Best electric road bikes of 2023: Go farther, faster. Evo electric bike battery

Best electric road bikes of 2023: Go farther, faster

Electric bikes are incredibly popular and a huge part of the cycling market these days. They can make cycling more accessible to a wider range of riders over different applications and terrains and are just downright fun to use. The best electric bikes can be used over a range of uses, including e-bike commuting and gravel riding. We will be taking a look a the best electric road bikes here, a category that has come a long way with the best models being very close to the best road bikes in terms of ride quality and looks whilst offering heaps of extra power when needed.

Electric road bikes can almost go unnoticed these days, so discreet they now look. They utilise a lot of the same components regular road bikes do, like the best road bike wheels and best road bike tyres most of which are rated for e-bike use these days.

E-bikes are now nearly universally accepted, the ‘cheating’ argument has fallen by the wayside as people have acknowledged how useful and varied e-bike uses can be. Whether that be aiding sustainable travel or helping groups of riders with varying fitness ride together.

We’ve gathered the best electric road bikes into this list, helping you analyse specifications and tech to help you make a more informed buying decision. If you still need a little more help, head to the bottom of the page to see our buying guide pointers.

Best electric road bikes available today

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Reasons to avoid

The Trek Domane SLR is the newest e-road bike from the US-based brand. Available in six different spec options but all based around a superlight weight Trek OCLV 800 carbon frame, this is the lightest e-road bike trek has ever produced.

The Domane SLR is aimed at performance road riders who want a little extra zip, it has a discreet motor and battery from German specialist TQ which offers a super smooth and quiet e-riding experience. The Domane SLR is lighter than the Trek Domane LT and has a non-removable battery whereas the LT’s is removable

You get a neatly integrated LCD display in the top tube, mode toggle buttons custom built into the shifters, and the lights and eTap charging can be wired in to run from the battery to simplify things. If you want a high-end lightweight electric road bike, the Domane SLR is one we’d be happy to recommend.

Reasons to avoid

Claimed to weigh 11kg, the Ribble Endurance SL e is one of the lightest e-road bikes currently available and, visually, the frame is almost identical to its non-assisted sibling, including the aggressive geometry.

Using the Mahle Ebikemotion system, the Endurance SL e doesn’t get a control unit, instead opting for a button on the top tube that cycles through the three levels of assistance. Hidden inside the downtube is a Panasonic 250Wh battery, which is connected to a rear hub-based motor said to provide 40Nm of torque. There is an accompanying app, too, which will provide additional information such as remaining battery life.

As Ribble is consumer direct, the pricing is competitive with the Tiagra build starting at £2,799, and the 105 build starting at £3,299 — every component can be upgraded through the brand’s ‘BikeBuilder’ program.

Reasons to avoid

Using the C64 as the backbone, Colnago has adapted its carbon racer into a pedal-assist roadie. Claimed to tip the scales at 12kg including the battery, Colnago says the rear hub-based motor only adds 3.7kg and it’s capable of delivering 250 watts of assistance.

With the battery housed in the downtube, the E64 doesn’t get a built-in head unit; instead, there is a button on the top tube that controls the electronics. The battery is stored in the downtube and is not removable, but Colnago says there is an auxiliary battery on the horizon which can be stored in one of the bottle cages to add range.

Although the E64 appears to be a carbon-lugged frame, it’s a visual illusion with these details being added in the paint shop. The bike comes with a Shimano Ultegra drivetrain, Deda finishing kit and Mavic Aksium Elite EVO UST wheels.

Reasons to avoid

With the IsoSpeed decoupler in the seat tube and room in the frame for 38c tyres, Trek’s Domane LT is probably the best electric road bike for comfort.

It comes with a 250w motor and 250Wh battery, so in terms of power and range, it’s on a par with many of the ‘secret e-bikes’ featured here, however, instead of having a battery permanently hidden inside the down tube, the Domane uses a removable battery. Batteries do degrade over time, so the option to replace them will be positive when it comes to long-term ownership or resale value.

