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The lowest-priced EV in the US is somehow also one of the best. Now in its sixth year, the Bolt EV is also seasoned, having worked through a battery fiasco/recall and significant lapses by GM’s decision-makers while receiving modest but significant updates.

With a clean bill of health, the Bolt is now an huge outlier in bang-for-buck. But the 2023 Bolt is also quick, fun to drive, useful, and often more so than cars twice its price. In fact, I think we should be looking to the diminutive Bolt as the future of transportation.

2022 EV landscape

2022 was an interesting year for EVs. The leader in the space, Tesla, still commands over 60% of the market share in the US and many developed countries. But as traditional automakers ramp up their EV output, that dominance will recede. The Austin-based company hasn’t really done too much in the way of upgrading its cars this year, however. Instead it focused on production, opening new plants in Austin and Berlin and ramping up its Shanghai plant while achieving record breaking quarters, one after another.

There were a ton of new vehicles we loved, however, including E-GMP platform vehicles from the greater Hyundai including the quick charging and beautifully equipped IONIQ 5, Kia EV6 and the Genesis GV60. The IONIQ 6 is coming along as are future vehicles (Ev9, etc) on this platform. If this award was for platforms, the E-GMP would probably take it.

There’s also the hot-selling Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150, the beautiful Cadillac Lyriq, VW’s improved ID.4 that is now made in Chattanooga with Plug and Charge and V2G coming. But there’s one thing that sticks out about all of these EV CUVs: The sticker price starts at around $50,000.

On the more mundane side, Hyundai/Kia offer the Kona/Niro for around $40,000 and the aging 40kW CHAdeMO-equipped Nissan LEAF comes in at $29,000, but to get over 200 miles of range, you have to add close to $10,000.

The chip shortage, supply chain issues and just overall supply and demand issues for EVs let almost every EV maker jack up their prices in 2022. Some as much as $20,000 or more.

Then there’s the mighty Chevy Bolt EV which actually saw a $6000 decrease in price this year to an outlier price starting at $25,600. That price is changing the game and allowing more people get a full, non-compliance EV. The longer EUV is only $1600 more and offers some of the best Autonomy options on the road. But low price is only part of the equation. (We’re not the only ones seeing this)

Recent Electrek Vehicles of the Year winners:

My history with the Bolt and background

I leased a 2017 Chevy Bolt EV from 2017 to 2020. During the pandemic, I decided not to buy out my lease partially because I wasn’t driving but also GMC raw dogged me on buyout price, offering more than a new Bolt. Turns out the joke’s on them because soon after I surrendered my beloved Bolt, the vehicles started catching on fire.

I’ve also reviewed just about every other EV out there, including everything from Minis to Mercedes and everything in-between. I’ve also owned every Tesla outside of the Roadster (and Semi, I guess) and currently own a Model Y and 3.

I often compare all of these cars to my previous and future Bolts in my head and often they come up short.

After the Bolt price drop and my mom’s Prius started faltering, I decided to buy my mom a Bolt EV. I liked that car so much, I again bought myself one. It was delivered yesterday, and it is now my daily driver. I expect to sell my 2018 Tesla Model 3 RWD long range for more than the $28,000 I paid for my Bolt EV. My family will still use the Model Y for long trips, and we’ll reassess if and when our Rivian R1S ever arrives (likely the Bolt will eventually go to the teenager).

Bolt EV vs. Bolt EUV

The EV and EUV are incredibly similar, starting with the exact same battery pack, charging system, motor, and electronics. But, the EUV is 6.3 inches longer, translating to three more inches of rear legroom and a few inches each in the rear compartment and front. The rear legroom in the EV vs. EUV goes from “passable” to “oddly more than enough.” The EUV, having been introduced last year, also has some additional options including the sunroof and SuperCruise, which works incredibly well. As a 6-footer, I have no problem sitting in the back of either vehicle unless there is a fifth person in the middle of the rear seat. Then, you are counting down the seconds until the trip ends.

The biggest difference in the two models is the profile appearance with the EUV representing the extremely popular CUV trend and the Bolt looking more like a tall “hot hatch,” or as Chevy used to call it a, “Micro-Crossover.”

