When Ride1Up unveiled the Portola folding electric bike, it was obviously a major play to snatch the title for the leading low-cost electric bike. Now that we’ve had sufficient time in the saddle, it’s high time to see how this budget electric bike stacks up.
When it comes to low-cost e-bikes, there are essentially two groups. Sure, that’s oversimplifying it, but stick with me here.
There are the ultra-budget mega-retailer bikes, like those found on Amazon, Walmart, etc. You can often find those e-bikes in the $500-$800 range. Then there are the actual e-bike companies that sell really low-cost e-bikes, such as those from Lectric Ebikes, Rad Power Bikes, Aventon, and today’s review, Ride1Up. These budget e-bikes are usually a bit more expensive, often starting at between $800-$1,200 (and increasing from there), but they have more reliable service and support because they come directly from an electric bicycle maker that deals only in e-bikes, not also in toasters and air mattresses.
So that’s the lens through which we have to look at the Ride1Up Portola. At $995, it’s not going to compete well against the super cheap price of a Walmart e-bike, but it still undercuts most of the main e-bike players in the market and comes from an e-bike brand that stands behind its products. Plus it’s got way more features and nicer build quality than you’d ever find on a typical Walmart or Amazon special.
Ride1Up Portola Video Review
Ride1Up Portola Tech Specs
Motor: 750W continuous-rated geared hub
Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph) on pedal assist, 32 km/h (20 mph) on throttle
Range: Up to 32-70 km (20-45 mi)
Battery: 48V 10.4 Ah (460 Wh) or 13.4 Ah (643 Wh)
Weight: 27 kg (60 lb)
Max load: 136 kg (300 lb)
Brakes: Dual piston hydraulic disc brakes
Extras: LCD display with speedometer, wattmeter, battery meter, PAS level indicator, odometer and tripmeter, front and rear LED lights, left-side thumb throttle, lockable battery that is removable without folding, frame-integrated rack, fenders, compatible with add-on passenger kit
I’ll be the first to say that budget e-bikes don’t always give you the best experience. As someone who rides the cheapest and the most expensive e-bikes, often in the same week, there are always going to be big differences. But even with a rock-bottom price, the Ride1Up Portola still has a lot to offer that can start to approach e-bikes twice its price or more.
Yes, the power isn’t going to knock your socks off. It’s fine for most people, but it’s not going to take you up a crazy steep hill on motor power alone – at least not very quickly.
But there’s more to an e-bike than merely flying off the line at breakneck speeds. The 750W motor is peppy but not something that is going to rocket you forward from a stop. What will do though is give you a controlled, fairly quiet, and much-needed boost on just about any hill or straightaway where you want some decent assist. When I wanted to pedal during my rides, I could drop the pedal assist level lower and the bike felt perfectly fine to power largely on my own. When I wanted to ride it like a motorbike, I could throttle around breaking a smile but not a sweat.
And I have to say, the ride felt really good.
Part of the reason the bike rides so nicely is the 3″ wide tires, which split the difference between conventional and fat tires. They’re cushiony enough for a supple ride and to handle occasional off-road adventures. But they also feel more like a “normal” bike tire when you’re on city streets or cruising the bike lane.
Another reason it felt good to pedal is that the Portola rides like a real bike – not a moped. Yes, the throttle is there whenever you need it. But the geometry makes me feel more like I’m on a conventional bicycle, and thus it is a pleasure to ride.
That being said, I should point out that I’m 5’7″ (170 cm) and I had the seat post out nearly to the maximum height mark to get good leg extension. That was great for me, but I’m surprised to see the max rider height for the bike advertised as 6’4″ (193 cm). I have no doubt someone of that height could ride the bike, but I feel like it wouldn’t pedal nearly as nicely. If you’re anywhere close to 5’7″ like me though, it fits like a custom-made glove.
Another area that impressed me was how well the folding system is designed.
Not only is there a nice click-button safety on the handlebar’s folding mechanism, but there’s a soft cloth strap built into the rear rack to hold the bike in the folded position without scratching the paint.
It’s a really nicely thought-out folding system that works well and feels solid.
Of course a 60 lb e-bike isn’t going to be a pleasure to lift, but at least the compact folding nature makes it feel less bulky when you lift it to toss in your trunk or in the back of your SUV.
The bike’s brakes are nice and punchy, and you guys already know how much I love hydraulic disc brakes. Lower maintenance, stronger bite, crisper feel, the works! And to get them on an e-bike for under $1,000 is an awesome treat. You rarely see them at this price, and there are plenty of much more expensive e-bikes that have mechanical brakes. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with mechanical brakes – several of my bikes use them. But hydraulics just give me a nicer ownership experience so I’m very glad to see them here.