The Domane LT features all the niceties of the pedal-powered Domane, including fender mounts, Blendr accessories, and endurance geometry. The carbon frame is fitted with a Shimano Ultegra 2×11 groupset, with a 50/34 chainset and 11-34 cassette.

Reasons to avoid

On the surface, the Nytro looks like any other Pinarello frame, complete with a wavy fork and aero tubing but hidden in the downtube are a Fazua drive unit and battery. The Nytro is claimed to have up to 250w of power and 55Nm of torque, and the battery can be dropped out of the downtube to make it just a normal road bike, weighing in at around 9kg without the battery.

The frame uses the brand’s F10 frameset as a starting point and adds a bit of length to the wheelbase and height to the head tube. Rest assured, Pinarello hasn’t forgotten to give the Nytro its trademark asymmetric tube treatment.

Built with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 11-speed drivetrain, the bike gets hydraulic disc brakes and rolls on Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels. It also comes with a Pinarello-sized price tag.

Reasons to avoid

Launched during the 2019 Tour de France is the latest addition to Specialized’s line-up of Turbo bikes, the Creo SL, is designed to be a high-performance e-road bike that’s powered by the brand’s own SL 1.1 drive system, it also uses the brand’s Futureshock 2.0 at the front. Instead of an aftermarket solution from Bosch, Fazua or Shimano, Specialized designed its own, which is claimed to weigh just 1.96kg.

The 320Wh battery itself weighs 1.8kg, and Specialized is also offering 60Wh extender packs which fit in a bottle cage — the extender packs are included with the S-Works and Founders edition, but not the Expert build.

With the Mission Control app, you can run diagnostics and customise the assistance levels. Specialized says you can customise them on the fly, which means in theory, you could tailor the wattage to help you keep up with friends on the climb while still getting a workout.

The Turbo Creo features a full carbon frame and is only available as a 1x setup, with the Expert edition using a Shimano Ultegra 11-speed Di2/XT Di2 mix drivetrain with Ultegra hydraulic disc brakes and Roval carbon wheels.

Reasons to avoid

The SuperSix EVO Neo features a ebike motion X35 motor, which offers 250w of assistance and up to 40Nm of torque (in the highest mode).

According to Cannondale, the 250Wh removable battery will take you around 75km on a single charge. The bike comes with 28mm slick Vittoria Rubino Pro tyres, and the frame features an integrated seat binder combined with a 27 KNØT seat post, designed to work together to absorb road bumps. The frame also features SAVE micro-suspension to smooth out most rides for added comfort.

It’s powered by a respectable Shimano 105 R7000 hydraulic groupset, with 2×11 gearing. Up front the FSA crank features 50/34 chainrings, paired with an 11-34 cassette at the rear, offering a massive range of gears.

As part of Cannondale’s e-bike range, the SuperSix Evo Neo 3 Disc benefits from the brand’s integrated wheel sensor, which delivers accurate speed, route and distance information, registers your bike, reminds you when you need service, and more.

Reasons to avoid

There’s no denying that the Revolt E carries more of an electric bike aesthetic than some others here, but within its oversized down tube comes a large battery and a motor with a lot of torque.

Powering it is the Shimano EP8-powered SyncDrive Pro pedal-assist system, which promises smooth acceleration (thanks to its 85Nm of maximum torque). Meanwhile, the Shimano GRX Di2 1×11 electronic groupset and 40mm tyres make it all-road ready if you plan to mix things up a bit. There are also mounts for mudguards and racks.

The system is simple to use, and the motor comes with a SmartAssist mode that automatically adapts to your cadence and ride style, tuning the amount of assistance to the levels you actually need. This means you don’t need to think about anything and can pedal without thinking about it.

How to choose the best electric road bike for you

Your riding demands will dictate which e-road bike is best for you. Hopefully, this guide should have given you an idea of what’s out there. Next, You should consider how you may want to use your e-bike: are you commuting to work, adventuring and discovering new terrain or simply adding a new bike to your fleet? Your requirements will dictate weight, gearing, range, prince point etc. Test ride a bike if you can and chat with manufacturers about which e-bike is best for you.

What do I need to know about the drive system?

