Engwe P20 Folding Electrical Bike Evaluate: How Forgiving Are You?

It is easy to make a folding electrical bike like this one Engwe P20 look nice on paper.

First, you value it at round $1,000 and promise a 10-second fold time. Then you definately exchange the normal oil-driven chain, derailleur, cassette, and shifter with a belt-driven motor and torque sensor that ought to intuitively multiply pedal-assisted energy with out requiring any gears or upkeep. Lastly, you add hydraulic disc brakes to deliver all of it to a managed cease, and also you package deal all of it up in a cute package deal that may be towed on a practice or thrown within the trunk of a automobile.

On paper, the €1,099 (about $1,190) Engwe P20 ticks all of the containers for an e-bike that is simply gone on sale in Europe. However driving it for the previous month at my residence in Amsterdam has taught me that you just nonetheless get what you pay for.

The P20’s value and have set make its shortcomings principally forgivable, however they’re shortcomings nonetheless.

My first problem with the P20 is with the torque sensor setup. When beginning off with the P20’s Talengo JKaero belt drive, there is a noticeable delay in pedal help. Attempting to start out on a hill is even worse, requiring a number of seconds of pretty important effort from the rider. And since it is a single-speed, you possibly can’t shift gears to make it simpler.

This can be a deliberate tweak, because the unmarked 250-watt rear hub motor is simply able to producing 42 Nm of torque. This isn’t the primary e-bike to shift the workload to the rider’s quads as an alternative of the motor (and battery) in favor of elevated vary. The P20 isn’t the bike to personal for those who repeatedly must climb hilly terrain, but it surely handles reasonable grades simply nice.

The second drawback got here after I obtained the P20 on top of things. At round 23 km/h (14 mph), my legs began spinning so quick that the saddle turned uncomfortable. That higher restrict is ok for those who’re cruising alongside at a standard tempo, but it surely’s annoying if it’s essential to get someplace on the P20’s high velocity of 25 km/h (15.5 mph), in line with European limits.

And like virtually all mail-order e-bikes, you possibly can unlock the motor for much more velocity if you recognize the trick – which is what I did for this overview. Unsurprisingly, I discovered pedalling at US speeds of 20mph (32km/h) unattainable. Fortunately, my overview mannequin got here with a throttle lever, regardless of this being unlawful in a lot of Europe. It was disabled within the software program, however may also be unlocked with some Konami code magic. Annoyingly, even the P20’s throttle suffers from lag.

I am cruising alongside at 14 mph, I hit the fuel to cease the windmill, and… the engine cuts out, solely to start out up once more a second or two later when the fuel is lastly utilized. This finally will get the bike as much as 20 mph – and better, for those who dare.

These efficiency quirks can be unforgivable on an e-bike within the $3,000+ vary that I usually overview — however the Engwe P20 prices only a third of that. And there is a lot to love right here.

The P20 hydraulic disc brakes cease these 20 x 1.95-inch tires shortly and with management. Simply be aware that the brakes are unbranded, which might make discovering alternative brake pads a trouble when the time comes.

The P20’s geometry can be bigger than its measurement, so the steering does not really feel overly sharp like some smaller folding bikesIt is heavy for a folding bike with 20-inch tires, weighing in at 18.5 kg (41 lbs), or 22 kg (55 lbs) if you add the detachable (and lockable) 346 Wh (36 V/9.6 A) battery. However that additional weight helps make it a bit of safer to trip on the expense of portability.

The vary is first rate, though heavy throttle use will cut back it significantly. Utilizing solely the motor as a pedal help, I obtained about 52 km (32 miles) from a full battery whereas driving at energy ranges two or three (out of three). Not dangerous. The battery takes over 5 hours to cost.

Angwe calls the P20 a 10-second fold, which is definitely bold – my greatest time was about double that, however you are able to do higher with a lot of observe. The handlebars and seat fold up utilizing quick-release latches, and even the pedals fold with some effort. The bike then folds in half utilizing what looks like a reassuringly stable latch in the midst of the middle tube.

A magnet helps hold the entrance and rear wheels hooked up when folded, permitting you to push or pull the cumbersome package deal for those who steadiness on one wheel whereas holding the seat with each arms. It takes some observe and power to get it proper. A small built-in steel kickstand permits the bike to face upright on the bottom with out tipping over too simply.

The P20 additionally comes with a number of extras included within the value, together with built-in mudguards, a rear rack, a kickstand, and head and tail lights (with a helpful brake mild) that almost all metropolis commuters will need. It additionally has a flip sign operate with devoted buttons on the steering wheel. These are difficult to make use of, as they don’t make a sound, don’t flip off mechanically, and aren’t very seen throughout the day. Hand alerts are higher, in my view.

There isn’t any app, the show is small however good, and the entire bike can face up to rain and water spray whereas driving. You’ll suppose that an IP6 score can be customary for all e-bikes designed for out of doors driving, however that isn’t assured on this value vary.

What frustrates me in regards to the P20 is that it may have been a terrific e-bike, however as an alternative it feels prefer it was designed by a advertising and marketing group utilizing available elements picked from a catalog, and nobody spent any time optimizing the driving expertise. However that is what you get on the price range finish of the e-bike spectrum.

At €1,099/£1,099, the Engwe P20 is an honest selection for these in search of a comparatively cheap e-bike for blended commuting, or in search of a folding bike that rides extra like a conventional bike.

Picture by Thomas Ricker/The Verge