In fact, that’s kind of the main theme with this bike. The Ride1Up Portola simply packs so many high-value features into an affordable and fun-to-ride electric bike. You’ve got an 8-speed shifter, a big battery option (though the bigger battery costs $100 more than the stock battery), hydraulic brakes, suspension, great 3″ tires, and a slick-looking frame, to boot! You can even toss on the passenger kit to carry a friend or partner on the bike with you!
The seat not going terribly high is the one area in which I was surprised in a negative way. And it wasn’t even an issue for me, I can just see it as a potential issue for any 6+ footers trying to pedal the bike comfortably. Everything else just kept checking my boxes. Even the way the battery is nicely hidden in the frame and yet removable from the exterior (with a key, of course) is a great feature!
So all told, I’m very impressed with the Ride1Up Portola. I think it is worth much more than its $995 price, though I recommend riders spring for the $1,095 version with the larger battery, just to have it.
Either option will give you a great ride, and I can’t see anyone faulting the bike at this price.
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Lease deals get all the hype, but most people still want to own the car after they’re done making all those payments on it. If that sounds like you, and you’ve been waiting for the interest rates on auto loans to drop, you’re in luck: there are a bunch of great plug-in cars you can buy with 0% financing this March … and that includes a zero percent Tesla deal!
UPDATE: some American icons return to the list, and we’ve got more bonus cash offers, too!
I’ve done a couple of these now, so you probably already know that there were plenty of ways for me to present this information. “Best EVs ..?” Too opinion based. “Cheapest EVs ..?” Too much research. In the end, I went with alphabetical order, by make. And, as for which deals are new this month? You’re just gonna have to read the article. Enjoy!
Acura ZDX
2024 Acura ZDX; via Acura.
The 2024 Acura ZDX uses a GM Ultium battery and drive motors, but the styling, interior, and infotainment software are all Honda. That means you’ll get a solidly-built EV with GM levels of parts support and Honda levels of fit, finish, and quality control. All that plus Apple CarPlay and 0% financing for up to 72 months makes the ZDX one the best sporty crossover deals in the business.
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All the electric Chevy EVs (again)
Silverado EV, Equinox EV, and Blazer EV at a Tesla Supercharger; via GM.
As the auto industry transitions to electric, Dodge is hoping that at least a few muscle car enthusiasts with extra cash, will find their way to a Dodge store and ask for the meanest, loudest, tire-shreddingest thing on the lot.
These days, that’s the new electric Charger – and you still owed money on the Hemi you just totaled, Dodge will help get the deal done on its latest retrotastic ride with a $3,000 rebate plus 0% financing for up to 72 months!
Ford Mustang Mach-E
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Bronze edition; via Ford.
This month, you can get a killer deal on a new 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E (shown, above). Through March 31st, you can get $2,500 in bonus cash, a free L2 home charger installed, plus 0% financing for up to 72 months. Tesla owners can also get an additional $1,000 in conquest cash, bringing the hood money total to $3,500.
The biggest Ultium-based EVs from GM’s commercial truck brand are seriously impressive machines, with shockingly quick acceleration and on-road handling that seems to defy the laws of physics once you understand that these are, essentially, medium-duty trucks. This month, GMC is doing its best to move out its existing inventory of 2024s, so if you’re a fan of heavy metal you’ll definitely want to stop by your local GMC dealer and give the Hummer EV and Sierra Denali EV a test drive.
Honda Prologue
2024 Honda Prologue; via Honda.
Despite the Honda Prologue was one of the top-selling electric crossovers last year by combining GM’s excellent Ultium platform with Honda sensibilities and Apple CarPlay, Honda upgraded the 2025 model with slightly more EPA range. Even so, there’s still some remaining 2024 inventory out there and dealers are ready to deal (that’s what they do, after all). To make room for the 2025 models, Honda is offering 0% APR for up to 72 months on the remaining 2024s.
Hyundai IONIQ 5
IONIQ 5 record-setting performance; via Hyundai.
Hyundai is still offering 0% financing for 60 months on all versions of the hot-selling 2024 IONIQ 5 crossover, making it hard to overlook in the five-passenger segment. It’s worth noting that Hyundai is also offering the 5 with $7,500 bonus cash in select markets, but that offer can’t be stacked with the 0%, so do some math before deciding which way you want to go.
The Niro’s bigger siblings are getting the 0% treatment, too, for a longer 72 month term.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV; via Mitsubishi.
One of the first three-row plugin cars to hit the market (and a frequent addition to these 0% lists), Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV offers up to 38 miles of electric range from its 20 kWh li-ion battery, making it a great “lily pad” vehicle for suburban families who want to drive electric but still worry about being able to find a charging station when they need one.