With the electric bike market continually growing, more and more brands are getting on board and developing newer and better technology all the time. The best electric road bike will likely come with a powerful and reliable drive system, including one of the best e-bike motors from the likes of Bosch, Yamaha, and Shimano, while some feature integrated units from Ebikemotion and Fazua.

These systems place the motor either at the bottom bracket or the rear hub and vary in weight. In fact, some of the integrated systems are surprisingly light. The power they offer is an important factor, and most hover between 250w and 500w.

What’s the best wattage for an electric bike battery?

How long is a piece of string? It all depends on how much you’re riding, and how much you care about your electric road bike’s aesthetic.

When e-bikes started to gain popularity, the batteries were bulbous, and almost appeared to be haphazardly bolted on wherever there was space. Now we are seeing brands working to integrate them into the frame seamlessly.

Unfortunately, the smaller the battery, the smaller the capacity. which is measured in watt-hours (Wh). While some brands are quick to make claims about how far certain Wh batteries will take their bikes, these figures can vary greatly depending on the level of boost, the terrain and even the weight of the rider. Bosch has put together a handy Range Assistant, which can provide a good idea of how much mileage you can expect to achieve, depending on your riding habits.

While some bikes have removable batteries which allow you to keep a spare, others with hidden battery packs look much cleaner.

Are electric road bikes unisex?

As a general rule of thumb, most e-road bikes are made to be unisex, while having multiple size options that should work for most people. The saddle, which is the key contact area that needs some tailoring to fit the users, is easily swapped out for one of the best women’s road bike saddles if need be.

If you would prefer a women’s specific model, be sure to check out our list of the best women’s electric bikes.

Regional restrictions

Most e-bikes use one of three e-bike systems, however, depending on where you live, the level of assistance as well as whether you need a license and insurance will vary. Here’s a breakdown of all the e-bike restrictions in place in the UK, US and Australia.

The UK adopted a lot of the EU’s regulations regarding e-bikes but with Brexit, it’s hard to say if that may change.

All of the bikes featured here fall under ‘The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EPAC) Amendment Regulations’ mandates; electric assistance can only provide 250 watts of aid and must cut out at 25kph. It also stipulates the rider must be in motion for the motor to kick in and be at least 14 years old.

Electric bikes (and riders) that meet these standards have the same legal standing as regular bicycles and are allowed on roads and bike paths.

In Europe, a new class of speed-pedelecs or s-pedelecs are gaining popularity that are capable of providing assistance up to 45kph. You still need to pedal for the motor to kick in, however, under UK law these are considered two-wheel mopeds and require insurance, a legally certified helmet and a qualifying driver’s license.

In the US, rules for e-bikes vary from state to state; 30 states classify e-bikes as ordinary bicycles, while the remaining 20 label e-bikes as mopeds, scooters or something else altogether.

Federal law defines an electric bicycle as a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of fewer than 750 watts, whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20mph.’

It’s worth noting this statute defines the maximum assisted speed of the bike when being only powered by the motor, not when it’s being pedalled. To make things more confusing, state regulations can supersede the federal statute.

The Bicycle Product Suppliers Association has proposed a three-class system which divides electric bikes up based on their maximum assisted speed:

Class 1: the motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedalling and cuts out a 20mph

Class 2: the motor can contribute regardless of pedalling but is governed to 20mph

Class 3: the motor provides assistance when the rider is pedalling but cuts out at 28mph and must be equipped with a speedometer.

For all three classes, the motor can only put out a max of 750 watts, and the class needs to be clearly labelled. This system also defines where the bikes can be ridden; classes 1 and 2 are permitted anywhere bikes are allowed, while class 3 can be ridden on roads and bike lanes but not multi-use paths, and may be subject to minimum user age and helmet requirements.

So far, 22 states have legislation creating a class system and our friends over at People for Bikes has put together a full state-by-state run down.

In Australia, e-bikes are split into throttle-operated and pedal-assist. Both systems must be limited to 25kph, and the throttle-operated motors can only output 200 watts while pedal assist is legal up to 250 watts. Anything that exceeds these figures is considered a motorbike and must be licensed and insured.

