Velotric Fold 1 review: A 28 MPH folding e-bike that looks good and rides better!
Velotric continues to impress me with each new launch, and the Velotric Fold 1 has no plans to ruin that streak. Having spent some solid saddle time with the bike now, I can tell you that this is one of the best electric folders out there right now for e-bike shoppers on a budget.
Don’t believe me? You’ll understand when you see it in action. Check out my video review below to see what I mean. And then continue on below for my complete thoughts on this impressive e-bike.
Velotric Fold 1 video review
Velotric Fold 1 tech specs
- Motor: 750W (1,050W peak-rated) rear hub motor with 70Nm of torque
- Top speed: 28 mph (50 km/h)
- Range: Claimed up to 55 miles (up to 88 km)
- Battery: 48V 608Wh
- Weight: 63 lb (28.6 kg)
- Load capacity: 440 lb (200 kg)
- Frame: Aluminum alloy
- Tires: 20×3.0″ semi-fat tires
- Brakes: Dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes on 180mm rotors
- Price: US $1,149
- Extras: LCD display, 5 pedal assist levels, front and rear LED light with brake light, front coil spring suspension, kickstand, internally routed cables, removable battery, cadence sensor, UL-compliant battery and e-bike system
In one word: Impressive
This e-bike definitely impressed me, plain and simple.
It’s a fairly unassuming bike and doesn’t outwardly look like it should be that special, but it hides away several key features that have definitely won me over. And that’s coming from someone who has tested literally hundreds of e-bikes over the last few years.
First of all, let’s talk about safety. The bike is certified for UL 2849, which covers the battery, motor, controller, wiring, charger, and basically everything else in the electrical system. The bike is also certified to the ISO 4210 standard, which includes all of the mechanical tests associated with e-bikes. So they’ve covered their bases more than most companies on the mechanical and electrical side of things.
Next, the bike just rides really nicely. The 28 mph is nice, but so many e-bikes are Class 3 these days that you need more than just a 28 mph speed to impress me.
The bike actually feels good at those speeds, partly due to the choice to include 3.0-inch semi-fat tires. These are more nimble than full 4.0-inch fat tires, yet offer better cushion than common 2 or 2.5-inch tires. When combined with the front suspension fork (which is alright but not exactly a showstopper component), the bike has some quite good shock absorption underneath it. The geometry also keeps the bike from feeling too squished in the cockpit, which can happen with some folding e-bikes.
Now let’s keep in mind that this is a $1,149 e-bike here, and so I’m not saying these are fancy Maxxis tires or high-end RockShox suspension – neither is true. But for the price, the ride and the feel impressed me right out of the gate. The bike just rides smoothly and feels wonderful underneath me.
Continuing on, the touch points all feel good. The saddle is comfortable for me, the buttons for the controls are easily accessible for a quick thumb jab, and the LCD screen is super bright. I had gotten used to Velotric’s nicer color screen on the company’s higher-end e-bikes, so I was worried at first about “downgrading” back to a simple black-and-white LCD screen. But I was amazed at how bright and easy to read the screen is.
You can see from my riding footage (screenshot below) that even in direct sunlight while barrelling down the road, the display is vivid and not washed out.
Many LCD screens are difficult to read unless you’re in the shade or have overcast skies. But this screen’s big digits and bright backlight make it incredibly visible.
Is the Velotric Fold 1 a Lectric XP 3.0 competitor?
Velotric doesn’t explicitly state this the way some other e-bike companies do, but yes, this e-bike is meant to compete against the Lectric XP 3.0, which is currently the best-selling e-bike in the US. And I’d say it gives that bike a serious run for its money.
Not only does it look nicer with the beautiful blue color option (though I guess the gray and white options from Velotric are alright too), but it has some real advantages on the use side. It’s easier to fold and you can take the battery out without folding the bike, which is great for anyone who wants to charge the battery off of the bike. I love the XP 3.0, but pulling the battery out when you don’t plan to completely fold the bike is a bit of a pain.
The Velotric Fold 1 still costs $100 more than the base XP 3.0, but it’s got some compelling advantages, not to mention the bigger battery. And as someone who loves bright e-bike colors, that shiny blue is worth something right there!
What would I improve?
No e-bike is without fault in my eyes, and so I can always find room for improvement. On the Velotric Fold 1, I’d have loved to see a slightly larger battery and a torque sensor for smoother pedal assist. But I can understand that both of those would be tricky while maintaining the current price tag.
I also wish they had included the Apple FindMy feature that they have in their higher-dollar e-bikes, though again, I certainly understand that some sacrifices must be made to keep this e-bike so affordable.
What’s the summary?
While the Velotric Fold 1 isn’t perfect, I find that when it is judged within its price class, it’s a serious top contender. The bike is equal parts fast yet comfortable, peppy yet controllable, and simple yet refined.
It’s easy to fold and not overly heavy (though it’s hard to call a 63-lb e-bike “lightweight”), and it’s pretty darn easy to toss it in the back of a car when you want to take it with you on a trip.
With hydraulic brakes, included rack and fenders, and full LED lighting, it’s got all the components I want to see on my everyday commuter e-bikes, yet is ready for more than just commutes. It can carry cargo and serve as a fun urban adventure bike, too.
