Ethereum turns 10: From scrappy experiment to Wall Street’s invisible backbone
CANNES — Ten years ago, Vitalik Buterin and a small band of developers huddled in a drafty Berlin loft strung with dangling lightbulbs, laptops balanced on mismatched chairs and chipped tables. They weren’t corporate titans or venture-backed founders — just idealists working long nights to push a radical idea into reality.
From that sparse office, they launched “Frontier,” Ethereum‘s first live network. It was bare-bones — no interface, no polish, nothing user-friendly. But it could mine, execute smart contracts, and let developers test decentralized applications. It was the spark that transformed Ethereum from an abstract concept into a living, breathing system.
Bitcoin had captured headlines as “digital gold,” but what they built was something else entirely: programmable money, a financial operating system where code could move funds, enforce contracts, and create businesses without banks or brokers.
One year earlier and 520 miles away in Zurich, Paul Brody got a call from IBM security: A kid was wandering the lab unattended.
“That’s not a child,” Brody told them. “That’s Vitalik. He’s a grown-up — he just looks really young.”
Paul Brody and Vitalik Buterin with IBM and Samsung executives at CES 2015, where IBM unveiled its first blockchain prototype built on Ethereum’s early code.
Paul Brody
At the time, Buterin was building the bones of Ethereum. The blockchain was still in its alpha stage, an early version of what would become a $420 billion platform rewiring Wall Street and powering decentralized finance, NFTs, and tokenized markets across the globe.
Brody, then leading a research team at IBM, remembers how quickly the idea clicked.
“One of the guys on the research team came to me and said, ‘I’ve met this really interesting guy. He’s got a really cool idea…It’s like a version of bitcoin, but we’re going to make it much faster and programmable,'” he said. “And when he said that to me, I thought, ‘That’s it. That is what I want. That is what we need.'”
With Buterin’s help, IBM built its first blockchain prototype on Ethereum’s early code, unveiling it at CES in 2015 alongside Samsung. “That was how I ended up down this path,” Brody said. “I was done with all other technology and basically made the switch to blockchain.”
Even now, as EY’s global blockchain leader, Brody remembers feeling a pang of envy. “This is a kid, and it doesn’t matter,” he said. “I was jealous of Vitalik… to be able to do that.”
He added, “I don’t think opportunities like that could have been surfaced when I was that age.”
Now, a decade later, that experiment has quietly rewired global markets.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin delivers a keynote at ETHCC, laying out the network’s next steps — and its values test — as institutional adoption accelerates.
EthCC
“It’s very impressive, just how much the space has succeeded and grown into, beyond pretty much anyone’s expectations,” Buterin told CNBC in Cannes on the sidelines of the blockchain’s flagship event in Europe.
Buterin said the change over the past decade has been staggering. Ten years ago, he recalled, the crypto community was “just a very small space,” with only a handful of people working on bitcoin and a few other projects.
Since then, Ethereum has become “this big thing,” Buterin reflected, with major corporations now launching assets on both its base layer and layer-two networks. Parts of national economies are beginning to run on Ethereum infrastructure, a far cry from its cypherpunk origins.
But Buterin warned that mainstream adoption brings risks as well as benefits. One concern is that if too few issuers or intermediaries dominate, they could become “de facto controllers of the ecosystem.” He described a scenario where Ethereum might appear open, but, in practice, all the keys are managed by centralized providers.
“That’s the thing that we don’t want,” he said.
Prague to the Riviera
Two years earlier in Prague, CNBC met Buterin at Paralelní Polis, a sprawling industrial complex turned anarchist tech hub in the city’s Holešovice district. The building’s labyrinthine staircases and shadowed corridors felt like a physical map of the crypto world itself — part resistance movement, part experiment in reimagining power.
It was a place built on Václav Benda’s concept of a “parallel society,” where decentralized technologies offered refuge from state surveillance and control. It’s the kind of place where Buterin, a self-described nomad, found himself at home among cypherpunks and cryptographic idealists.
At the time, Buterin described crypto’s greatest utility not in speculative trading, but in helping people survive broken financial systems in emerging markets.
ETHPrague 2023 was held at Paralelní Polis in the Czech Republic.
Pavel Sinagl
“The stuff that we often find a bit basic and boring is exactly the stuff that brings lots of value,” he told CNBC at the time. “Just being able to plug into the international economy — these are things that they don’t have, and these are things that provide huge value for people there.”
Even in Prague, where coders worked to make payments fast and censorship-resistant, the technology felt like a resistance movement — privacy-preserving, anti-authoritarian, a lifeline in countries where banking collapses were common and money couldn’t be trusted.
This year, Buterin keynoted Ethereum’s flagship conference at the Palais des Festivals — the same red carpet venue that hosts movie stars each spring.
It was a fitting symbol of Ethereum’s journey: from underground hacker dens to a network that governments, banks, and brokerages are now racing to build upon.
Brody, who currently leads blockchain strategy at EY, says what matters most is how deeply Ethereum is integrating into traditional finance. “The global financial system is really nicely described as a whole network of pipes,” he said.
“What’s happening now is that Ethereum is getting plumbed into this infrastructure,” Brody continued, noting that until recently, crypto operated on entirely separate rails from traditional finance.
Now, he said, Ethereum is being wired directly into core transaction systems, setting the stage for massive financial flows — from investors to everyday savers — to migrate away from older mechanisms toward Ethereum-based platforms that can move money faster, at lower cost, and with more advanced functionality than legacy systems allow.
Becoming the plumbing of Wall Street
Stablecoins — digital dollars that live on Ethereum — power trillions in payments, tokenized assets and funds are moving on-chain, and Robinhood recently rolled out tokenized U.S. equities via Arbitrum, an Ethereum-based layer two.
Circle’s USDC — the second-largest stablecoin — still settles around 65% of its volume on Ethereum’s rails. According to CoinGecko’s latest “State of Stablecoins” report, Ethereum accounts for nearly 50% of all stablecoin activity.
Between Circle’s IPO and the stablecoin-focused GENIUS Act, now signed into law by President Donald Trump, regulators have new reason to engage with, rather than fight, this transformation.
Data from Deutsche Bank shows stablecoin transactions hit $28 trillion last year — more than Mastercard and Visa combined. The bank itself has announced plans to build a tokenization platform on zkSync, a fast, cost-efficient Ethereum layer two designed to help asset managers issue and manage tokenized funds, stablecoins, and other real-world assets while meeting regulatory and data protection requirements.
Digital asset exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken are racing to capture this crossover between traditional securities and crypto.