Strangely, however, the shorter Bolt EV has more cargo space than the EUV. Is there some sort of wormhole in there? I’m told the shape of the rear end of the EV more than makes up for those extra length inches in the EUV. I don’t see it, but I’ll trust Chevy. My take is the EV is remarkably roomy inside for its footprint.

Bolt EUV cargo volume

  • 16.3 cubic feet behind the second row
  • 56.9 cubic feet with the second row folded down

Bolt EV cargo volume

  • 16.6 cubic feet behind the second row
  • 57.0 cubic feet with the second row folded down

The EV, because of its smaller size and weight, gets slightly more range (247 to 259 miles), and therefore adds slightly more efficiency and charge miles/minute. 60-0 braking is also slightly shorter for the Bolt EV. Maybe most importantly the EV hits 0-60 in 6.4 seconds which feels a lot faster than the .3 seconds slower EUV. Something to consider with EVs vs. ICE cars: You can absolutely gun it at every green light and not be ostracized like you would in a down/gear shifting, loud, jerky internal combustion engine vehicle.

So the EV is faster, smaller, more efficient, better at braking, and yet has more cargo space than the EUV?

We’re awarding both cars our car of the year, but if I had to drill it down to the EV vs. the EUV, I’d go with the smaller EV.

Bonus charging offered by Chevy

On top of the Bolt’s low price, Chevy also offers up to $1000 through Qmerit for Level 2 charger home installation, or $500 in EVGO credit. As I discussed in my post about getting my mom a Bolt, my Qmerit experience was awful; but after a ton of complaining, I did get a Nema 14-50 outlet.

Chevy also offers a free charging cable with the Bolt EV and EUV, though upgrading the EV to level 2 is a $295 option. With Volkswagen and Tesla removing the free charging cables from their cars, Chevy’s offer here is fantastic and gets drivers off on the right foot.

Time to think holistically – not just about EV vs. ICE

After driving a HummerEV and Ford F-150 Lightning, I started to wonder if we’re better off electrifying these behemoths of the road or just getting rid of them altogether. In a time where battery supply is the bottleneck to electrification, the HummerEV is carrying 4 EVs or 10 PHEVs worth of batteries on its 9000lb. body. It also takes three efficient cars worth of electricity to go the same mile in a huge truck. That’s not to even bring up the dangers of being way up in the air and driving these huge heavy trucks at highway speeds. Not only is bicycle and pedestrian visibility limited, but they absolutely destroy anything they crash into including school busses. Sure, some small percentage of pickup drivers actually do work in them, but we somehow got by with Ford Maverick-sized trucks 20 years ago, and we should probably strive to go back to that.

Comparatively, the Bolt is refreshingly small, meaning parking is easy and there’s a ton of extra space in your garage. Yet, with its height and low floor entry points, it is super easy to get into not just for aged and accessibility folks. The low side windows and sloping hood make it easy to see kids and bikers in front of and around the car. The Bolt got a 5-star-safety-rating from NHTSA, and though it might not fare well against a Hummer, it will keep occupants as safe as possible.

It also has tons of room and even more when you fold the seats down (see above).

Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto is a gamechanger

As a Tesla driver, I’m always pleasantly surprised when I get into a CarPlay or Android Auto-based vehicle. I just don’t see anyone beating Apple and Google in the UX space, and it has become quite standard in the car space. Responding to texts is way easier, and the voice recognition is an order of magnitude better. Apps that I want are there and updated in a timely manner.

I was taken aback recently when I reviewed the Genesis GV60. This luxury car with all of the bells and whistles still required you to plug in your phone to use CarPlay. This review might have pushed me over the edge. CarPlay is great, but wouldn’t it be cool if my phone could just be in my pocket?

And that’s the experience with the Bolt. You get in the car turn it on and go. It connects to the phone in your pocket (or you can put it on the wireless charging pad or even plug into the USBA/USBC plugs like a caveman). You’ve got your favorite apps, music and are ready to go. It Just Works™.

Downsides to the Bolt

Every vehicles has some downsides, but I’d argue that the Bolt has relatively few. Let me try to explain these away…

54kW DC fast charging limit. This one is particularly painful because it was called out six years ago. GM decided, again and again, not to upgrade it citing cost and complexity concerns. Even just getting it over 100kW would have been a big psychological boost, and the thing can re-gen at 70kW, so it is pretty obviously capable of updating.

