solid hydraulic brakes. The extra stopping power isn’t really necessary for bike that only gets up to 30 km/h (18 mph), but the low maintenance benefit is appreciated!
At 19 kg (around 42 pounds), the bike is modestly lightweight compared to many other heavy folding e-bikes, but still isn’t a featherweight. It folds up nice and small though, so it’d be easy to stash somewhere out of the way in your small apartment, or hide it in a cupboard somewhere at the office. It’d probably even fit under your desk or work table, and you could charge it right there too.
At a price of €2,199 (approximately US $2,199 – wow it’s convenient how close those are now), the bike feels a bit overpriced for what I’m getting. When it debuted on Kickstarter at $1,298, that felt like a much more realistic deal.
Don’t get me wrong. I love a nice lightweight folding e-bike with grippy low-maintenance hydraulic brakes and in a small yet nimble package. But with the low power, low battery capacity and low top speed, the performance just isn’t going to wow anyone.
Compared to premium folding e-bikes with this performance level, yes the Eole X is a better deal. But it’s still a lot of money for just not that much e-bike.
I’d say for someone looking for a light and low power folder, it’d still be a good option. But for less than half the price I could grab a Lectric XP Lite that can do much of the same type of riding. Yes, it wouldn’t have that elastomer suspension or juice brakes like these, but it’d be a hell of a lot cheaper.
So I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the Eole X. It’s a nice bike. It’s just pricey for what you get.
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On today’s informative episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got Honda engineers Jason Hwang and Emilio Sanchez to talk us through some of the things that make the GM Ultium-based Honda Prologue EV feel like a real Honda, and why that matters.
Jason and Emilio talk about some of the choices they made to make the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX feel different from its GM-branded cousins, and explain why this was much more than a case of badge-engineering. Give it a listen, then let us know what you think of the Prologue and ZDX in the comments.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Learn more by clicking here.
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Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.
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The first EV charging hub funded by the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program in the Eastern US is now online in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
The town installed the region’s first DC fast chargers (four ports), along with four Level 2 chargers, at 59 North Main Street in South Deerfield.
These new charging stations, funded with $2.46 million from the CFI program, are conveniently located near Interstate 91 in Franklin County, the most rural county in Massachusetts, which serves drivers from Connecticut up to the Canadian border.
The hub also features local and regional bus stops and designated bike lanes with secure onsite bike racks. The chargers are meant to cater to everyone: from local residents and visitors to municipal EVs and commercial vehicles that service the region’s businesses, like those in food and beverage manufacturing.
Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, sees this as a model for future projects:
Multi-modal charging hubs in communities are key to giving more people the choice to ride and drive electric. The Town of Deerfield is showing leadership in building out convenient charging infrastructure that brings new transportation choices to rural and disadvantaged communities while supporting local commerce.
In recent years, Deerfield has experienced increased climate change-driven flooding from nearby rivers, including the Deerfield River, the Connecticut River, and the Bloody Brook. The project incorporates environmental engineering designed to mitigate and adapt to the effects of flooding and climate, including the installation of permeable asphalt and rain gardens, planting of native trees, grasses, and shrubs, and the creation of new greenspace in the center of Deerfield.
The Biden-Harris administration’s CFI Grant Program is expanding EV infrastructure nationwide. It offers grants for projects that complement and expand upon the initiatives of the NEVI program in urban, rural, and disadvantaged and low-income communities. So far, the CFI Grant Program has allocated over $1 billion to nearly 100 projects across the US, encouraging private investments and expanding the EV charging network to make EV ownership more practical and convenient.
Read more: The US reaches milestone of 200,000+ public EV charging ports
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Kia’s upcoming EV4 electric sedan was just spotted testing in the US for the first time. The low-cost EV is expected to make its big debut by the end of the year. Here’s a look at the new model.
The EV4 will round out Kia’s new “EVs for all” master plan launched last year. Kia showcased three new models, the EV3, EV4, and EV5, during its first annual EV Day in October 2023.
During the event, Kia outlined its new global strategy to “lead and accelerate the EV revolution” with a wide range of models priced from $30,000 to $80,000.
Kia plans to rapidly expand its lineup with a series of smaller, lower-priced models. It launched the EV9, its first three-row electric SUV, which is already proving to be a hot seller in the US. Starting at under $55,000, the EV9 is still a great deal compared to others in its class, but Kia plans to go even lower.
The EV3 and EV4 are expected to be among the most affordable electric vehicles when they arrive in the US.
Kia’s new EV4 is now testing in the US
Ahead of its official debut, Kia’s new EV4 sedan was recently caught driving on US streets for the first time.
The latest image from KindelAuto doesn’t reveal much more than what’s been shown in the past, but the fact that it’s now testing in the US is significant.
Kia’s EV3 is already on sale in Korea, starting at around $30,000 (42.08 million won). Earlier this week, the company said its new compact SUV is now available across Europe, starting at around $38,000 (36,000 euros) with a “segment-leading range” of up to 375 miles (WLTP).
Next up will be the EV4. Kia is expected to officially reveal the new EV by the end of the year, with deliveries starting in 2025. It could be as soon as next week at the 2024 LA Auto Show.
The interior will feature Kia’s advanced new ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens. An otherwise minalimalistic design is expected inside.
Kia’s EV4 will also be available in a hatchback variant. Although the hatch is likely aimed at European buyers, it was also recently spotted testing in the US for the first time.
We will learn official prices closer to launch, but the EV4 is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
Kia is teasing five new vehicles for the US, at least one being a new EV, that will debut at the LA Auto Show next week. Will it be the EV3? EV4?
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