Collection: Bulls Electric Bikes

BULLS is relatively new on the scene, founded in 1995 in Cologne, Germany. But they took off like a jump jet in 2007 when Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm won the prestigous Cape Epic on BULLS’ Copperhead bike and when on to become the most successful mountain bike duo in the world.

• But they didn’t let fame go to their heads, and BULLS remained dedicated to the mission that got them into the business in the beginning: building the best bikes possible.
• All BULLS bikes are designed and tested in their German headquarters in Koln. Once they are approved and certified by international standards, the design are sent to South East Asia for manufacture under BULLS staff supervision.
• They are more than a bicycle and eBike manufacturer. BULLS aims to innovate by combining state-of-the-art drive technology and the expertise of professional cyclists and engineers and they strive to set new industry standards.

How Long Will My Bulls Electric Bike Last?

An ebike, especially one as good as a BULLS bike can be a huge investment, so you may be wondering how long you can expect it to last. The good news is BULLS bikes are exceptionally well made and with regular maintenance they can last a long time.

• An average ebike lasts around 10 years with average. An excellent bike that is taken exceptionally good care of can last well over a decade. However, some components will need to be repaired or replaced more regularly.
• For the majority of ebikes, batteries last for around 1,000 charges. This usually comes out to about 3. 5 years. To extend the life of the battery, be sure to store your bike with the battery just under full capacity. Between 40. 80% is a safe range for storage. Then just top it up before you hit the trail.
• When it’s time, batteries are generally easy to replace and provided by your ebike manufacturer.
• Motors are expensive, but fortunately, they are among the longest lived of ebike components. A high-end motor can last as long as the bike itself and are sealed and protected against the elements. If something does happen to compromise your motor, be sure to hit us up for warranty details.
• Chains and tires usually last between 1,000 and 3,000 miles, but with regularl cleaning and lubrication you can add time to it’s lifespan.

What eBike Does the LAPD Ride?

In 2018, LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck unveiled the department’s pilot program of 20 electric bicycles to begin patrolling the city immediately. After a pilot program to test several bike brands, the city decided on a custom-made class 3 electric by designed by BULLS called Sentinel.

• Beck himself is an avid cyclist and took a hands-on approach to testing the bikes on the pilate program.
• The bikes will allow officers to respond to calls quicker, especially in congested downtown areas, and arrive ready to respond. It also, like the traditional bike counterparts, puts officers in a great position to interact with the public in a less aggressive mode.
• The LAPD chose BULLS for many of the same reasons consumers do. A civilian-ready version of the Sentinel is now available to the general public and comes equipped with RockShox Pike heavy duty front suspension for better handling on urban scenarios.

Why We Love Bulls Electric Bikes

Fly Rides and BULLS is the type of partnership that the electric bike industry should strive for. Two companies both dedicated to giving riders a wide selection while still ensuring that quality never drops and that your eBike provides an insanely fun and relentlessly reliable experience from tip to tailor, rather, handlebars to tires.

• Whether you’re looking for an electric mountain bike with top of the line full suspension or an urban commuter that you can hop off of ready to take on the day, Fly Rides and BULLS have you covered with the perfect bike.
• It’s no doubt that this company builds an incredible eBike. But one of the most remarkable aspects of this company is that they build electric bikes with every major motor on the market.
• Looking for the strength and reliability of the Bosch drive? They have you covered with a wide variety of Bosch motors across their commuting and electric mountain bikes.
• How about the quiet strength of the Brose S Mag with a massive battery? Yep. BULLS bikes have you there and beyond by offering options from Brose ranging from the hill-crushing Brose S Mag to the 28 mph speed of Brose’s speed motors.
• But we can keep going! Want lightweight, removable assistance. Well, then, allow us to introduce you to the Wild Flow EVO RS with the Fazua Evation motor.
• Do you like systems built by titans of the cycling industry? Check out the E-Core EVO series with Shimano STEPS equipped.