That said, most folks don’t go over 260 miles on all but a few days of the year, and if so, there are a ton of CCS charging options now. Even better, with Plug and Charge/Autocharge+ from EVGO it is super easy – you just plug in to charge (after a quick setup). One thing to consider is that with the Bolt’s efficiency, it charges much faster on a miles-per-minute basis. For instance, it will get just as many miles as a Ford F-150 Lightning charging at over 100kW.

I’ve easily road tripped in a Bolt before and realistically, that means I have to stay an extra 15-30 minutes per charging session and heck, people have driven their Bolts from Ohio to Alaska. At peak charging rate of 54kW, you’ll get 100 miles of range in a half hour of charging. Relax!

The overriding point is that if you don’t do a lot of road tripping and have a home charger where you’ll wake up every morning with 260 miles of range, the DC charging speed limit isn’t a dealbreaker.

FWD vs. AWD Putting front wheel drive into an EV isn’t as straight forward a decision as an ICE vehicle with the weight of the motor over the front wheels. EVs have equal weight between the tires and will see diminishing returns.

With the Bolt’s instant torque and low resistance wheels, I chirp out a lot more than I mean to, especially on rainy or icy roads and on gravel. This can be mitigated somewhat by changing out for worse range, grippier tires. I was told once by a Bolt engineer that they were fixing that but they never did.

The flip side is that the front wheel drive allows for a lot more regeneration of power than a RWD would. The Bolt offers some of the best and most complete one wheel driving available, especially with the always-on regen button and steering wheel paddle to add up to 70kW of braking.

I still would have loved to see an AWD option on the Bolt even if it was just putting a light sub-100hp motor on the back wheels for snow and a little more pickup. Chevy is offering this kind of small motor option to get the Equinox to AWD.

Chevy is perhaps seeing the light here offering the upcoming Ultium Blazer SS in not only FWD and AWD options but, in a first, offering RWD version as well. It can do this because adding motors to EVs is an order of magnitude easier than ICE vehicles. Just not easy enough to add to the Bolt apparently.

Size and shape. I happen to love the look of the Bolt EV but I think I’m in the minority, certainly of Electrek writers. Most people see the EUV as the better looking variant, but I just see it as another CUV in a sea of CUVs on American roads. I, for one, appreciate the uniqueness of the Bolt EV’s form factor. It’s a HOT HATCH! I wonder if GM could have made something look more like the Mini or GTi.

The interior quality is what I would call middle of the road. Seats are comfy and an upgrade from earlier Bolts, but nothing about this car says luxury; it is designed well, but not over the top. Chevy inexplicably changed the shifter in the Bolt to push/pull buttons which I’m still getting used to.

Both Bolts are quite narrow, and the driver ends up being pretty close to the passenger – sharing that small armrest can sometimes feel like a movie theater or a flight. And that back row middle seat? Small people only.

Bolt Fires. A problem was identified with LG’s manufacturing process in Bolt Batteries in 2020 that very rarely caused fires in previous years battery packs. A sting of Bolt fires and GMs refusal to comment got a ton of negative publicity. The cause of the fires was discovered and fixed. Then GM, mostly funded by LG laboriously replaced all previous battery packs. The packs manufactured now are fixed and should function properly. GM did the right thing here.

Dealers. I’ve had to deal with two Chevy dealers in the last two months getting Bolts for myself and my mom. The experience with hers was typical of my past experience, which means, not great. They tried to trick her into a maintenance package after we’d already paid for the car and didn’t handle the Qmerit mess very well either.

Mine here in New York wasn’t bad (Mt. Kisco Chevy). Mike D. was pretty realistic once I told him my expectations and that I knew exactly what I wanted. Bravo to him. He was well prepared and paperwork took about 15 minutes. As a former Bolt owner himself, he just let me go with a handshake. The one downside was I got a hard sale from a lying OnStar salesman on the phone who then abruptly hung up after I didn’t bite. Sheesh.

Vehicle to grid/load/etc.

It is 2023, and all EVs should build in a simple pure Sine Wave inverter that would allow the car to provide AC power to a campsite, worksite, or to the home during an electrical outage. The Ford F-150 highlighted this untapped demand with 10kW of output, and the E-GMP platform cars recently added a smaller 2kW capability.

