Electric folding bicycles: a comprehensive comparison

Many campers have now discovered the electric folding bicycle. You can easily store them in the camper, for example in the garage. This means you have a nice ebike available everywhere with a good range from the camper without the hassle of a bicycle carrier. In addition, it is less susceptible to theft and the bicycles remain good for longer.

However, with the many brands such as Lacros and Folt, it is difficult to make the right choice. We were briefed by the spokesperson of eVouwfietsen.nl. This is a website that has mapped out the different brands and models and offers a selection aid. It was founded by Smart Mobility Innovations BV, the company behind Folt, to provide transparency about the different options.

What should you pay attention to?

As a camper you want a comfortable e-bike, not a rickety folding bike. “Many brands, such as Brompton, actually focus on the commuter,” said the eFolding Bicycles spokesperson. “As a camper you want more comfort for longer distances on different types of terrain, also abroad.”

20 inch wheels

For the best balance between comfort and compactness, as a camper you should look for an electric folding bicycle with at least 20 inch wheels. You can also choose a bicycle with 24 inch wheels (almost as big as a 'normal' bicycle), but that is often just too difficult to take with you in the camper. Bicycles with 16 inch wheels, such as Brompton or EMQ, are more compact, but also a lot less stable and comfortable. “That is why they are often better suited for commuting,” according to the advice eFolding bicycles.

You often find the most important information in those things did not are told. The same applies to suspension, gears and the range of the electric folding bicycle. Many brands show their beautiful folding e-bikes but do not mention that they have no suspension or gears. These things are an absolute must for campers. You can't have a comfortable ride abroad without a little cushioning on the trails and gears for the hills. In addition, brands do not always clearly communicate how far their bikes can go. Therefore, look for a battery of at least 10 Ampere-hours, or 320 Watt-hours. Bicycles from Lacros and Folt meet this requirement, but some other players in the market do not.

Weight

Please note: weights are not always communicated consistently. On eVouwfietsen.nl you will therefore find the actual weights of the different brands. Is the battery included or not? And the saddle? Also remember that weight is important, but it is also a trade-off. The lighter the bicycle, the less comfort and strength. Namely: a good battery, suspension and powerful engine simply have a certain basic weight. Don't be misled by claims of ultra-light electric folding bicycles: a decent folding e-bike will always have a certain minimum weight above 15 kilograms.'

More information

You will find extensive selection help and more information about how the different brands score on this on eVouwfietsen.nl. eVouwfietsen.nl was set up by Smart Mobility Innovations BV (SMIBV), of which FOLT is also a part. FOLT carefully communicates weights and distances on its models, but noticed that the rest of the market is not always consistent. With eVouwfietsen.nl, SMIBV wants to offer transparency into the various electric folding bicycles in the Netherlands.