As part of its quarterly earnings release, Coinbase said this week it’s launching tokenized stocks and prediction markets for U.S. users in the coming months, a move that would diversify its revenue stream and bring it into more direct competition with brokerages like Robinhood and eToro.
Kraken announced plans to offer 24/7 trading of U.S. stock tokens in select overseas markets.
BlackRock‘s tokenized money market fund, BUIDL, launched on Ethereum last year, offering qualified investors on-chain access to yield with real-time redemptions settled in USDC.
Even as newer blockchains tout faster speeds and lower fees, Ethereum has proven its staying power as the trusted network for global finance. Buterin told CNBC in Cannes that there’s a misconception about what institutions actually want.
“A lot of institutions basically tell us to our faces that they value Ethereum because it’s stable and dependable, because it doesn’t go down,” he said.
He added that firms frequently ask about privacy and other long-term features — the kinds of concerns that institutions, he said, “really value.”
Institutions are choosing various layer twos to meet specific needs — Robinhood uses Arbitrum, Deutsche Bank zkSync, Coinbase and Kraken Optimism — but they all ultimately settle on Ethereum’s base layer.
“The value proposition of Ethereum is its global reach, its huge capital flows, its incredible programmability,” Brody said.
He added that the fact it isn’t the fastest blockchain or the one with the quickest settlement times “is secondary to the fact that it’s overall the most widely adopted and flexible system.”
Brody also believes history points toward consolidation. He said that in most technology standards wars, one platform ultimately dominates. In his view, Ethereum is likely to become that dominant programmability layer, while Bitcoin plays a complementary role as a risk-off, scarcity-driven asset.
Engineers, he said, “love to work on a standard… to scale on a standard,” and Ethereum has become precisely that.
Tomasz Stańczak, the newly appointed co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation, in Cannes for Europe’s largest annual gathering for the blockchain.
MacKenzie Sigalos
Tomasz Stańczak, the newly appointed co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation, sees the same pattern from inside the ecosystem.
“Institutions choose Ethereum over and over again for its values,” Stańczak said. “Ten years without stopping for a moment. Ten years of upgrades with a huge dedication to security and censorship resistance.”
When institutions send an order to the market, they want to be sure that it’s treated fairly, that nobody has preference, and that the transaction is executed at the time when it’s delivered. “That’s what Ethereum guarantees,” added Stańczak.
Those assurances have become more valuable as traditional finance moves on-chain.
Scaling without losing its soul
Ethereum’s path hasn’t been smooth. The network has weathered spectacular booms and busts, rivals promising faster speeds, and criticism that it’s too slow or expensive for mass adoption. Yet it has outlasted nearly all early competitors.
In 2022, Ethereum replaced its old transaction validation method, proof-of-work — where armies of computers competed to solve puzzles — with proof-of-stake, where users lock up their ether as collateral to help secure the network. The shift cut Ethereum’s energy use by more than 99% and set the stage for upgrades aimed at making apps faster and cheaper to run on its base layer.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin in Prague, where he finds refuge with like-minded programmers looking to change the world through cryptography-powered technology.
CNBC
The next decade will test whether Ethereum can scale without compromise.
Buterin said the first priority is getting Ethereum to “the finish line” in terms of its technical goals. That means improving scalability and speed without sacrificing its core principles of decentralization and security — and ideally making those properties even stronger.
Zero-knowledge proofs, for example, could dramatically increase transaction capacity while making it possible to verify that the chain is following the rules of the protocol on something as small as a smartwatch.
There are also algorithmic changes the team already knows are needed to protect Ethereum against large-scale computing attacks. Implementing those, Buterin said, is part of the path to making Ethereum “a really valuable part of global infrastructure that helps make the internet and the economy a more free and open place.”
Buterin believes the real change won’t come with fireworks. He said it may already be unfolding years before most people recognize it.
“This type of disruption doesn’t feel like overturning the existing system,” he said. “It feels like building a new thing that just keeps growing and growing until eventually more and more people realize you don’t even have to look at the old thing if you didn’t want to.”
Brody can already see hints of that future. Wire transfers are moving on-chain, assets like stocks and real estate are being tokenized, and eventually, he said, businesses will run entire contracts — the money, the products, the terms and conditions — automatically on a single, shared infrastructure.
That shift, Brody added, won’t simply copy old financial systems onto new technology.
“One of the lessons from technology adoption is that it’s not that we replace like for like,” he said. “When new things come along, we tend to build on a new technology infrastructure. My key hypothesis is that as we build new financial products, it will be attractive to build them on blockchain rails — and we’ll try to do things on blockchain rails that we can’t do today.”
If Brody and Buterin are right, the real disruption won’t make headlines. It’ll simply become the way money moves, unseen and unstoppable.
WATCH: Robinhood hits record high as OpenAI, SpaceX go on-chain
Car brands like Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, and Tesla have built up solid reputations for safety, but their ultra-safe vehicles often come with a premium price tag. The good news for car buyers looking for a deal, but still prize safety, is that there’s an all-electric Hyundai for under $40K that scores top marks on the IIHS’ toughest new safety tests.
SKIP THE STORY: take me to the deals.
Last Februray, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) established new benchmark criteria that included stricter side-impact and moderate overlap crash safety standards, improved safety for back seat passengers, and a stronger emphasis on pedestrian detection in low light.
“We followed the tougher requirements we introduced last year with another major update to the award criteria,” explains IIHS President David Harkey. “(The 2024) winners are true standouts, offering the highest level of protection for both vehicle occupants and other vulnerable road users.”
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is making it harder to earn its Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards from 2024, challenging manufacturers to offer better protection for back seat passengers and improve their pedestrian crash avoidance systems.
We’ve covered a few of the standout performers already over the past year-plus since the new safety standards were awarded, including the Rivian R1T (the only electric pickup to earn the coveted Top Safety Pick+ award), Audi Q6 e-tron, and the Tesla Model Y … but what we haven’t written about was the fact that the Hyundai IONIQ 6 was the only electric sedan to get a Top Safety Pick+, as well.
Why it matters, now
With the average transaction price of a new car at $48,907 and the looming demise of the $7,500 Federal tax credit accelerating demand for EVs (even for those that may not qualify), new EV buyers looking for a dependable commuter with long-range chops, ultra-fast charging capabilities, and the latest infotainment tech for under $40,000 have precious few options. And, if that Top Safety Pick+ rating is a must have? They only have one.