Unfortunately, the Chevy Bolt has nothing of the sort (we saw some plugs in the upcoming Chevy Equinox and Silverado), but thankfully it is really easy to access the 12V subsystem that is fed by a 1.6kW DC-DC converter from the main 400V battery. That means it is easy to plug in an inverter and take over a kilowatt of power out of the Bolt…. for days.

DIY Solution. I’ve simply alligator-clipped a 1kW continuous/2kW peak inverter onto my Bolt’s 12V lead acid battery to run a refrigerator and internet connectivity in the past. However, I recommend formalizing this setup with something like the purpose-built and fused $180 EV Extend, which actually makes it a lot easier to hook up your inverter and get power out of your Bolt. Assuming a small house/cottage idles below 1kW and doesn’t go over 2kW, the Bolt can keep your house/cottage/campsite powered for over two days. If nothing else, it will keep your fridge and some lights and internet going for upwards of a week.

In the future, all EVs will have a 240V generator port connected to the main battery by a big 10kW inverter. For now, only the Ford F-150 Lightning has this. Tesla is strangely behind here considering they have Powerwalls, solar- and home-switching expertise. Let’s get there!

As we look into 2023

I think big themes of 2023 are going to be Tesla vs. the rest of the market. The Model Y is approaching a 1M cars-per-year run rate which would make it a favorite for 2023 vehicle of the year. That’s an order of magnitude more than the Bolt will sell next year and possibly all of GM, who seem fixated on beating Tesla’s numbers.

But also GM is launching 3 new EVs: Silverado in Spring, Blazer EV in Summer, and Equinox in Fall, so that lineup will be interesting.

There’s a ton more stuff coming as well. I’ve got my eyes on the Kia EV9 3rd row SUV, wondering if they’ll deliver before Rivian’s R1S gets off the ground.

But for now, let’s give the Chevy Bolt its glory. The economy is in some sort of recession/economic downturn and at $25,600, the Chevy Bolt is allowing a much broader swath of the population to get into an EV – and easily get into a great one at that.

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Stark Varg EX review: Our first look at the 80 HP street-legal dirt bike

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Stark Varg EX review: Our first look at the 80 HP street-legal dirt bike

Recently, the up-and-coming electric motorcycle manufacturer Stark Future invited us to the mountains of Spain to get hands-on with the Stark Varg EX – a fully electric street-legal enduro motorcycle selling in the U.S for $12,990 for the 60 HP configuration and $13,990 for the insane 80 HP configuration. After 2 days on trails, my biggest surprise was just how approachable and easy to ride the EX turned out to be for such a high-performance machine. It’s still far from being optimal as a commuter bike, but then again, that’s not quite what the EX is for.

In 2023, Stark Future began shipping its off-road MX dirt bikes, which quickly established the company as a serious competitor to ICE motocross brands. Now, with a lot of trails around the world becoming more regulated, the natural progression for the company came in the form of their street-legal EX. Before we get into it, let’s get some of the specs out of the way. 

Stark Varg EX specs:

  • Power: 60/80 HP
  • Battery capacity: 7.2kWh
  • Range: 1.3-7 Hours riding
  • Weight: 264 lbs
  • Suspension: KYB front & rear with 300mm travel
  • Charge time: 1-2 hours with 240V outlet

From MX to EX

The Street-Legal EX comes with a slightly bigger 7.2 kWh battery compared to the 6.5 kWh battery on the MX, but overall, this is still much more of a hardcore enduro motorcycle than something you’d use for long commutes and occasional trails. For those looking to convert one of these into a supermoto for around-town riding, the battery is more than sufficient. However, for those looking to commute to off-road trails that require traveling via highway, the range is not quite there yet, and unfortunately, there is no portable charger that you could easily take with you. It’s simply not where this bike shines.

Performance: 

Despite the backlash from the Motocross federation and regulators who make it very difficult for electric dirtbikes to compete in races, Stark Future has put a lot of effort into building a serious race team. 

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Outside the track, the bikes themselves are very much performance oriented, coming stock with a max of 80 HP, insane torque, and KYB suspension front and rear. Another tell sign is the stiff seat, which lets you know right away that this is much more of an enduro bike than something made for commuting. In addition, Stark Future wanted to prioritize saving weight and staying competitive on the race track over longer range and comfort. 

