Fastest Folding Electric Bikes Available To Buy

The speed of an electric bike, folding or not, is limited by the manufacturer to comply with local laws.

For instance, you can’t ride an e-bike faster than 15.5 mph with pedal assistance in the EU. In the US, this rises to 20 mph or 28 mph.

By definition, a Class 3 e-bike in the United States is faster than other e-bikes, even when it’s pedal-assist only.

In this article, we search for the fastest folding electric bike available to buy, based on various criteria.

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9 Of The Fastest Foldable E-Bikes In The World

No matter where you are in the world, you should find a folding e-bike on our list to give you a zippy ride.

1. Lectric eBikes XP 3.0 Black Folding E-Bike

• E-bike Class: 1, 2, or 3
• Motor: 500W (1000W peak)
• Battery Capacity: 10.4 Ah 48V (upgradeable)
• Gears: 7-speed
• Range: 45 miles standard range.
• Weight: 64 lbs (29 kg) with battery.

Delivered as a Class 2 e-bike, you can easily convert the powerful Lectric XP 3.0 Black Folding E-Bike into a 28 mph Class 3 bike from within settings.

Of course, you need to make sure you’re complying with local state electric bike laws before you ride a Class-3-rated bike on the road.

This Lectric e-bike folds into a compact size that’s ideal for a car trunk or an RV.

It’s on the weighty side at 64 lbs, but the Lectric XP 3.0 includes a powerful 500W motor and a selection of 7 gears to help you fly over inclines.

2. Tern Vektron Q9 Folding E-Bike

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• E-Bike Class: 1
• Motor: 250W mid-drive Bosch
• Battery Capacity: 11 Ah 36V (400 Wh)
• Gears: 9-speed (11-32t cassette).
• Range: 30-80 miles
• Weight: 48.3 lbs (21.9 kg).

Although the Tern Vektron Q9 Folding E-Bike has a modest 20 mph top speed, or 15.5 mph in Europe, you can expect your average speed on it to be brisk.

The Vektron has an efficient Bosch Active Line mid-drive 250W motor and a wide-ranging 9-speed gear transmission (11-32t rear sprockets). Coupled with a large chainring, this is a bike that feels natural to ride and allows for strong pedaling.

Despite a modest weight compared to some of the competition, the Tern Vektron comes equipped with fenders and an integrated rear rack.

This is widely considered to be one of the best folding e-bikes on the market.

Video: Tern Vektron Q9 Folding E-Bike

3. Snapcycle S1 Folding E-Bike

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• E-Bike Class: 2 or 3
• Motor: 750W hub (peak 1200W)
• Battery Capacity: 14 Ah 48V (672 Wh)
• Gears: 7-speed (14-28t sprockets, 46t chainring).
• Range: 45 miles (max)
• Weight: 66 lbs (29.9 kg).

A foldable e-bike that lets you ride a bit of gravel is the Snapcycle S1. This bike has fat 4” tires and a suspension fork to help iron out bumps in the riding surface.

The S1 can be configurated as a Class 2 or Class 3 bike, meaning it has a latent top speed of 28 mph. It also has a high-capacity battery, which enhances your average speed by giving you more leeway in range.

A peak power of 1200W helps to carry you and the Snapcycle S1 over steep hills.

The downsides to this bike include its undersized fenders and bulky folded size.

4. Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Folding Road E-Bike

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• E-Bike Class: 1
• Motor: 250W front hub
• Battery Capacity: 12.8 Ah 36V (460 Wh)
• Gears: 18-speed (2 x 9 speed)
• Range: 37 miles (60 km)
• Weight: 36 lbs (16.32 kg).

You’re unlikely to encounter a racier folding electric bike than the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket. That’s partly due to its road-bike appearance with a drop handlebar that allows you to get low and aero.

The Pocket Rocket is not an electric model by default. That happens when you add a motorized front wheel to the configuration.

This is a folding bike with an unusually wide gear range and a set of “standard” 53t/39t chainrings at the front. The gearing makes the Pocket Rocket one of the fastest electric folding bikes in any mode.

Also boosting the speed of this bike are its 451mm 20” wheels. These are bigger wheels than the more common 406mm 20” wheels, which helps the bike maintain momentum when you coast.

These bikes are custom-made to order, so one potential downside is the wait.

Video: Bike Friday Pocket Rocket

5. Dahon Unio E20 Folding E-Bike

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• E-Bike Class: 1
• Motor: 200W mid-drive
• Battery Capacity: 8.7 Ah 36V (313 Wh)
• Gears: 9-speed (1 x 9 speed)
• Range: 37 miles (60 km)
• Weight: 35.49 lbs (16.10 kg).

Dahon is the world’s largest folding bike manufacturer, so you’d expect its electric folding bikes to be innovative. The Dahon Unio E20 Folding E-Bike doesn’t disappoint, loaded as it is with Dahon’s patented tech.