Nissan Ariya
2024 Nissan Ariya; via Nissan.
I’ve already said that the Nissan Ariya didn’t get a fair shake. If you click that link, you’ll read about a car that offers solid driving dynamics, innovative interior design, and all the practicality that makes five-passenger crossovers the must-haves they’ve become for most families. With great discounts available at participating dealers, Supercharger access, and 0% interest from Nissan for up to 72 months, Nissan dealers should have no trouble finding homes for their remaining 2024 Ariya crossovers.
Subaru Soltera
2023 Subaru Soltera; via Subaru.
Despite being something of a slow seller, this mechanical twin of the Toyota bZ4X EV seems like a solid mid-size electric crossover with some outdoorsy vibes and granola style that offers more than enough utility to carry your mountain bikes to the trail or your kayaks to the river. The company is hoping to help clear out its remaining 2024 models with big discounts and 0% financing for up to 72 months.
Tesla Model 3
Model 3 Highland; via Tesla.
Say what you will about Elon Musk – and I say plenty over on the Quick Charge podcast – the fact remains that we wouldn’t be here talking about EVs at all if it wasn’t for his marketing brilliance, bravado, and sheer force of will. Beyond that, Tesla simply offers as superior ownership experience through total software integration, unfettered access to the Supercharger network, and the best EV route-planning software this side of Chargeway.
If you can stomach being associated with Elon (or have an inside line on some spare Honda badges), you can get a new Model 3 for 0% interest or 0.99% with $0 down if you apply the $7,500 Federal tax incentive at the point of purchase.
Volkswagen ID.4
VW ID.4; via Volkswagen.
One of the most popular legacy EVs, the ID.4 offers Volkswagen build quality and (for 2024) a Chat-GPT enabled interface. To keep ID.4 sales rolling, VW dealers are getting aggressive with discounts, making this fast-charging, 291 mile EPA-rated range, 5-star safety rated EV a value proposition that’s tough to beat.
This month, get a Volkswagen ID.4 with 0% financing for up to 72 months plus a $5,000 customer cash bonus to stack with it.
Disclaimer: the vehicle models and financing deals above were sourced from CarsDirect, CarEdge, and (where mentioned) the OEM websites – and were current as of 09MAR2025. These deals may not be available in every market, with every discount, or for every buyer (the standard “with approved credit” fine print should be considered implied). Check with your local dealer(s) for more information.
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Following approval from Transport Canada, EV startup Workhorse will be bringing the W56 and W750 model electric delivery vans to commercial truck dealers in Canada as early as this spring.
“This is a major step forward for Workhorse,” says Josh Anderson, Workhorse’s chief technology officer in a press statement. “Pre-clearance from Transport Canada opens up a large new market for our products throughout Canada, including with fleets that operate across borders in North America.”
Despite that uncertainty, Workhorse execs remain upbeat. “We’re excited that our electric step vans can now reach Canadian roads and highways, providing reliable, zero-emission solutions that customers can depend on,” added Anderson.
Canadian pricing has yet to be announced.
Electrek’s Take
FedEx electric delivery vehicle; via Workhorse.
There’s no other way to say it: the Trump/Musk co-presidency is disrupting a lot of companies’ plans – and that’s especially true across North American borders. But in all this chaos and turmoil there undoubtedly lies opportunity, and it will be interesting to see who ends up on top.
The new Liebherr S1 Vision 140-ton hauler is unlike any heavy haul truck currently on the market – primarily because the giant, self-propelled, single-axle autonomous bucket doesn’t look anything like any truck you’ve ever seen.
Liebherr says its latest heavy equipment concept was born from a desire to rethink truck design with a focus only on core functions. The resulting S1 Vision is primarily just a single axle with two powerful electric motors sending power to a pair of massive airless tires designed carry loads up to 131 tonnes (just over 140 tons).
The design enables rapid maintenance, as important components easily accessible for quick servicing. Wear parts can be replaced efficiently, and the electric drive significantly reduces maintenance work. This helps to minimise downtimes and increases operational efficiency.
LIEBHERR
Because of its versatility, durability, and ability to perform zero-turn maneuvers that other equipment simply can’t, the Liebherr S1 Vision can be adapted for various applications, including earthmoving, mining, and even agriculture. There’s also a nonzero chance of this technology finding applications supporting other on-site equipment through charging or fuel delivery.
The S1 accomplishes that trick safely with the help of an automatic load leveling system that ensures maximum stability, even on bumpy or rough terrain. The company says this technology significantly reduces the risk of tipping while providing smooth and secure operation across various environments.