As a result, the bike handles more like a full-size mountain bike that somehow has just enough weight to track well on rocky terrain. Overall the bike handles incredibly well, has great weight distribution and size and is no surprise that aside from a few tweaks to the power delivery the EX that comes stock to customers is essentially the same bike that is being brought to the race track to compete on world stages, something which is not common in the world of ICE motorsports.

For those coming from gas bikes, a tip that you might want to consider is using the hand brake as a clutch. For the EU model, the rear brake is a hand brake located on the left side of the handlebars exactly where the clutch lever is on a gas bike, so for extra stability in tight single track, try giving that hand brake a try.

The Tech

In the center of the handlebars comes a smartphone, which is where you can set custom power modes, adjust regenerative braking, and even fine-tune power delivery. Out of the 80 HP, you can set the power to as low as 10 HP, which, combined with its 264-pound weight, makes it easy to hand off this bike to a complete beginner without having to worry about them hurting themselves too badly. 

Once you have a few power modes saved, you can toggle between them easily with the buttons on the handlebars, although it does take a minute to get used to because there are a few other modes you can cycle through with those two buttons.

Crawl/reverse mode

Stark Future added a few modes to make enduro a bit easier, which at the beginning of the ride I didn’t pay much attention to until I was stuck and needed to use them. If you’re familiar with walk mode on electric mountain bikes, crawl mode is essentially the same, except that with the strong torque of the bike, it’s super useful for walking the bike up steep dirt hill climbs. It keeps the wheels from spinning out, yet still has enough torque to make progress going up. There’s also a reverse mode for backing up, and altogether it made learning enduro a lot more fun.

Maps and apps

Aside from power modes, the smartphone on the bike also works for navigation, as well as any app you would have on your normal smartphone. You could also add a SIM and receive calls and texts straight to the phone. 

Electrek’s take:

One of the most appealing aspects about this bike is just how much performance you get for such an approachable bike. I could easily set this bike to a lower power setting and pass it to a friend or family member who is a complete beginner for them to have a lot of fun, and at the same time, you could pass this bike to a professional supercross rider for their next pro race.

Considering people are spending similar amounts of money on modding out Surrons, that still likely won’t compare to this bike that was designed from the start with racing in mind. The $12,990 price tag isn’t too bad for a performance enduro bike that you can ride with plates, but for those looking for a cool commuter bike, this might be a little overkill unless you’re serious about electric supermotos and want that higher-level performance. 

As for Stark Future, they have a lot of momentum going and a strong team, but they also move as a start-up up which means while they are ambitious and move quickly, certain departments, such as support, may not be as large as some of the bigger companies out there. That being said, they do have intentions to grow out their support team and build a distribution center in the U.S. to cut down shipping times. 

As for their products, there’s no official word on any specific models coming soon, but there does seem to be interest in developing more street-oriented models. There are also ongoing developments to reduce weight, including the possibility of 3D printing titanium frames and parts. Personally as someone who spends most of the time off trails it would be amazing to see the type of performance offered on the EX with the convinence of being able ot use a portable charging adapter to have the luxary of riding to a forest, stoping for lunch and having the chance to charge right before getting into the trails. 

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Port of Los Angeles set to deploy 20 Orange EV yard trucks at Pier 400

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Port of Los Angeles set to deploy 20 Orange EV yard trucks at Pier 400

With short runs at low speeds under heavy loads in a controlled space, heavy-duty terminal tractors represent an almost ideal use case for electrification. APM Terminals Pier 400 seems to have done the math and come to the same conclusion, and are now set to add twenty new Orange EVs to their fleet at the Port of Los Angeles.

With the addition of the new Orange EV e-Trievers, APM Terminals (APMT) Pier 400 has the largest deployed fleet of electric terminal tractors (or “yard dogs,” or “ro-ro trucks,” etc.) in the Port of Los Angeles, marking a notable step in the port’s decarbonization efforts.