One of the things that makes this a fast bike is its gearing. A 9-speed 11-32t cassette at the rear is driven by a large 52” chainring up front.

Also, the 200W motor on this lightweight folding e-bike is of the efficient mid-drive variety, which makes the pedal-assist feel natural and delivers a smoother ride.

The electric motor of the Unio E20 is not so powerful that you’ll go flying over hills, so that’s a small downside, but you’ll still get an uphill boost.

A rear rack and fenders are included.

6. Hummingbird Folding Electric Bike Gen 2.0

• E-Bike Class: 1
• Motor: 250W rear hub
• Battery Capacity: 158 Wh
• Gears: 1-speed
• Range: 31 miles (50 km)
• Weight: 22.7 lbs (10.3 kg).

The Hummingbird Folding Electric Bike Gen 2.0 is the lightest e-bike on the market as far as we know. It’s made of carbon. Rather than folding in the middle, the frame remains intact and the rear wheel folds underneath it.

This latest version of Hummingbird’s e-bike delivers 50% more torque and 20% more range than its predecessor. You can trigger the “boost” feature to carry you over hills.

Although it’s a single speed bike with one medium gear, the exceptionally low weight of the Hummingbird and its customizable pedal-assist settings help you to extract as much speed as possible.

A slight downside is the extra care needed with a carbon frame and where you store it. Plus, it’s expensive.

This bike won our best single speed folding bike award.

7. RadExpand 5 Folding E-Bike

• E-Bike Class: 2
• Motor: 750W rear hub
• Battery Capacity: 14 Ah 48V (672 Wh)
• Gears: 7-speed (14t-34t freewheel)
• Range: up to 44 miles (72 km)
• Weight: 62.5 lbs (28.3 kg).

The RadExpand 5 Folding E-Bike is a versatile and practical option for urban commuters and recreational riders alike. If you need to maintain speed over difficult terrain, this throttle-on-demand fat bike with 4” tires may be for you.

This bike features a comfortable saddle and adjustable handlebars. A downside is the lack of suspension, though this helps keep the weight under control.

8. Brompton P Line Urban Folding E-Bike

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• E-Bike Class: Class 1
• Motor: 250W Brompton front hub electric motor
• Battery Capacity: 300Wh (36V)
• Gears: 4-speed
• Range: Up to 45 miles (72 km)
• Weight: 34.7 lbs (15.73 kg)

The Brompton P Line Urban Folding E-Bike delivers an efficient and smooth ride at pedal-assisted speeds of up to 20 mph in the US.

Thanks to its 4-speed transmission, you’ll make good progress on this bike inside the city environment it’s designed for.

This is the perfect e-bike commuting bike who want to ride quickly to the workplace and then be able to store an e-bike under their desk. A slight downside is the indiscreet external battery, but this helps the P Line to retain the unique Brompton fold.

9. Magnum Premium 3 High Step Folding E-Bike

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• E-Bike Class: Class 1, 2, or 3.
• Motor: 500W (750W peak)
• Battery Capacity: 15 Ah 48V (720 Wh)
• Gears: 7-speed (14t-28t freewheel, 52t chainring)
• Range: Up to 50 miles (80.46 km)
• Weight: 62.25 lbs. (28.25 kg)

The Magnum Premium 3 High Step Folding E-Bike is a great choice for urban commuters. Its lightweight frame and folding mechanism make it easy to carry and store, while the 500W motor provides a smooth and powerful ride.

An adjustable seat and handlebars make the Magnum Premium 3 comfortable for riders of all sizes, and the integrated lights and fenders add to its practicality.

Video: Premium III Folding Electric Bike

Pros And Cons Of Riding A Fast Folding Electric Bike

Pros:

• Fast and efficient transportation
• Easy storage and portability
• Environmentally friendly
• Cost-effective
• Good exercise

Cons:

• Limited range
• Heavy
• Expensive upfront cost
• Safety concerns

Electric bikes can travel at high speeds, making them a faster mode of transportation than regular bicycles. This is especially true in the US, where a 20 mph or 28 max speed is harder to match than the 15.5 mph limit on European e-bikes.

Folding e-bikes are also easy to store, fairly easy to transport, and okay to carry provided you choose the right model. Are e-bikes good for climate change? The overarching consensus is that they are.

A folding electric e-bike is more cost-effective than using public transport and still offers you an aerobic workout. Indeed, the faster among them allow you to build a high speed under your own steam while still offering pedal assist when required.

Video: Are Electric Bikes Good For Fitness?

Among the downsides of an electric folding bike are its high upfront cost and extreme weight in some cases. Most other folding bikes are cheaper and, on average, easier to carry. The max range of e-bikes tends to be optimistic in specs, too.

Some electric bikes accelerate to predetermined speeds under different settings, which makes them a bit hazardous to ride until you’re used to them.

Overall, the pros of fast folding e-bikes outweigh the cons.

Read more:

• The best folding e-bikes under $1000
• Guide to folding bike speed