Black Friday deals Engwe e-bikes: we tested the foldable P20 which is aimed at city commuters
Save €400 on this low maintenance portable electric bike which we have tested on Dublin's city streets
I’ve tested a number of foldable smartphones for IrishMirror.ie, but the Engwe P20 is the first folding electric bike I’ve reviewed.
Foldable e-bikes have become hugely popular for a number of reasons, with two of the most common being storage space at home and the ability to take your bike on to public transport.
The lightweight (18.5kg) Engwe P20 is a sleek and stylish looking foldable bike available in four colours - black, white, a black/red combo and a pale green. My review unit was the latter.
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Engwe P20 key features
Engwe P20 is a single-speed, belt-drive e-bike with 20in spoked wheels, responsive and responsive hydraulic brakes and powerful torque-sensing pedal assist. Crafted from aluminium alloy, it has a maximum power output of 250W and its top speed is 25km.
One of the key features is its carbon belt drive, which is a low maintenance alternative to a chain drive. Carbon belts are more durable and robust and as a result they last much longer than standard bike chains and don't rust or require lubricant. They run smoother and are almost silent in use.
The combination of the carbon belt and the torque sensor drive means the P20 is really pleasing to ride. It’s like having a strong tailwind behind you. A handy display mounted on the left side of the handlebar gives you all the information you might need about your ride.
Key features of the Engwe P20 include the puncture-proof Kendal tyres, a kickstand, front and rear lights (including brake light), the integrated rear indicators and the speed at which it can be folded up for taking on public transport or putting into your car.
It’s a three-fold process that takes less than half a minute. The handlebars and seat can both be dropped with quick-release latches, and the pedals fold in with a little more effort. The P20 then folds in half and a magnet keeps the front and rear wheels attached which enables you to pull the bike on one wheel while holding the seat with both of your hands. There’s also a small but useful metal stand that allows you to rest the bike on the ground in an upright position.
Engwe P20 other features
There is no suspension on the P20, so I wouldn’t recommend it for trials or off-road paths. It’s not ideal for steep hills but can handle gentle inclines with ease. This is an e-bike aimed squarely at commuters and city riders.
But it has huge potential benefits to Dublin city dwellers like me due to our extensive network of bike lanes that make it so easy to get about the city quickly on an e-bike.
Assembling the Engwe P20 was simple enough. Only the pedals, front mudguard and light needed to be attached. A small toolkit and instructions were provided to assist in this endeavour. All you need to do then is charge the battery (which takes five hours from zero to 100 percent) and adjust the seat height to your personal preference.
Battery range from the 346Wh power pack is listed at 100km, but this will vary greatly depending on how you ride the e-bike. The battery is both lockable and removable so you can recharge it where it suits you best. The P20 has an IP6 rating for water resistance, incidentally.
One issue to note is when you get the P20 up to about 22k/mh, it becomes difficult to get any closer to the 25k/mh peak speed - you’ll need to spin your legs very quickly to achieve this. This isn’t a dealbreaker for me - cruising at 22k/mh is fine.
Engwe P20 verdict
Enwe P20 is a smooth and comfortable ride on city streets. It’s a relatively inexpensive and low maintenance folding e-bike that is ideal for daily commuting.
Pricing and availability
Engwe P20 costs €899 currently on engwe-bikes-eu.com (reduced in price from €1299). The Engwe P20 is also available on Amazon where it costs €1540.
Other Engwe bikes
I recently reviewed the Engwe P275 ST which was also specifically designed for city riding but is a non-folding model. The ST stands for step through which means there is no crossbar to climb over. I described it on my review as "a delightful riding experience, even without the power-assisted speed (PAS). But once the PAS kicks in, it helps you to keep the bike moving and makes it incredibly easy to ride, especially up steep inclines. I enjoyed using P275 ST immensely."
The firm's most recent release was its LE20 cargo bike which currently costs €1680, a reduction of €160. All new Engwe customers can claim a further 2% off with a discount code displayed on the Engwe website.
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