But it doesn’t stop there for APMT. The company is using the Pier 400 electrification project to help advance the skills of its International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) workforce. the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and OEMs like Orange EV, APMT is working to establish an electric tractor training program at the ILWU-PMA Maintenance & Repair Training Center. The new training program will increase access to EVs, enabling more hands-on instruction for union mechanics and, it’s hoped, reducing some of the “push back” against EVs.

“This is not just an investment in equipment, it’s an investment in the up-skilling of the workforce,” said Jon Poelma, Managing Director of APM Terminals Pier 400. “Our partnership with PCMC is foundational to our success, and this rollout reflects how we move forward together. As we decarbonize Pier 400, we’re not only deploying new technology—we’re up-skilling our workforce through hands-on training and taking significant steps in our commitment to cleaner air for our community.”

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Pier 400 sponsored three days of paid training for 21 ILWU Local 13 union mechanics employed by PCMC last month. Led by Orange EV technicians, the program covered safety protocols, diagnostics and routine maintenance for the new electric tractors.

All 20 of the new Orange EV yard trucks are expected to be in operation by the end of July.

Electrek’s Take


No matter what you call it… …yard dog, yard truck, terminal truck, hostler, spotter, shunt truck, yard horse, goat, mule … …Orange EV pure electric trucks deliver.
e-Triever terminal tractor; via Orange EV.

Over at The Heavy Equipment Podcast, we had a chance to talk to Orange EV founder Kurt Neutgens ahead of last year’s ACT Expo for clean trucking. On the show (available here), Kurt explained how his experience at Ford helped inform his design ideology, and that the Orange EV was designed to be cost competitive with diesel options, even without subsidies.

Give it a listen, then let us know what you think of the big yard dogs in the comments.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Orange EV.


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These are the best electric bicycles I’ve tested for under $1,000

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These are the best electric bicycles I've tested for under ,000

Electric bikes are getting better, safer, and more affordable every year. Even so, in the US, e-bikes are still relatively expensive despite being such an incredibly price-sensitive market. Whenever someone asks me to recommend an e-bike for them, one of their first requirements is invariably that it doesn’t cost a fortune. Though the tradeoffs for dropping the price can sometimes rear their ugly head with their own hidden costs.

And let’s be real: the sub-$1,000 category has always been a bit of a minefield. For every great deal, there are a dozen cheap frames with underpowered motors, sketchy brakes, or batteries that make me nervous just looking at them. But with a lot of digging (and a lot of riding), I’ve managed to find a few standout electric bikes that prove you can get a surprisingly good ride without breaking the bank.

Whether you’re looking for a lightweight city commuter, a folding e-bike for multi-modal travel, or just something simple and fun to cruise around the neighborhood, there’s now a solid mix of options under the thousand-dollar mark. These bikes aren’t perfect – they cut costs in places – but many of them offer far more value than you’d expect at this price point.

I’ve personally tested every one of these e-bikes, putting them through real-world use to see what works, what doesn’t, and who each model is best suited for. Some are stripped-down budget beasts that prioritize performance. Others go for comfort and practicality. And a few genuinely surprised me with features I’d expect to see on bikes twice the price.

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Here are the best electric bikes I’ve tested for under $1,000.

Lectric XP4

There is one e-bike that deserves to be at the top of this list, and it’s the Lectric XP4. Everyone else is literally fighting for second place.

The Lectric XP 4.0 is the reigning king of budget folding e-bikes, and for good reason. At $999, it’s an almost absurd amount of bike for the money. It has no business costing this little, especially with such nice design and surprisingly good hardware.

This fourth-generation model builds on Lectric’s already massively popular XP lineup with refinements that make it more comfortable, more capable, and more versatile – all without raising the price! The step-thru frame makes it accessible for a wide range of riders, and the foldable design means it’s still compact enough to fit in a car trunk or tight storage space.

Under the hood, you get a powerful 1,092W peak (500W nominal) rear hub motor paired with a 48V 10.4Ah battery for up to 45 miles of range. The 8-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain and five pedal assist levels give you flexibility whether you’re cruising or climbing (plus the torque sensor makes pedaling feel quite natural), and the updated front suspension fork and 20” x 3” all-terrain tires add a noticeable boost in comfort and handling. Hydraulic disc brakes are a new and very welcome addition at this price point, offering better stopping power and less maintenance than mechanical setups. And to be frank, those hydraulic brakes are just too nice to be on a bike at this price – I don’t know how Lectric does it.