No matter what pedal assist motor you’re looking for, they have you covered with an expert build including top notch hydraulic disc brakes, drivetrains, tires, and more. We have no doubt you’ll be stoked whether you’re riding road, mountain, gravel, or anywhere else in between. Grab Your e-bike by the horns and hold on tight!

Easy Motion Battery Charger

We recommend using only the original Easy Motion battery charger with your Emotion electric bike. The dual voltage (110V / 220V ) 36 and 48-volt Easy Motion battery chargers are designed to optimize the lithium batteries per the manufacturer’s original specifications. Simply select the series of Emotion bike you own from our drop-down list above.

• Chargers may be slightly different than shown in the image(s)
• 110V North American power cables are included
• All chargers are original Easy Motion branded products
• Chargers are considered a Final Sale and not returnable ensure you order the correct version for your ebike
• Dongles Adaptors are sold separately. Click here

Please click on the link in the confirmation email we just sent you to submit your question. Your question will appear on the site once someone answers it.

share ‘ Share Review by kenneth l. on 25 Oct 2021 Share Review by kenneth l. on 25 Oct 2021 Share Review by kenneth l. on 25 Oct 2021 LinkedIn linkedin Share Review by kenneth l. on 25 Oct 2021

Everything was great with this company. It got to me fast.I ordered the wrong charger, (my fault ) and they gladly let me return it. I would order from them again

share ‘ Share Review by Stephen H. on 23 Jul 2021 Share Review by Stephen H. on 23 Jul 2021 Share Review by Stephen H. on 23 Jul 2021 LinkedIn linkedin Share Review by Stephen H. on 23 Jul 2021

Dear Scooteretti Team I received the charger on time and works perfectly. Thank you for your professionalism.

share ‘ Share Review by IOANNIS N. on 2 Jun 2020 Share Review by IOANNIS N. on 2 Jun 2020 Share Review by IOANNIS N. on 2 Jun 2020 LinkedIn linkedin Share Review by IOANNIS N. on 2 Jun 2020

The panel works better than the bit’’’n bike! Next bike is a Tern. The panel calibrates in miles and my brain is in km- sorry Officer Burkowitz, no, I’m not actually sure how fast 25 m/hr is !

share ‘ Share Review by Bonnie N. on 4 Mar 2020 Share Review by Bonnie N. on 4 Mar 2020 Share Review by Bonnie N. on 4 Mar 2020 LinkedIn linkedin Share Review by Bonnie N. on 4 Mar 2020

share ‘ Share Review by Marlene H. on 3 Jul 2019 Share Review by Marlene H. on 3 Jul 2019 Share Review by Marlene H. on 3 Jul 2019 LinkedIn linkedin Share Review by Marlene H. on 3 Jul 2019

Q: I need to replace the charger that was lost in my recent move for my EasyMotion EVO 27.5 ebike. The battery is a Samsung Lithium ION Battery, Pack Model EV605 (36v / 42v 11.6 amp hrs (whatever that means). Can you help me? No one in the US has replacement parts.

A: I bought a charger for my EVO EMOTION eBike recently. Its not made exactly the same as the original but they told me it should work. However, my charger is for a 48 v battery and I believe yours is a 36v. Good luck!

A: For the 36V Evo series of bike you can order a replacement here on our website: scooteretti.com/products/easy-motion-battery-charger?_pos=2_sid=0af0c89a9_ss=r

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Evo electric bike battery

The battery for your electric bike is typically worth about a third of the value of the entire bicycle, so it’s important to find a good quality one and take care of it.

In the case of Pedego Canada, we offer a 5 Year Prorated Battery Warranty with all our electric bikes, which is one of the best in the business. Why we’re so confident in our batteries is the quality of the cells within them. If you take nothing else away from this post, remember this: do not buy an electric bike with anything less than a five year battery warranty and do your best to purchase a battery by one of the “big three” name-brand cells: Samsung, Panasonic or LG. Cheap electric bicycles like the kind you find at Costco do not have the quality of manufacturing or warranty that will ensure you can enjoy the bike for years. It’s our recommendation that you spend a bit more money up front to save you from headaches (or worse – the garbage dump or even a fire!) later.