The good news is that it’s an excellent option. The 2024 version was named Car and Driver‘s 2023 EV of the Year, and led our own Scooter Doll to ask, “is any other automaker delivering more value in high-tech EVs right now?” and Nigel Evans over at CarBuzz to write, “Comparing the Ioniq 6 to its rivals is also an interesting exercise. For example, the Tesla Model 3 RWD now costs more than $40,000, with questionable interior design and layout and no Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. You can’t get the Chevrolet Bolt or Bolt EUV anymore in the budget EV sector, but they also lacked fast-charging capability.”
With up to 342 miles of range and a starting MSRP of $37,850 with all trims eligible for $7,500 in Retail Bonus Cash through Labor Day plus dealer discounts (if you can get them) bringing the price down even further, there’s a nonzero chance car buyers will be able to score a 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 for a sub-30K transaction price. Other featured deals include 0% interest financing for up to 48 months on any 2025 IONIQ 5 models in dealer inventory for well-qualified buyers, while lease buyers able to get a new SE model for $199/mo. with $3,999 down.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Hyundai, IIHS; via CarBuzz.
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The latest commercial vehicle from Volkswagen isn’t another box, retro-tastic van. Instead, it’s a crew cab, flatbed-style pickup truck with modern amenities, room for six, serious payload capacity, and a fully electric powertrain.
Making an appearance on Volkswagen’s German konfigutator, the new e-Transporter DoKa is a flatbed style pickup built on a longer version of the new, Ford Transit-based Volkswagen Transporter van chassis that debuted last year.
The flatbed DoKa rides on a 3,500 mm (~138″) wheelbase and a 5,613 mm (~221″) overall length, making it about 10.4″ longer than the Ranger-based Amarok. And, because the DoKa has a shorter hood, that extra length is almost all cargo bed, making the truck much more practical on job sites or delivery runs than VW’s other Ford-based work truck.
And, frankly, it looks more practical than a mid-size pickup – especially if you need to actually fit a crew in your crew cab pickup.
Room for six Europeans
It might not be as stylish as the ID.Buzz, but the DoKa is built to work with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 3,225 kg (7,100 lbs.) and a payload capacity between 348 and 785 kg (1,730 lbs.). Plenty of capacity, in other words, for tools, gear, or a pallet of appliances. The DoKa even has a fairly decent tow rating. The flatbed truck is rated to 2,000 kg with trailer brakes (4,400 lbs., about the same as an ICE-powered Chevy Blazer or Jeep Cherokee with tow package).
All those kilograms are motivated by a 100 kW (135 hp) electric motor making 415 Nm (306 lb-ft) of torque at zero rpm in the base models, and up to 210 kW (280 hp) in the top-spec versions. The konfigurator doesn’t list battery specs, but the e-Transporter DoKa flatbed probably uses the same 64 kWh battery and ultra-quick charging capability as the van.
Pricing starts at €52,208 ($60,527 as I type this), pre VAT, and options to make the truck ready for specialized work surely abound.
Electrek’s Take
Volkswagen has a long history of building van-based flatbed pickups, stretching all the way back to the original Type 2 flatbed in 1952. The trucks, like their iconic van siblings, have inspired the sort of cult following that led many industry insiders (myself, included) to expect an ID.Buzz-based flatbed truck to pop up sooner than later. That hasn’t happened – and, given the relative lack of enthusiasm for a $70,000+ Volkswagen-branded minivan in the market, it probably never will.
That said, the original VW kombi variants were born out of necessity, not fashion. They were built to work, and they helped rebuild Europe’s economy after the war and probably led to the conception of one or more people reading this in US (or your parents, anyway). So, if you’re in the market for a Volkswagen-based work truck that’s true to the spirit, if not the shape of the original T2, the new e-Transporter DoKa double cab flatbed truck variant might be the one for you.
VW e-Transporter DoKa gallery
SOURCES: VW, via CarScoops; T2 image via Bonhams.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
I’ve spent countless hours here at Electrek doing detailed hands-on testing of hundreds of electric bikes. Through thousands of miles of riding, I’ve been fortunate to learn these e-bikes inside and out, top to bottom and front to back. That long-term experience with real-world e-bike testing has helped me find the best electric bicycles on the market for just about any budget.
Below are some of the top e-bikes I’ve hand-tested for every price range, current as of July 2025. Summer is peaking, making this a great chance to enjoy this riding season with a fun and efficient electric bicycle! So check out the awesome e-bikes below, any one of which could become your next electric bike.
This list is divided into several price ranges. We’ll start with the best e-bikes under $1,000, then move on to the under-$2,000 category, under-$3,000 category, etc. The goal is to highlight some of my favorite models in various budget ranges to help you make the right decision based on your needs and budget.
The sub-$1,000 electric bike category is critical for a few reasons.
First, it’s pretty hard to produce a quality e-bike and sell it for under $1k. Most of the options in this price category make too many sacrifices in quality or longevity to earn a spot on this list as one of “the best.”
Second, many newly curious e-bike buyers just aren’t prepared to drop several thousand dollars on a brand-new concept, making this price range critical for many new e-bike shoppers.
Fortunately, we’ve found some excellent options for cheap electric bikes that can still save you some serious dough.
Lectric XP LITE 2.0
The Lectric XP LITE 2.0 was recently updated and is now quite likely the king of bang-for-your-buck electric bikes.
For years, the $999 Lectric XP 3.0 has reigned supreme in the budget electric bike category. That’s still a great bike, and we’ll discuss it next, but the more affordable $799 Lectric XP LITE 2.0 is an even more wallet-friendly electric bike.
That new e-bike offers some great riding at under 800 bucks.
It’s a throttle-enabled Class 2 folding electric bike with 20″ wheels, a max speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) and a motor rated for 300W continuous and 819W peak. It’s not going to be the strongest hill climber, but it does get going quickly on flat and modestly hilly terrain.
And the biggest upgrades include hydraulic disc brakes as well as an optional Gates carbon belt drive system for an extra $100. Riders can also opt for a nearly double-sized battery for an extra $200.
This is the only e-bike in this price range that I know of with a 48V electrical system. All the other budget e-bikes under $800 use a 36V system and thus suffer from weaker power.
There are some things that you give up with this model, such as that the fenders aren’t included free. But for just $799, you’re still getting built-in lights, a hidden battery, large color LCD display and a lightweight folder. Plus it comes in five color options.
There’s a lot of value there!
Lectric XP LITE 2.0 quick specs
- Motor: 300W (819W peak) geared rear hub motor
- Top speed: 32 km/h (20 mph)
- Range: Claimed up to 72 km (45 mi) or 130 km (80 mi) with long-range battery)
- Battery: 48V 7.8 Ah (375 Wh)
- Weight: 22 kg (49 lb)
- Price: $799
Lectric XP4
The Lectric XP4 recently launched, replacing the Lectric XP 3.0 which was the previously undisputed best-selling electric bike in the US. The XP4 is expected to quickly take its title, racking up massive sales figures as riders flock to its extreme bang-for-your-buck. Simply put, it’s hard to find any other e-bike that offers this level of value!