The bike does make a few sacrifices to reach its attractive US $1,149 price tag, but I’m ok with those small compromises because the sum here is greater than the parts. And that’s what I’m always looking for: an e-bike that adds up to something that can meet my needs and feels good while doing it.
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Wind energy powered 20% of all electricity consumed in Europe (19% in the EU) in 2024, and the EU has set a goal to grow this share to 34% by 2030 and more than 50% by 2050.
To stay on track, the EU needs to install 30 GW of new wind farms annually, but it only managed 13 GW in 2024 – 11.4 GW onshore and 1.4 GW offshore. This is what’s holding the EU back from achieving its wind growth goals.
Three big problems holding Europe’s wind power back
Europe’s wind power growth is stalling for three key reasons:
Permitting delays. Many governments haven’t implemented the EU’s new permitting rules, making it harder for projects to move forward.
Grid connection bottlenecks. Over 500 GW(!) of potential wind capacity is stuck in grid connection queues.
Slow electrification. Europe’s economy isn’t electrifying fast enough to drive demand for more renewable energy.
Brussels-based trade association WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson summed it up: “The EU must urgently tackle all three problems. More wind means cheaper power, which means increased competitiveness.”
Permitting: Germany sets the standard
Permitting remains a massive roadblock, despite new EU rules aimed at streamlining the process. In fact, the situation worsened in 2024 in many countries. The bright spot? Germany. By embracing the EU’s permitting rules — with measures like binding deadlines and treating wind energy as a public interest priority — Germany approved a record 15 GW of new onshore wind in 2024. That’s seven times more than five years ago.
If other governments follow Germany’s lead, Europe could unlock the full potential of wind energy and bolster energy security.
Grid connections: a growing crisis
Access to the electricity grid is now the biggest obstacle to deploying wind energy. And it’s not just about long queues — Europe’s grid infrastructure isn’t expanding fast enough to keep up with demand. A glaring example is Germany’s 900-megawatt (MW) Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm. The turbines are ready to go, but the grid connection won’t be in place until 2026.
This issue isn’t isolated. Governments need to accelerate grid expansion if they’re serious about meeting renewable energy targets.
Electrification: falling behind
Wind energy’s growth is also tied to how quickly Europe electrifies its economy. Right now, electricity accounts for just 23% of the EU’s total energy consumption. That needs to jump to 61% by 2050 to align with climate goals. However, electrification efforts in key sectors like transportation, heating, and industry are moving too slowly.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has tasked Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen with crafting an Electrification Action Plan. That can’t come soon enough.
More wind farms awarded, but challenges persist
On a positive note, governments across Europe awarded a record 37 GW of new wind capacity (29 GW in the EU) in 2024. But without faster permitting, better grid connections, and increased electrification, these awards won’t translate into the clean energy-producing wind farms Europe desperately needs.
Investments and corporate interest
Investments in wind energy totaled €31 billion in 2024, financing 19 GW of new capacity. While onshore wind investments remained strong at €24 billion, offshore wind funding saw a dip. Final investment decisions for offshore projects remain challenging due to slow permitting and grid delays.
Corporate consumers continue to show strong interest in wind energy. Half of all electricity contracted under Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in 2024 was wind. Dedicated wind PPAs were 4 GW out of a total of 12 GW of renewable PPAs.
Read more: Renewables could meet almost half of global electricity demand by 2030 – IEA
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss the official unveiling of the new Tesla Model Y, Mazda 6e, Aptera solar car production-intent, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):
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The Chinese EV leader is launching a new flagship electric sedan. BYD’s new Han L EV leaked in China on Friday, revealing a potential Tesla Model S Plaid challenger.
What we know about the BYD Han L EV so far
We knew it was coming soon after BYD teased the Han L on social media a few days ago. Now, we are learning more about what to expect.
BYD’s new electric sedan appeared in China’s latest Ministry of Industry and Information Tech (MIIT) filing, a catalog of new vehicles that will soon be sold.
The filing revealed four versions, including two EV and two PHEV models. The Han L EV will be available in single- and dual-motor configurations. With a peak power of 580 kW (777 hp), the single-motor model packs more power than expected.
BYD’s dual-motor Han L gains an additional 230 kW (308 hp) front-mounted motor. As CnEVPost pointed out, the vehicle’s back has a “2.7S” badge, which suggests a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint time of just 2.7 seconds.
To put that into perspective, the Tesla Model S Plaid can accelerate from 0 to 100 km in 2.1 seconds. In China, the Model S Plaid starts at RBM 814,900, or over $110,000. Speaking of Tesla, the EV leader just unveiled its highly anticipated Model Y “Juniper” refresh in China on Thursday. It starts at RMB 263,500 ($36,000).
BYD already sells the Han EV in China, starting at around RMB 200,000. However, the single front motor, with a peak power of 180 kW, is much less potent than the “L” model. The Han EV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.
At 5,050 mm long, 1,960 mm wide, and 1,505 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,970 mm, BYD’s new Han L is roughly the size of the Model Y (4,970 mm long, 1,964 mm wide, 1,445 mm tall, wheelbase of 2,960 mm).
Other than that it will use a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack from BYD’s FinDreams unit, no other battery specs were revealed. Check back soon for the full rundown.
Source: CnEVPost, China MIIT
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