No matter what electric bike you buy nowadays, chances are it runs on a lithium-based battery. Believe it or not lithium batteries have been around since 1912 but it’s only been in the last 15 years that they caught on and became economical in consumer applications. There are “lithium-ion” batteries and “lithium polymer” (aka “lithium-ion polymer”) batteries and the difference between them is the type of electrolyte used. Other than that, there isn’t a significant variance: Li-Polymer allows for a slight increase in energy density but is 10-30% more expensive and so manufacturers have yet to decide upon one over the other.

There is also a range of lithium chemistries available in different batteries and manufacturers might claim some are more robust than others but the single most important factor affecting the life of a battery is how well it is looked after. You should typically expect a battery to last between 3 and 5 years if it is well maintained. (A lithium-ion battery will slowly lose its capacity over time, even if it’s not used.) Below are three things you can do to ensure you get the longest usage out of your electric bike battery.

#1. Keep The Battery Cool

Environmental conditions are an important factor affecting lithium-ion batteries. For example, leaving one in your car in the hot sun will guarantee you lessen the life of your battery. In fact, that would be the worst situation: keeping a fully charged battery at elevated temperatures. It’s a good rule of thumb to store your bike out of the direct sunlight for long periods and when not in use, keep your battery in a cool place, preferably below 20°C (68°F). The chart below, provided by Battery University, shows the impacts of temperature upon recoverable capacity of a battery.

#2. Store A Battery Partially Charged – But Not Too Low!

You’ll also notice in the above chart that storing a fully-charged battery has an impact on the recoverable capacity. Even more important, storing a fully depleted battery may be disastrous because, as we mentioned above, a lithium-ion battery will slowly discharge over time even when you’re not using it. If the voltage drops below a certain point this may cause irreparable cell damage, depending on the time it’s left sitting. Ideally, when storing the battery for a long period, ensure it has a charge between about 80% and 40% of a full charge. Some chargers have a lower ‘storage’ voltage setting, so just switch to this before charging it for storage. An easy alternative is to take the bike for a ride after you’ve charged it fully and before storing.

Also, don’t leave your battery on the charger for long periods of time, as storing it at or close to 100% will reduce the life of the battery. You can also check your battery every couple of months over winter. If you notice that the battery indicator has dropped too low, you can give it a quick charge to bring it back to the ideal storage voltage (this is unlikely to be needed if the battery was at 40% or above). If you don’t have a battery indicator, it’s probably a good idea to charge the battery for half an hour every few months. Again, try not to put the battery away fully charged (but it won’t be the end of the world if this happens.)

#3. Don’t Regularly Fully Discharge Your Battery

It’s amazing that we still see tech sites advising regular full discharge of your battery, even when this has been proven as detrimental. The chart below, again provided by Battery University, proves that regularly discharging lithium-ion batteries to 0% is harmful and partial discharges with regular top-ups are recommended to extend the recharge-cycle lifespan of the batteries. The occasional full discharge on that extra long ride is no problem! It’s ok to top up lithium-ion batteries regularly and, as the chart below shows, it’s best to operate them in the top half of their discharge cycle; lithium-ion batteries don’t have a ‘memory effect’ that some other battery chemistries have. If you are doing short rides on a regular basis, it is slightly better to charge it every few rides rather than every ride (to avoid long periods at or close to 100% charge, as discussed above).

As an extra note for the winter season, make sure your battery is above freezing before charging, otherwise you could harm the cells. It is no problem to ride the bike in below-freezing conditions (it doesn’t harm the battery), just make sure you let the battery warm up before charging. When you are riding in very cold weather, you will notice a drop in power and range; this is normal and expected. You can help avoid this by bringing the battery inside whenever you aren’t riding to keep the temperature of the battery up. That way you will get that extra bit of power!

Correct maintenance and storage of your battery as detailed above will significantly increase its lifespan. A well-maintained lithium-ion battery will last between three to five years, whereas a poorly maintained battery can be badly damaged over just one season or sooner. For more detailed, scientific information on batteries and how to care for them, check out the excellent online resource at Battery University, where the above charts came from.