The XP4 can get riders up to 28 mph (45 km/h) and now comes in either a 500W or 750W version, with respective battery sizes of 48V 10.4Ah and 48V 17.5Ah. The long-range version’s premium price tag ($1,299 vs the standard range model at $999) is perhaps even higher value than the already impressive base model.
Other upgrades include a new stronger rack design, torque sensor for smoother pedal assist, and improved hardware like the 8-speed transmission, hydraulic disc brakes, updated urban/trail hybrid-style tire tread, and a beautiful new TFT color screen.
The XP4 is hands-down the highest value e-bike I’ve ever tested and it’s quite obvious just how much time and effort went into building such a potent e-bike designed to fit so many different riders and tasks.
It’s hard to find a better combination of low cost and high performance anywhere in the e-bike market right now.
Lectric XP4 quick specs
- Motor: 500W or 750W geared rear hub motor (peaks at ~1,000W and ~1,300W)
- Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Range: 45-85 miles (70-135 km) depending on battery choice
- Battery: 48V 10.4Ah (500 Wh), or larger 17.5Ah (840Wh) battery choices available
- Weight: 69-71 lb (31-32 kg)
- Price: $999
Ride1Up Portola
When Ride1Up launched the Portola, it was pretty obvious what the game plan was: fire a shot across Lectric Ebike’s bow with a direct competitor to the Lectric XP line. By all accounts, Ride1Up nailed it with an impressive competitor.
The Ride1Up Portola has a lot more going for it than just the attractive price of $1,095. The bike has great performance with a maximum speed of 28 mph (45 km/h) and great components including hydraulic disc brakes, front suspension, a built-in rear rack, and a 750W motor.
There are two battery options available, either a 48V 10.4Ah or a 48V 13.4Ah, and the larger battery only costs an extra $100.
I love the sleek-looking frame and apparently, I’m not alone. Those who are on the hunt for a good-looking folding fat tire e-bike that doesn’t break the bank will likely find this to be one of the more fashionable options.
Ride1Up Portola quick specs
- Motor: 750W geared rear hub motor
- Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Range: Claimed up to 72 km (45 mi), but less if you’re heavy on the throttle
- Battery: 48V 10.4 Ah (504 Wh), or larger 48V 13.4 Ah battery available
- Weight: 27.2 kg (60 lb)
- Price: $1,095
Once you bump up above the $1,000 limit, you start to see many more great options for e-bikes in a wide range of categories.
From electric cargo bikes to cruisers and even electric mopeds, there’s something for everyone in this price range.
JackRabbit OG2 micro e-bike
The $1,249 JackRabbit OG2 is in one of these fuzzy areas between e-bikes and other e-rideables. In this case, it straddles the line between an electric bike and an electric scooter.
It more or less feels like an electric bike based on its ride geometry. However, the lack of pedals means that it could also be classified as an electric scooter, albeit a large-wheeled e-scooter.
But with those 20-inch wheels and bicycle seat, the JackRabbit OG2 rides much more like a small folding e-bike than an e-scooter. And its electronics match that of a light e-bike, too.
The 300W motor gets the little runabout up to 20 mph (32 km/h). The small 158 Wh battery only offers around 10 miles (approximately 16 km) of range, but is also conveniently small enough to easily keep a spare battery in a cargo pocket or even a small purse.
The biggest benefit of the JackRabbit is that it is so simple that the lack of frills keeps the weight down to just 25 lb (11.3 kg)! For an e-bike, that’s almost so light that it floats.
The company also released a higher power and larger battery capacity version too, which might be good for riders who want to push harder and go farther. For those that want to see a few more upgrades on this minimalist e-bike, the JackRabbit OG2 and XG might be more your size.
See my full review of the JackRabbit OG2 here.
JackRabbit OG2 quick specs
- Motor: 300W geared rear hub motor
- Top speed: 32 km/h (20 mph)
- Range: 20 km (12 mi)
- Bike weight: 11.3 kg (25 lb)
- Brakes: Rear mechanical disc brake
- Price: $1,249
Lectric XPedition 2.0
We called the Lectric XPedition e-cargo bike a runaway success right from the start, and that’s exactly what it turned into. Now with the new Lectric XPedition 2.0 on the road, it’s better than ever.
With heavy-hauling weight capacity, the option for one or two batteries for extra long range, hydraulic disc brakes and torque sensor-based intuitive feeling pedal assist, this e-bike is dragging electric cargo bikes into the future.
The $1,399 Lectric XPedition 2.0 has turned the electric cargo bike market upside down, bringing a heavy-hitting cargo e-bike to market for an ultra-affordable price.
While it’s not the fanciest cargo e-bike on the market (you’ll find those in the $4,000-$6,000 price range further down this article), it’s definitely the best bang for your buck thanks to a combination of high value parts and reasonable pricing.
Lectric XPedition 2.0 quick specs:
- Motor: 750W rear hub motor
- Battery: 48V 14Ah (672 Wh) with the option for a second battery (and higher capacity batteries)
- Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h)
- Range: up to 75 miles (120 km)
- Weight: 74 lb (33.5 kg)
- Price: $1,399
Rad Power Bikes RadKick
The RadKick is Rad’s most recently unveiled budget e-bike and is a return to form for the company that got its start as a budget-minded e-bike brand.
The RadKick is designed with minimalism in mind, yet still offers a number of great features. Available in both a 7-speed version ($1,399) and a single-speed belt-drive version ($1,199), the RadKick is great for those that want a fairly lightweight e-bike for a great price.
You give up a bit of power and range compared to Rad’s other models with more battery capacity and higher power motors, but you get a lot of value in return. The bike features a torque sensor for great performing pedal assist, hydraulic brakes for smooth and maintenance-free braking, included rack and fenders, LED lighting, a color LCD display, right-side half-twist throttle, SafeShield potted battery from Rad (UL-compliant and designed to be fireproof), and is compatible with a wide range of Rad accessories.
To be honest, this is the e-bike that I’ve been waiting for Rad to launch.
- Motor: 500W rear hub motor
- Battery: 36V 10Ah (360 Wh)
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h)
- Range: Up to 35 miles (56 km)
- Weight: 55 lb (25 kg)
- Price: $1,199 to $1,399
Aventon Soltera.2
The $1,399 Aventon Soltera.2 is the latest version of Aventon’s beautiful city bike that offers some of the best quality fabrication that I’ve seen in this price range – or even in higher price ranges. It is offered in either a single-speed or seven-speed format.