What really sets the XP 4.0 apart, though, is the level of polish and practicality packed into this budget-friendly frame. Integrated lights, fenders, and a rear rack all come standard, and the frame is rated for 330 pounds of total payload – enough to carry you and your groceries (or a friend with the passenger package installed on the rear!). It’s fast, fun, and wildly capable for the price. Whether you’re a first-time e-bike buyer or just want a second ride that doesn’t feel like a downgrade, the Lectric XP 4.0 is hard to beat. This is THE e-bike I recommend to most new riders.

Buzz Centris Folding E-Bike

The Buzz Centris is one of those rare sub-$1,000 folding e-bikes that doesn’t feel like a total compromise. At its current sale price of $899, it undercuts the XP4 by $100 and it manages to pack in a solid feature set that makes it a strong contender for commuters, apartment dwellers, and anyone tight on space. The folding frame, handlebars, and pedals let it collapse into a compact package, which is great for tossing in a trunk or storing in a corner. Despite its budget price, the Centris still includes some nice touches, like cast magnesium wheels that never need truing and a built-in rear rack that adds real utility for carrying bags or gear.

Power is modest and comes from a 500W rear hub motor paired with a 48V 10.4Ah battery (500Wh), offering up to 40 miles (64 km) of range under pedal assist, though you should definitely expect less if you’re heavy on the throttle and constantly ride at its top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h).

It’s not a powerhouse, but it’s plenty for city riding, light hills, or short commutes. The 7-speed Shimano drivetrain adds flexibility, and the mechanical disc brakes are basic but effective. Fat 4-inch tires on 20-inch wheels provide good comfort and traction, even on rough pavement or gravel paths.

The Buzz Centris is best suited for riders who need a compact, portable e-bike without sacrificing too much on quality like you would with all of those fly-by-night companies. It won’t win any races, and it’s not built for heavy-duty hauling or off-road adventures. But for casual riders, urban commuters, or RV travelers looking for an affordable folding e-bike with respectable performance and comfort, the Centris would be a nice compromise.

I’d still say that the extra $100 for the XP4 gets you a lot of upgrades, but if $899 is your limit, the Buzz Centris won’t do you wrong.

Lectric XP Lite 2.0

If $899 for the Buzz above is still too much, the Lectric XP Lite 2.0’s $799 price tag might fit your budget. Once you reach $800 or below, it’s hard to find a quality e-bike, and this is one of the few bikes I’d recommend in this price range. But I definitely recommend it all the time because of what a great deal it is and how well it’s made for the price! When someone asks me to maximize bang for buck, this is the e-bike I send them to.

You can think of the XP Lite 2.0 as the XP4’s lean, nimble little brother – built for simplicity, portability, and with a surprising punch. At just 41 pounds (18.6 kg), it’s one of the lightest e-bikes in its class, making it a top pick for riders who need something easy to lift, carry, or store. But don’t let the smaller size fool you, the XP Lite 2.0 still delivers an impressive ride, especially considering its $799 price tag.

lectric xp lite 2.0

Sure, the spec sheet lists a 300W nominal motor, but it really puts out over 800W of peak power. With the 48V 7.8Ah battery (375Wh), with an optional extended-range battery available for those who want to push well past the base model’s 40 miles (64 km) of range. It ships as a Class 2 e-bike, meaning you can easily hit 20 mph (32 km/h) on throttle, or you can use the pedal assist for more of a workout.

Like other Lectric models, it comes with integrated lights, a bright display, and compatibility with a wide range of accessories including racks, baskets, and passenger pegs. The XP Lite 2.0 is best suited for students, urban riders, or anyone looking for a lightweight, low-cost way to electrify their commute. It’s quick, affordable, and fun – basically the e-bike version of a no-frills city scooter, but with pedals and a whole lot more versatility.

Ride1up Portola

The Ride1Up Portola is a great example of a premium-feeling folding e-bike that sneaks in just under the $1,000 mark. To be fair, its MSRP is $1,095, but it’s currently on sale at $995, so we’re going to count it.

