As a lot as I really like the nicer and extra refined electrical bikes that use increased high quality elements and higher building for years of worry-free using, I perceive how necessary the entry-level market is for making electrical bicycles as accessible as potential. And e-bikes like the $799 Engwe L20 2.0 are placing extra butts on seats than ever earlier than, combining low costs with efficiency that may probably shock you!
In fact the L20 2.0 isn’t going to rival e-bikes with double or triple the worth, however it does oddly effectively for such an inexpensive e-bike. Between the comfy trip and the go-anywhere perspective of the bike, I can see it working nice for informal riders and native commuters alike.
To see my firsthand testing of this salmon-spawning pink e-bike, try my trip video under. Or hold studying for the complete particulars.
Engwe L20 2.0 video evaluate
Engwe L20 2.0 tech specs
- Motor: 750W geared hub motor within the rear wheel (1,125 watts peak)
- High pace: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Vary: As much as 45 km (28 mi) on throttle or 135 km (84 mi) on pedal help
- Battery: 52V 13Ah (676 Wh)
- Weight: 31 kg (68 lb)
- Max load: 120 kg (264 lb)
- Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes on 180 mm rotors
- Extras: Rear rack, shade LED show, built-in head/tail/brake LED lights, fender set, folding design
The Engwe L20 2.0 positively takes on the acquainted kind we’ve seen from loads of 20″ folding fats tire e-bikes earlier than. Although I admire that they didn’t go full-fatty right here, as a substitute choosing the prudent compromise of three.0″ tires.
However one somewhat unfamiliar design selection is using a 52V battery as a substitute of a 48V battery. Placing my engineer hat on right here for a second, I can let you know that it principally means a roughly 7-8% improve in energy, assuming the identical controller present. The reason being that as a substitute of 13 lithium-ion battery cells, you’ve bought 14. That permits the bike to run increased energy while not having to drag extra amperage and thus create extra warmth or additional stress the controller.
The actual-world distinction isn’t big, however it’s a good factor to see when everybody appears to desire a bit extra energy than they have already got. It might make aftermarket battery and/or charger substitute a bit harder, although you need to actually be utilizing OEM elements anyway, until you actually know what you’re doing. Mixing battery chargers of various voltages is a no-no, so be sure to what the true cost voltage of your battery is when on the lookout for a brand new charger.
Regardless of the upper voltage, that battery continues to be average-sized, with its 13Ah capability translating into 676 Wh of saved power. The corporate says the throttle-only vary is round 28 miles or 45 km. I consider that, particularly since on throttle using you possibly can’t go sooner than 20 mph (32 km/h).
They declare a a lot increased vary on pedal help, as much as 84 miles (135 km). That’s probably solely potential within the absolute lowest pedal help degree, so don’t anticipate to essentially go that far, particularly not when you’re blasting round on the Class 3 prime pace of 28 mph (45 km/h) that’s enabled when utilizing pedal help.
However hey, it’s nonetheless a decent-sized battery and I like the facility it offers you, with the motor claiming 750W nominal and 1,125W peak.
The motor can also be rated at 75 Nm, which is kind of torquey for an electrical bike. It’s a bit above common for this class of 20″ folders, which means you’ll have some good hill-climbing skill from the Engwe L20 2.0.
The bike itself is kind of comfy, that includes each entrance suspension and a suspension seat publish. Neither are terribly high-end, however they each work fantastic for numerous leisure or leisurely commuter using.
Don’t take it off any candy jumps, however you possibly can really feel assured on pockmarked roads.
The inclusion of an easy-to-read shade show is nice, too. These shows can typically look fantastic within the shade of your storage however immediately wash out whenever you roll a motorbike outdoors, however Engwe’s show does a great job of nonetheless being legible even when the solar comes out.
Different included elements just like the fender set, the rear rack, the LED lighting within the entrance and rear, and the Shimano 7-speed shifter are all nice to see on a $799 e-bike. Many of those elements are sometimes held again behind paywalls from different corporations, so I at all times take pleasure in getting all the pieces included, particularly on such a budget-priced bike.
I’m glad to see the bike is available in a number of colorways as effectively, together with inexperienced, black, and the pink mannequin I examined.
Although as comfy and highly effective as I discover the e-bike, not all the pieces is ideal.
For one, I discover it has a surprisingly low max weight ranking of simply 264 lb (120 kg). Whereas that’s fantastic for me, there’s a large chunk of the US public that might be excluded. However extra importantly, I’ve to surprise what that claims concerning the bike if it’s solely licensed as much as 264 lb. Most e-bikes check increased, so is there a motive Engwe didn’t push it?
The bike is a hefty 68 lb (31 kg) by itself, so it’s not like it is a actually light-weight e-bike that couldn’t help heavier masses. What offers?
Subsequent, the disc brakes are mechanical as a substitute of hydraulic. That has a small benefit in that they’re simpler to work on your self, however the larger drawback is that you simply’ll should work on them way more typically. These cables stretch over time, which means you’ve bought to regulate them to retain your braking skill.
For $799, that’s largely to be anticipated. There are similarly-priced electrical bikes with hydraulic brakes, however they’re nonetheless fairly darn uncommon today. Which will change in a number of years, however for now, sub-$1k e-bikes hardly ever have nicer juice brakes.
What’s the decision right here?
In conclusion, the Engwe L20 2.0 stands out as a surprisingly good choice within the entry-level e-bike market. Its affordability and first rate efficiency make it a compelling selection for these new to electrical bicycles or these on the lookout for a dependable and cost-effective commuting choice. Whereas it might not boast the high-end options of costlier fashions, it delivers the place it counts: consolation, usability, and an pleasurable using expertise.
For informal riders and native commuters, the Engwe L20 2.0 provides a sensible and accessible entry level into the world of electrical biking. It will positively make a flexible companion for every day rides and weekend adventures, although its substandard elements certainly gained’t give the identical expertise or longevity of extra refined and pricier e-bikes.
For those who’re looking for a budget-friendly e-bike that doesn’t compromise on important options (even when it does compromise on the fancier options or lack thereof), the Engwe L20 2.0 is effectively price contemplating. This bike proves that you simply don’t want to interrupt the financial institution to take pleasure in the advantages of electrical biking.
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