The bike rolls on narrow tires for that efficient city ride, while still packing in a 500W motor.
The battery is a bit smaller at 36V and 10Ah, but the bike makes up for a smaller battery by being able to integrate it into the frame in a sleek and attractive package.
The beautiful color display also adds to the bike’s charm, as do the powerful headlight and frame-integrated tail light. There’s even an awesome companion app that lets your phone track your bike’s important stats. Basically, you’re getting a lot for $1,199 here!
Check out my in-depth Aventon Soltera.2 review here.
Aventon Soltera.2 quick specs:
- Motor: 500W peak-rated rear hub motor
- Battery: 36V 10Ah (360 Wh)
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h)
- Range: 20-63 miles (32-101 km)
- Weight: 46 lb (21 kg)
- Price: $1,199
Ride1Up Roadster V3
Ride1Up has proven itself as a high-value electric bike brand, focusing largely on efficient and speedy commuter e-bikes. While the company has many models in the $1,000 to $2,000 range, the $1,295 Ride1Up Roadster V3 is one of the best bang-for-your-buck options in the lightweight category.
This 500W-rated e-bike offers Class 3 performance, meaning you can hit speeds of up to 28 mph (45 km/h), or a still impressive 20 mph (32 km/h) if using the throttle. But sticking to pedal-assist means you get to enjoy that quality torque sensor for smoother pedaling. The bike even comes with an option for either a belt drive or a 10-speed Shimano transmission, and three frame sizes to choose from.
The V3’s design was updated with many new features, including a now-removable battery for even more convenient charging both on and off the bike. And with a sub-40 lb weight, it’s hard to beat this one on a pound for pound basis!
Ride1Up Roadster V3 quick specs:
- Motor: 500W rear hub motor
- Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Range: 32-64 km (20-40 mi) throttle vs. pedal assist
- Battery: 36V 10Ah (360 Wh) with genuine LG cells and UL certified
- Weight: 17.6 kg (39 lb)
- Price: $1,295
Check out my full review of the Ride1Up Roadster V3 here:
Lectric XPeak
Lectric Ebikes recently expanded into larger territory with the launch of the new Lectric XPeak. It’s the company’s first e-bike with a larger than 20″ wheel size, bringing some chunky 26×4.0″ tires into the company’s inventory.
The XPeak takes the form of a typical adventure-style fat tire electric bike. It features a hardtail design with a suspension fork, high volume tires, hydraulic disc brakes and a relatively large battery that is certified by the Swiss testing agency SGS to meet UL 2849 standards.
The bike is also tested to higher standards for ruggedness of the frame and fork than most e-bikes in this price range, meaning it’s likely going to last longer too. As far as fat tire adventure-style e-bikes go, there’s no better bang for your buck than the Lectric XPeak.
Lectric XPeak quick specs:
Ride1Up Turris
The Ride1Up Turris is Ride1Up’s touring-style electric bike, meaning it is built for a bit of everything from asphalt and bike lanes to narrow nature trails and gravel roads. Plus, at its current crazy-good sale price of US $1,195, this is an unimaginable steal!
The raised bars, suspension fork, and comfortable seat make it a pleasure to ride for the longer distances that many people cover on touring-style rides. The high-performance 750W hub motor and 28 mph (45 km/h) top speed make it a blast for quick errand running and fun commutes.
High-quality parts like hydraulic disc brakes complete the package, and the included fenders add even more value, especially when the bike is used as an on-road commuter.
At just $1,195, the Ride1Up Turris is priced way below fair market value, which makes this an absolute steal of a deal.
Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser quick specs:
- Motor: 750W rear geared hub motor
- Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Range: 50-80 km (30-50 mi)
- Battery: 48V 14Ah (672 Wh)
- Weight: 29 kg (65 lb)
- Price: $1,195
Rad Power Bikes RadRunner
The RadRunner from Rad Power Bikes has been an industry favorite ever since it was first announced back in 2019. The company is actually on the RadRunner 2 now, but the update only made minor changes since the original was already so well-designed.
The bike uses a step-through moped-style frame to create a short utility bike or mini cargo e-bike. It’s quick up to the 20 mph top speed and offers a ton of uses. When outfitted with the Passenger Package, it has a seat and footpegs that let you carry kids or adults on the back, turning this into a multi-passenger e-bike.
The high-capacity battery and powerful motor also make for sprightly acceleration and longer than average rides, so you’ll have enough power to ride all day.
The RadRunner is truly one of those do-anything e-bikes because it has so many uses. The same bike can be used for fun recreational riding, city commuting, trail riding, or grocery shopping. There’s something for everyone.
There’s even an upgraded version known as the RadRunner Plus, which adds suspension, a seven-speed transmission, a more detailed display, and the passenger package, though the RadRunner Plus costs a bit more at $1,899.
Check out my complete review of the RadRunner 2 here.
RadRunner 2 quick specs:
- Motor: 750W rear geared hub motor
- Top speed: 32 km/h (20 mph)
- Range: 45-72 km (25-45 mi) depending on user input
- Battery: 48V 14Ah (672 Wh)
- Weight: 29.5 kg (65 lb)
- Price: $1,399
Electric Bike Company Model Y
Electric Bike Company is one of the only e-bike manufacturers that actually builds its electric bikes in the US from the ground up.
They start with bare frames and perform the entire build locally with highly trained e-bike technicians. That also allows them to offer more customization options than any other e-bike company out there.
The $1,949 Model Y is a step-through cruiser e-bike with a hidden battery in the front basket. It offers fast speeds up to 28 mph and high-quality parts like hydraulic disc brakes and top-end hardware. The color screen and leather accents on the seat and bar ends add to the classy look too!
The real treat though is getting to select the custom paint on every surface of the bike, plus your own rim colors, trim colors, and tire options. It’s incredibly customizable to the point where you’re virtually guaranteed to be able to create a truly one-of-a-kind electric bike if you wish.
Check out my full review of the Electric Bike Company Model Y here.
Electric Bike Company Model Y quick specs:
- Motor: 1,000W peak rear geared hub motor
- Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Range: Up to 80 km (50 mi) with moderate pedaling
- Battery: 48V with either 9Ah (432 Wh) or 18Ah (864 Wh) options
- Weight: 26 kg (58 lb)
- Price: $1,949
Velotric Discover 2
Velotric has a number of interesting e-bikes in its lineup, and I’m enjoying testing several of the company’s new models. But one of my favorites so far—thanks to its excellent on-road abilities—has got to be the Velotric Discover 2.
