E-bikes with fat tires are the SUVs of the cycling world; big wide tires provide a lot of traction and let you ride on any terrain, while the high volume of air provides a surprising amount of comfort. Fat tire e-bikes also tend to be a lot more stable due to their increased weight. Fat tire rides come in all shapes and sizes, from relatively small 20x4 inch folders up to gigantic offroad machines with 29x5 inch tires. If you haven't ridden on one of those big boys yet you're missing out! While professional opinions due differ on what constitutes a fat tire, we here at Electron Rider say "anything with tires at least 3.5 inches wide".
Fat tire e-bikes tend to be extra popular in coastal or desert areas, because - unlike a normal bicycle tire - you can ride a fat tire in the sand with no problem. The same is true for snow, although riding in freezing cold isn't quite so popular 🥶 For particularly deep and soft sand you'll probably need to drop your air pressure down, and you can actually drop it as low as 5 PSI and somehow still ride. PSI stands for "pounds per square inch", and these big rubber doughnuts have a lot of inches! Just remember that this low pressure and soft terrain will seriously hurt your efficiency and you should expect to get half, or maybe even less, of your usual range out of your battery.
The downside to e-bikes with fat tires is fairly obvious: they're big, heavy, and bulky. Such e-bikes weigh way too much for your typical bike rack so you'll have to pay more for a special heavy-duty one. They take up more space in the garage, can be difficult to park at crowded bike racks, and God forbid you have to carry them up and down stairs to your upper level apartment! Plus, these hefty cycles handle like... well, like the bike equivalent of an SUV. They're not very nimble or agile, and they take a lot more effort to pedal. Especially if you run out of juice, so try to avoid that!
Iconic is a new brand in the crowded e-bike space, but you wouldn't know it from the quality of their first model, the Cruiser - this is one amazing ride! It's got style, grace, imposing size, and quality components, and definitely lives up to the "Iconic" name in every way. Don't worry, this head-turner is useful too; Lights, cargo rack, and fenders make it a great utility city e-bike. You can even upgrade to a 1000-watt motor for truly satisfying acceleration!
The first generation of the Element Platinum is designed to be "the ultimate value electric bike". The mixte or mid-step frame is approachable yet sturdy, and you could even upgrade to cast alloy rims for even more sturdiness! With a durable rear hub motor and a battery made with top tier cells, the Element Platinum will keep you adventuring for years to come.
It may be a minibike, but as the name suggests, this baby is tanky! With aggressive fat tires and dual suspension, the Tank G60 is ready to handle any terrain. The cast alloy wheels look awesome and are strong as hell, but they do add weight, helping this short-n-stout machine to tip the scales at 75 pounds. Perhaps the only thing not hefty about this e-bike is the price, it offers a lot of value for only $1,299.