Electric bikes tend to be pretty heavy compared to their non-electric counterparts. Those electronic components weigh quite a bit, especially the battery, and other bike components (especially the frame) must be made thicker and stronger to endure the extra stresses of riding with electric power. This is especially true for Class 3 and above electric bikes, which can reach speeds of 28+ MPH, speeds most ordinary bicycles will almost never see. This is why most e-bikes weigh between 60 and 80 pounds! You might not notice that weight when riding - actually, it can be nice as it provides stability - but you'll certainly notice when lifting your e-bike onto a rack or carrying it up the stairs.
Electric bikes in this category weigh less than 50 pounds
50 pounds is still a bit heavy for a regular bicycle, but for an electric bike it's pretty darn good! These e-bikes are light enough to transport on most standard bicycle racks & mounts, and (hopefully) won't throw out your back if you need to carry them a short distance. Keep in mind that making a bike lightweight has it's costs; often literally, as lightweight e-bikes tend to be more expensive. E-bike frames still need to be strong, so lighter weight ones are often made out of more expensive materials such as carbon fiber or magnesium alloy. You will also pay the price of reduced battery capacity, as batteries are very heavy and reducing their size is one of the easiest ways to reduce overall weight.
It's hard to find an e-bike weighing less than 40 pounds, but the Argon tips the scales at just 37 pounds (allegedly). This is a road/gravel style e-bike, rocking a smooth and maintenance-free carbon belt instead of the usual chain & derailleur setup. It's quite responsive thanks to the torque sensor, with a throttle to help when needed as this minimalist ride only has one gear.
Vintage Vibes Done Right! Weighing in at less than 45 pounds, the aptly-named Ultralight is an electric bike you can carry or load on a standard bike rack with ease, making it a great fit for campers and RVers. With stealthily integrated electronics this classic ride will easily pass for a regular bicycle, meaning you can worry less when locking it up in public places. This is a Class 1 e-bike which means no throttle, but who needs a throttle when you have such a fun-to-ride torque sensor?
E-bikes don't get much stealthier than the CGO600 Pro, with electronics so sneakily integrated that few people will realize it isn't just a regular old acoustic bicycle. It's lightweight and incredibly smooth to ride thanks to the maintenance-free carbon belt setup. However, this is only a single speed, so it's best suited to city riders in relatively flat areas; sure, it can climb hills pretty well thanks to the 350-watt hear hub motor, but not being able to downshift means you'll have to put in quite a bit of work as well.
The Freedom ST is just like the regular Freedom, except it's got an approachable step-through frame so you don't have to swing your leg up-and-over to get on. Other than that it's the standard Wing experience, although the frame doesn't look quite as iconic as the regular version. This is a fairly basic e-bike with Shimano Tourney drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and ships as Class 1 by default, but you can add a throttle for no extra charge! Since the Freedom ST only has a cadence sensor for pedal assistance you're probably going to want that throttle, and why not, since it's free?
Wing usually makes lightweight city bikes but they're branching out with the Freedom Fatty 2, rocking giant 4-inch Kenda Krusader tires on their uniquely shaped frames. These frames have lights integrated into the ends of their long top tubes, which looks cool and also helps protect the lights from accidental snag damage. There's no suspension which means you can't go too crazy in your adventuring, but those big tires provide a surprising amount of comfort!
The Blaupunkt Henri is rocking a magnesium alloy frame & wheels, which is durable, lightweight, and vibration damping. It folds down small which is great for storage, with a magnetic latch mechanism to keep it locked in the folded position, making it fairly easy to maneuver and roll around while folded. The 350-watt motor is no speed demon but still capable of 20mph speeds using either pedal assist or the half-grip twist throttle. It's priced a bit on the high side... but it does seem to be built very well and should hold up well over time, and it certainly looks beautiful!
I was already impressed with how cheap the original Lectric was at $879, and that was way back in 2019 dollars. Now you can get an XP Lite for only $749 in 2023 bucks! Lectric even includes fenders, a rear rack, and a set of pannier bags at that price. Plus a comfortable saddle, integrated lights, and all on their award-winning folding platform. So what do you lose if you get this instead of the standard XP? Well, the Lite is more compact and lightweight, which translates to "not as comfortable to ride" for most people. The motor is not as powerful, only capable of 20mph and you get a bit less range due to the smaller battery. The Lite is also rocking a single-speed drivetrain, which is efficient and requires less maintenance, but is a lot less fun when faced with a steep incline.
Rawr, it's the Lynx! Usually when you ride a small folding e-bike you have to make some sacrifices such as not being able to haul cargo, but there's no such trade-off for the Lynx, which is rocking not only a rear rack but also a sturdy front basket! It's also surprisingly adjustable thanks to the extra long seatpost, which is doing double duty holding up butts and also housing the battery pack. 20" wheels give a mechanical advantage to the motor for more ZIP, but they also don't roll over bumps as nicely as a big wheel would, and since there's no suspension you should avoid rough riding surfaces.
With it's unique frame and cleanly integrated electronics the Chord is aesthetically pleasing, and quite stealthy - most people won't realize it's electric without close inspection. The Chord also sports some unusual features, such as built-in navigation and fingerprint unlock... that's got to be a first on an e-bike! It has integrated lights and fenders so it's ready for basic use, but you'll have to spend a bit more if you want a rack for hauling cargo. While the battery isn't very high capacity, the lightweight construction combined with a responsive and efficient torque sensor means you'll still get plenty of range out of it.