The e-bike isn’t just powerful or surprisingly smooth pedaling, it’s also quite safe. The punchy hydraulic disc brakes offer quick and controlled stops while the UL-certified battery and e-bike systems offer safe operations, removing the worry of dangerous thermal events.
For just $1,899 at its current sale price, riders are getting 15 pedal assist settings, a torque sensor, IPX7 waterproof rating on the battery (meaning the battery can be submerged in water), and robust strength testing that goes above and beyond typical ISO testing for e-bikes. This is an excellent bike for both commuting and pleasure rides, making it a great all-around option!
Check out my full review of the Velotric Discover 2 here.
Velotric Discover 2 quick specs:
- Motor: 1,100W peak rear geared hub motor
- Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Range: Up to 120 km (75 mi) on pedal assist
- Battery: 48V 14.7Ah (705.6 Wh) frame-integrated, removable
- Weight: 28.5 kg (63 lb)
- Price: $1,899
Velotric Packer electric cargo bike
There are a lot of electric cargo bikes on the market, but the Velotric Packer has recently become one of my go-to recommendations for several reasons. It’s fairly priced, has loads of cargo accessories, includes a UL-certified battery, comes in some eye-catching colors, and works well for transporting my three nieces and nephews around with me.
At its sale price of $1,699, this is definitely an electric cargo bike to have on your short list for it’s slick-looking design and great functionality.
Check out my full review of the Velotric Packer here.
- Motor: 750W (1,200W peak) rear-geared hub motor
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h) or 25 mph (40 km/h) when unlocked
- Range: Up to 52 miles (84 km)
- Battery: 48V 15Ah (692 Wh)
- Weight: 75 lb (34 kg)
- Price: $1,699
By the time you surpass the $2,000 mark, you’re starting to get into serious e-bikes with serious performance or build quality.
If you’re spending this much, you’ll want to ensure you’re buying from a reputable company with top-notch products and service.
Ride1Up TrailRush
The Ride1Up TraiRush is the first actually quite good electric mountain bike that comes in at a budget price. It gives you a real German-made Brose motor, which offers good power matched with whisper-quiet performance. You get a dropper seat post and Maxxis Minion tires, Tektro Orion quad-piston hydraulic disc brakes, and a 120mm Rockshox Judy Silver TK Air Fork
The first time I took a ride on the Ride1Up TrailRush, I couldn’t believe just how good the bike felt, especially from a company known for its wide array of commuter and street-oriented electric bikes. But Ride1Up was founded by cyclists at heart, and so they know what it means to build a good bike, regardless of category. At $2,095, this is a steal for just great parts.
Lectric One
The Lectric ONE is something of an enigma in the e-bike market. To put it into perspective, it’d be hard to buy the gearbox alone on this bike for under $2,000, and yet that’s nearly the price tag of the entire bike! For just $2,399, you’re getting an e-bike with components normally found on $10,000+ bikes.
The Lectric One was unveiled as a lightweight commuter e-bike designed with an ultra high-end drivetrain based around the Pinion C1.6i auto-shifting gearbox. Paired with a Gates carbon belt drive and a true 750W-rated Stealth M24 motor (with 1,300 peak watts!), the Lectric ONE hits class 3 speeds in style with some extra premium components.
Lectric ONE quick specs:
- Motor: 750W rear hub motor (1.3 kW peak)
- Battery: 48V 10.4 or 14Ah (500Wh or 672 Wh)
- Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h)
- Range: up to 75 miles (120 km)
- Weight: 55 lb (25 kg)
- Price: $2,399
Ride1Up Prodigy V2 mid-drive e-bike
The $2,295 Ride1Up Prodigy V2 has brought new meaning to the phrase “low-cost mid-drive electric bike”, updating an already impressive e-bike with a new next-gen setup.
This e-bike sports a high-end German-manufactured Brose mid-drive motor and can hit speeds of up to 28 mph (45 km/h), yet is price similarly to much cheaper hub motor-based electric bikes.
It’s a perfect commuter e-bike for someone who wants high-quality parts like that German mid-drive motor with 90Nm of torque, hydraulic disc brakes, bright LED lights, included fenders, rear rack, and a very comfortable saddle. Plus there’s a choice between a nice 9-speed chain drive transmission or a fancier Gates Carbon Drive belt setup with an Enviolo continuously variable transmission.
This e-bike is easily worth another $500 more than the price tag, if not more. In fact, you’ll find many of these same components on e-bikes with $3,000-$4,000 price tags all over the place. So if you’re looking for a higher quality e-bike that doesn’t cost as much as a fancy bike shop e-bike, this is the one to consider.
Ride1Up Prodigy quick specs:
- Motor: Brose TF Sprinter mid-drive
- Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h)
- Range: 30-50 miles (50-80 km)
- Battery: 36V 14Ah (504Wh)
- Weight: 58 lb (26 kg)
- Price: $2,395
Priority Current Plus
I love the $3,299 Priority Current electric bike so much that it has become one of my daily riders. It’s the one I grab when I’m doing city riding and I know I want to be pedaling.
While the original version was already a great bike, the new Current Plus adds some key improvements, such as an included throttle and a nearly 50% larger capacity battery for more range. The throttle is great in a pinch, but the bike is also just so much fun to pedal thanks to a torque sensor-based pedal assist that provides natural feeling assistance up to a fast 28 mph top speed.
The internally geared rear hub combined with a Gates belt drive system and powerful hydraulic disc brakes make this a very nice e-bike for the price. Plus that mid-drive motor offers tons of torque (140 Nm!) for climbing hills or accelerating quickly.
I’m also a fan of the built-in lights and included fenders, not to mention the punchy hydraulic disc brakes and Goodyear tires.
Mid-drive electric bikes aren’t cheap, but the price is definitely a fair one for this e-bike.
Priority Current Plus quick specs:
- Motor: 500W mid-drive motor with torque sensor
- Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h) or 20 mph (32 km/h) user-selectable
- Range: 40-75 miles (64-120 km)
- Battery: 720 Wh frame-integrated battery
- Weight: 24 kg (53 lb)
- Price: $3,299
Ride1Up CF Racer1
I’m not normally a carbon fiber, drop bar, race bike kind of guy. But then again, that’s usually because those types of bikes are way out of my price range… until now.
The Ride1Up CF Racer1 brings carbon fiber road e-bikes to the common man, offering both a traditional road bike and a gravel bike edition.
At under 29 lb (13 kg), these e-bikes are some of the lightest around. I picked one up with my index finger and was shocked at how easily it left the ground.