The Portola is one of the most refined and thoughtfully spec’d electric folders I’ve tested in this price range, at least until the XP4 came out, and it genuinely rides like a more expensive bike. Ride1Up is known for squeezing maximum value out of their builds, and the Portola is no exception. It folds down quickly and compactly, but what really makes it stand out is how good it feels when you’re actually on it.

You get a 750W rear hub motor paired with a 48V system. The bike ships with a 10.4Ah battery (500Wh), but you can also upgrade to a higher-capacity version if you want more range, and both come UL-certified. Other thoughtful specs include an 8-speed drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and a front suspension fork.

At 59 pounds (26.8 kg), the Portola isn’t a featherweight, but it’s not bad for a full-featured e-folder with fat-ish 20” x 3” tires and a full rack and fender setup. It’s ideal for riders who need a compact e-bike for commuting, RV use, or apartment storage but don’t want to sacrifice ride quality. If you want a folding e-bike that feels like a “real bike” and not a compromise, the Portola is shockingly good for the money.

Velotric Fold 1 Lite

To be fair, I’ve tested the Velotric Fold 1 Plus and not the Lite, which is its pared down sibling, but much of the bike is quite similar.

The Velotric Fold 1 Lite is one of the newest budget-friendly e-bikes from a brand that’s been steadily gaining traction for making polished, reliable electric bikes at very reasonable prices. Priced at $999, the Fold 1 Lite delivers a surprisingly slick experience in a compact, folding format – and it manages to look good doing it. With clean lines, a slick paint finish, and tidy internal cable routing, this bike feels nicer than its price suggests.

Under the hood, the Fold 1 Lite features a 500W rear hub motor (55 Nm of torque) and a 48V 486Wh battery offering a range of up to 48 miles (77 km) with pedal assist in ideal conditions, though real-world range will usually fall somewhere around 25–35 miles (40-60 km) depending on terrain and throttle usage. The bike ships as a Class 2 with both pedal assist and throttle (up to 20 mph), and it can be unlocked to Class 3 for speeds up to 28 mph (45 km/h). You also get hydraulic disc brakes, 20” x 3” all-terrain tires, and a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain to round out a solid spec sheet.

What makes this bike stand out is how well-rounded it is. The ride feels stable and comfortable, and the folding mechanism is sturdy and intuitive. It includes fenders and integrated lighting, and while it doesn’t come with a rear rack by default, one is available as an accessory. It doesn’t have quite the same bang-for-your-buck as others on this list, but it’s a nicely made, attractive bike that still deserves a spot on the list. I just wish they gave it the fun color options found on the Fold 1 Plus and other models from Velotric.

Huffy eThunder Road Kids E-Bike

This one is definitely more teen-oriented, but smaller adults will fit just fine on it. Plus, I love how cool it looks. If you’re looking for an e-bike for your teen and you don’t want to spend a fortune, this one might do it for you.

At just $729, this mini-moto-style e-bike offers a fun and confidence-building ride for kids aged 13 and up, combining the look of a mini motorcycle with the simplicity of a pedal-free throttle setup. It’s also got pedal-assist, which is a great way to introduce younger riders to an e-bike (and you can just remove the throttle if you want to force your teen to only use pedal assist).

Keep in mind that at this price, you’re going to get modest but not incredible performance. The eThunder Road is powered by a 250W rear hub motor paired with a 24V 6Ah battery. That’s enough to hit speeds up to 15 mph (25 km/h), which probably feels fast to a kid. Sure, it’s clearly designed for short, supervised fun, not all-day excursions, but that’s exactly what it promises and delivers. The large 20-inch tires offer good ground clearance and cushion for light off-road riding, while the twist throttle makes acceleration easy and intuitive. And if you’re giving your kid an e-bike, I’d say the performance is enough to offer a fun ride without having to worry about them riding a powerful little motorcycle around.

Yes, this definitely isn’t a rugged off-roader, but it’s a solid little neighborhood cruiser. With a max rider weight of 120 pounds, it’s sized well for teens and preteens. It’s also surprisingly well built for the price, with a durable steel frame and fun styling that definitely turns heads. It’s not exactly the most elegantly designed or constructed e-bike, but you get what you pay for and this is definitely more affordable than the fancier models.

If you’re looking for an electric ride-on that bridges the gap between toys and real e-bikes, the Huffy eThunder Road is a great starter option.

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