To get there, that meant a relatively low-power motor and a smaller battery were required. But for the folks that ride these types of bikes, a big motor and heavy battery probably aren’t on their wishlist anyway. Instead, a simple extra boost, as if you’ve always got a tailwind, helps augment your own pedaling.
For just $2,295, there’s no better deal out there for a budget-friendly carbon fiber road e-bike.
Ride1Up CF Racer1 quick specs
- Motor: 250W 42 Nm torque
- Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h) on pedal assist
- Range: 16-40 miles (26-64 km)
- Battery: 252 Wh frame-integrated battery
- Weight: 12.9 kg (28.6 lb)
- Price: $2,295
Ride1Up REVV1 FS
This full-suspension electric moped-style e-bike is a masterclass in high performance electric bike design. Sure, it’s an obvious SUPER73 imitation, but it’s a really well done imitation.
It handles well, it’s got great rubber between you and the road, the suspension gives a comfortable ride, and it’s got plenty of extra power.
Despite the 750W label, the e-bike can be unlocked to make use of nearly 1,500W of peak power. I was able to reach a top speed of 37 mph (59.5 km/h) during my testing (not on public streets!).
But the bike ships in Class 2 mode with a 750W limit and 20 mph (32 km/h) maximum speed, meaning you’ll have to contact the company to request an unlock for the bike to be used above Class 2 speeds and power levels.
All in all, the $2,395 Ride1Up REVV1 FS is an amazing e-bike for anyone who wants a moped-style ride with full-suspension, high quality 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes and a design that rides almost like a motorcycle, yet in a bike form factor.
Check out my complete Ride1Up REVV1 FS review here.
Ride1Up REVV1 quick specs:
- Motor: Bafang 750W continuous rear hub motor
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h) out of the box, 37 mph (59.5 km/h) when unlocked
- Range: 30-60 miles (48-96 km)
- Battery: 52V 20Ah (1,040 Wh)
- Weight: 93 lb (42 kg)
- Price: $2,395
Tern Quick Haul
The Tern Quick Haul is an electric cargo bike from the famed cargo e-bike company Tern. It holds the distinction of being the most affordable model in Tern’s lineup.
That says a lot, because Tern is known for its high quality e-bikes that are built to be ridden every day for real world errands, carpool duty and more. These e-bikes are meant to replace cars, and they do just that for many riders. With a huge list of accessories, you can outfit a Quick Haul for just about any job.
The Tern Quick Haul features a mid-drive Bosch motor, hydraulic disc brakes, Tern’s vertical parking rack, and a relatively lightweight but high utility design that is meant to carry just about anything in your life.
We had the chance to test a pair of Quick Hauls at Eurobike in Frankfurt last year, which you can learn more about here.
Motor: Bosch Active Line Plus mid-drive motor
Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h) with pedal assist (no throttle)
Range: Up to 60 miles (96 km), less when riding in highest power
Battery: 400Wh, removable/lockable
Weight: 50 lb (22.8 kg)
Price: $2,999
Ariel Rider X-Class
When it comes to fast, powerful electric mopeds on a budget, it’s hard to compete with the $2,399 Ariel Rider X-Class. This is the e-bike I usually recommend when someone simply wants the most power and speed for the least amount of money.
The impressive performance comes from a powerful 1,000W motor that actually puts out closer to 2,000W of peak power. It can be limited to 20 mph if you’d like, but I got it up to 36 mph in unlimited mode.
The bike rolls on 20″ moto-style wheels and comes with nice parts including hydraulic disc brakes, a bench seat, dual suspension, and a big moto-style headlight.
You can see my full review of the Ariel Rider 52V X-Class here.
- Motor: 1,000W (2,000W peak) rear hub motor
- Top speed: 36 mph (58 km/h), but can be limited to Class 2 speeds
- Range: Up to 75 miles (120 km), less when riding at top speed
- Battery: 52V 18Ah (936 Wh), removable/lockable
- Weight: 80 lb (36 kg)
- Price: $2,399
Xtracycle Hopper electric cargo bike
The Xtracycle Hopper is something of a Goldilocks cargo bike, in my opinion. It’s not as a big as a traditional long tail cargo bike, but it’s still big enough to carry multiple kids or a week’s worth of groceries.
It’s also not as pricey as the expensive $5-7k bike shop cargo e-bikes, yet it’s much higher quality than the typical direct-to-consumer cargo e-bikes.
I’ve tested it for all sorts of cargo jobs and even put my friends and family on it to take their kids to school and let me know how it works for them. Everyone has come away impressed with the ride feel, which seems much more like a traditional bike than a bulky cargo bike.
For the money, the Xtracycle Hopper offers incredibly value and much higher quality construction than you’d get with entry-level brands.
Check out my full Xtracycle Hopper review here.
RadRover 6 Plus quick specs:
- Motor: 750W geared rear hub motor
- Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Range: 32-80 km (20-50 mi) depending on throttle or pedal assist
- Battery: 48V 15Ah (720 Wh)
- Weight: 38.5 kg (85 lb)
- Price: $2,999
Above $3.5k, you’re entering some seriously dedicated e-bike territory.
These e-bikes either feature top-shelf components like drivetrain and brake parts, or pack in so much power that they couldn’t possibly be priced any lower.
Either way, you’re not in Kansas anymore. You’re heading down the e-bike rabbit hole.
Tern HSD
Tern is renowned for building high-quality electric bikes that double down on utility features. The newly updated Tern HSD is the company’s more affordable utility e-bike, offering many features you’ll find on its higher end GSD but at a price that more riders can stomach.
The HSD uses small 20″ wheels and includes a folding stem, making it nice and compact. But taking it one step further, Tern outfitted it with its innovative rack that lets you park the bike on its tail, meaning it takes up barely more space than a coat rack in the corner of a room.
The bike’s Bosch mid-drive and high capacity batteries provide a high-end e-bike drive, and they are matched with a variety of performance drivetrain options that you can select from, depending on how high you want to spec the bike.
Whether you’re ferrying around kids or buying a week’s worth of groceries, the HSD is a solid option.
Check out my detailed first ride experience on the Tern HSD here.
Tern HSD quick specs:
- Motor: Bosch Active Line Plus mid-drive
- Top speed: 32 km/h (20 mph) with electric assist
- Range: 42-110 km (26-69 mi) depending on pedal input
- Battery: Bosch PowerPack 400 Wh
- Weight: 25.4 kg (55.9 lb)
- Price: $4,299
CSC FT1000MD
The CSC FT1000MD sounds like a motorcycle name because it comes from a company with motorcycle heritage. CSC Ebikes was born out of CSC Motorcycles, a company with several decades of two-wheeler experience.
The FT1000MD is the company’s highest power option. The fat tire e-bike comes with a 1,000+ watt motor known as the Bafang M620 Ultra. It’s the most powerful and highest torque e-bike mid-drive motor on the retail market. CSC paired it with a big battery, quality suspension, hydraulic brakes, built-in lighting, and more to create a high performance and high-quality adventure e-bike.
I was able to hit speeds of around 34 mph with the motor in unlocked format, though you can limit it to 20 or 28 mph to fit into class 2 and class 3 designations.
Check out my full review of this incredibly powerful e-bike here.
CSC FT1000MD quick specs:
- Motor: 1,000W continuous Bafang M620 mid-drive
- Top speed: 54 km/h (34 mph) when unlocked
- Battery: 48V 16Ah (768Wh) with Samsung 35E cells
- Frame: 6061 aluminum
- Suspension: Front suspension fork with preload and damping adjustment, plus lockout
- Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors
- Weight: 34 kg (75 lb)
- Price: $3,299 or save $200 with discount code ELECTREK
Ariel Rider Grizzly
When it comes to all-wheel-drive electric bikes, the $3,299 Ariel Rider Grizzly is one of my favorites.
This incredible e-bike is really more of a small electric motorcycle. It uses two high-power motors – one in each wheel – to offer speeds in the mid-30s and acceleration that will get you there in the blink of an eye.
Full suspension and hydraulic disc brakes make this an e-bike that handles well at any speed, and the bright red paint job looks as aggressive as the e-bike feels. It even comes with footpegs pre-installed so you can carry a passenger with you.
Plus it’s got double batteries to feed those two power-hungry motors, so you’ll be able to ride this e-bike pretty darn far too, as long as you aren’t too demanding from the throttle.
Check out my full in-depth review of the epic Ariel Rider Grizzly e-bike here.
Ariel Rider Grizzly quick specs:
- Motors: Dual 1,000W continuous hub motors (1,850W peak or 3.7 kW combined)
- Top speed: 36 mph (58 km/h) when unlocked, but can be limited to Class 2 speeds
- Range: Up to 75 miles (120 km), less when riding at top speed
- Battery: 52V 35Ah (1,820 Wh) between two removable/lockable batteries
- Weight: 105 lb (47.6 kg)
- Price: $3,299
Specialized Turbo Como SL
For more of a cruiser/city e-bike experience, the $4,800 Specialized Turbo Como SL is a great option. This e-bike offers a much more upright ride for a fun, relaxed vibe.
The e-bike features a high-quality mid-drive motor, hydraulic disc brakes, Gates carbon belt drive, and an eight-speed internally geared hub. Those are a lot of nice parts!
And don’t forget the slim fenders, front basket, and cruiser bars that all look super elegant, complimenting the nice lines of the Turbo Como SL.
This may not be a low-cost e-bike, but it definitely offers a ride that makes it worth it.
See my full review of the Specialized Turbo Como SL here.
Specialized Turbo Como SL quick specs:
- Motor: Custom Specialized SL1.1 mid-drive motor
- Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Range: Up to 100 km (62 mi), or 50% more with range extender
- Battery: Downtube-integrated 320 Wh battery
- Weight: 20.5 kg (45 lb.)
- Price: $4,800
You just couldn’t stop, could you? I showed you plenty of awesome e-bikes that didn’t cost most of a paycheck. But you just haaaaaaad to keep going.
Fine, here they are. These are some of the most expensive e-bikes out there that we’ve tested and that I’d actually recommend someone buying, if you can pony up the cash.
GoCycle G4i+
When it comes to ultra-premium folding electric bikes, there’s only one name that comes to my mind: GoCycle. These are the most impressive folding e-bikes I’ve ever seen. And they better be – they were designed by a former McLaren engineer.
Between the carbon fiber work, single-sided wheels, high-tech tires, trippy LED dot display, innovative rear suspension, and completely enclosed drivetrain, there’s a lot of high-end stuff going on here.
The speed will vary from 15-20 mph depending on which country you buy the bike in, but the performance is only part of the equation. The quick folding and light, compact design of the e-bike is the real winner here.
Check out my full review of the GoCycle G4i+ here.
GoCycle G4i+ quick specs:
- Motor: 500W front hub motor
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h) in the US
- Range: up to 50 miles (80 km)
- Battery: 36V 10.4Ah (375 Wh)
- Weight: 37.2 lb (16.9 kg)
- Price: $6,999
FREY EX Pro electric mountain bike
The FREY EX Pro is a high-end electric mountain bike with crazy high power. It uses the same motor as the CSC FT1000MD we featured above (the Bafang M620 mid-drive), but cranks up the current to provide closer to 1,500W of power.
It’s enough to destroy chains if you aren’t careful. We know. Several of us here at Electrek have done it.
The FREY EX Pro not only features high-end parts like a RockShox Lyric fork and Magura MT5e hydraulic brakes, but it even comes with dual batteries so you can ride farther and stay on the trails longer.
I’ve personally taken this e-bike back UP a downhill mountain bike course – that’s how powerful it is.
It may be expensive, but it saves you several thousand dollars compared to many European electric mountain bikes with similar components but a fraction of the power in the FREY.
See my full review of the FREY EX Pro here.
- Motor: 1 kW continuous, 1.5 kW peak-rated Bafang Ultra mid-drive motor
- Top speed (tested): 59 km/h (36 mph)
- Battery: Dual 48V 14Ah packs (1,344 Wh total)
- Range: Varies considerably by ride style/terrain, but 30-100 km (20-60 miles) is the ballpark
- Weight: 34 kg (75 lb)
- Price: $5,580
Tern GSD
The Tern GSD improves upon the Tern HSD with even more capability and even nicer components. There are multiple versions that can take you up to nearly $10k, but even the lower-tier versions are not “low tier,” if you know what I mean.
Parts like automatically engaging electric locks, 10-speed Shimano Deore transmissions, Magura MT5e quad-piston hydraulic disc brakes, and more set these e-bikes apart from the rest of the pack.
If you’re getting a Tern GSD, you’re getting a fully qualified car replacement. There are many people that use these instead of buying a second car. When you look at it like that, the price suddenly seems pretty reasonable.
Check out our full review of the Tern GSD here.
- Motor: Bosch Cargo Line mid-drive
- Top speed: 32 km/h (20 mph) with electric assist
- Range: 42-85 km (26-53 mi) depending on pedal input
- Battery: Bosch PowerPack 400 Wh
- Weight: 33.6 kg (74 lb)
- Price: $5,399
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