news – Richard Peace – cycling journalist and author

LIGHTWEIGHT CARBON FOLDERS WITH MID-DRIVE POWER

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IN DEPTH DETAIL ON THE YOUTUBE VIDEO

I’m lucky enough to be the first reviewer of these supersmart looking and wonderfully light and powerful carbon-framed folders from UK company E-Go.

I’ve only had the two CarbonLite bikes a few days and managed a few short rides but here are my initial impressions of the two models in this full carbon range – a single speed and a three speed.

First thing I did was pop the bikes on the scales and to say they have 75Nm torque rated motors (similar to a mid-range Bosch mid-drive) I was impressed. The single speed weighed around 14.4kg and the three speed hub-geared model including an optional rear rack came in at 16kg (hardwired lights and mudguards are included with both models).

I rate any e-bike under 20kg as light, under 15kg as very light and anything around or under 12kg as superlight. What’s notable about the E-Go models is that they feature mid-drive motors which really puts them in a class of their own when it comes to their power to weight ratio. They are lighter than most of the Brompton electric range and any e-folders you find lighter than these are likely to be less powerful hub motor models.

Both models I’m taking a look at feature the same smoothly stylish carbon frames with 252Wh batteries incorporated into the seatposts – these can be removed or locked in place. 252Wh is not massive capacity but it’s more than some e-folders out there. As this kind of bike tends to be used for shorter cross town jaunts they are specced with batteries on the smaller capacity side and an efficient mid-drive motor will also help you get the most range from your precious Watt-hours of battery power.

Both use belt drives and the main difference between the two is the gearing – the Carbonlite is a single speed whilst the Carbonlite 3S uses the dependable Shimano Nexus 3-speed hub gears (I’ve done thousands of miles with these gears on a previous e-bike).

It’s not just the frames that are carbon; both models have a carbon front fork and carbon one piece handlebar stem and handlebars whilst the single speed Carbonlite model has carbon wheel rims and carbon 3D printed seat. On both models there is an attractive looking full colour TFT display integrated into the centre of the bars.

I was most keen to try out these bikes as they feature a mid-drive that was new to me, the Star Union CM2503 with an impressive sounding claimed max torque of 75nm. Initial impressions are very positive – it’s quiet and the torque sensing is nicely responsive to pedal pressure and cadence – that’s to say it’s a very natural feeling motor and delivers the power in keeping with your pedal efforts.

It’s impressive up the hills which is what this kind of motor is all about and should give you more of a boost than the small hub hub motors found on the majority of light electric folding bikes. I took both bikes up a 20% plus hillclimb – the single speed made it up (just) but if you live somewhere extra hilly then the three speed is the natural choice. The displays on both bikes showed power peaking at well over 400 watts which feels a very generous amount of assist on such lightweight and free running e-bikes.

The hardwired lights are neatly integrated into the frame and the front one is powerful enough for unlit paths; even better it is tiltable so it’s almost like having the option of full and dipped beam lighting.

E-GO CARBONLITE FOLDING BIKE HARD WIRED LIGHTS

The Tektro hydraulic disc brakes are well modulated and very powerful, adding to the nippy and maneuverable feel of the bikes.

They are nice bikes to ride too without the power on, along the flat – the frames and the folding joints feel very stiff so your pedal effort is rewarded with a nice rush of forward speed.

Folding is quick and easy – the mainframe folds the bike in two with the ubiquitous magnet fixing on the rear securing the two halves together whilst the bars fold down and the pedals fold too. The seatpost battery lowers into the frame and means the bikes can be stood on a flat surface when folded.

The Carbonlite bikes are actually small and light enough to be carried and wheeled around stations and onto most local trains without actually needing to fold them.

The bikes are assembled in the UK by E-Go and come with a two year warranty. The Carbonlite retails at £2,777 and the Carbonlite 3S at £2,283.

There will be a full promotional Youtube video coming shortly with a link posted here when it is available in around three weeks time.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IN DEPTH DETAIL ON THE YOUTUBE VIDEO

As with many microcars, it’s the look of the Microlino that grabs people’s attention; retro is an overused term in the design world but the Microlino has an unmistakable 60s vibe about it. It’s not just the super smooth curves of this bubble car inspired electric vehicle that are a real head turner; at only around 2.5m long and 1.5m wide it looks tiny, especially when parked next to modern cars, which are behemoths compared to their vintage equivalents.

The Microlino electric bubble car

I’ll cut to the chase here – as I happened to be passing one of the few locations in the UK where the Microlino is available for test drive (Oakmere Motorcycles in Prestbury, Cheshire) most readers will just want to know what it’s like to drive.

Most of all it’s great fun. It’s zippy, all the way up to it’s max speed – on paper that’s 56mph but I managed around 52 mph on a fairly flat, straight dual carriageway. It was really on the winding country lanes between Prestbury and Alderley Edge that it came into its own. As well as bringing the fun factor out as it zips along and corners remarkably well you don’t fear meeting an oncoming vehicle. Many of these little country roads are one modern car wide. No problem with the Microlino as it will squeeze past even the biggest Chelsea tractor on the narrowest road we could find.

It has a front opening door that’s practical as well as truly eyecatching – it can be parked front on to the kerb as it is barely longer than most modern cars are wide and it would be a piece of cake to park and access in a car park which are often full of cars with barely inches between their doors. Who needs side opening doors?

Simplicity of use is a virtue often overlooked and the Microlino is intuitive and easy to drive as it lacks the befuddling array of controls found in many modern cars. There is a conventional enough steering wheel, brake and accelerator and a dial with forward reverse and neutral gears and of course a handbrake. Despite the simplicity it has the essentials you would want for comfortable driving including heating and demisting. I was surprised at how roomy the boot was for a vehicle that looks so small from the outside.

Would I Buy One?

The short answer is that I’m currently thinking about it. It’s a superb drive for such a small vehicle and climbs hills pretty well, though as I live in an extremely hilly area of Yorkshire it would be good to give a longer test run closer to home.

There are negatives compared to other larger electric cars, outlined below – and some other microcars win over on price and have removable batteries that can also double as power packs to run other devices from.

But because this is a microcar that plays so well to the typical microcars strengths of small size with a huge fun factor I am very, very tempted to take the plunge…..

Pros and Cons

+ Brilliant fun to drive

+ Will squeeze through gaps most cars won’t and is easy to park in the tightest of spaces

+ High quality manufacture with non-rust aluminium body panels on a steel frame.

+ Plenty of leg room for both passenger and driver

+ 4 hours full charge from domestic socket

+ Low running costs compared most other cars, electric or petrol

+ Ideal for a motorhome runaround

+ Good suspension for a mircocar (but note low ground clearance)

+ Available now (some microcars have suffered from being always ‘coming soon’)

– No ability to fast charge

– Range doesn’t compete with bigger electric cars (Microlino UK say 58 to 114 miles depending on battery size, though as with many e-car stats these may be max figures in easy driving conditions)

– Pricey for a microcar (from £17,990)

– No road tax exemption; as from 2025 this is the same for all electric cars (first year rate of £10, £195 per year thereafter)

– Limited to two passengers (Microlino say ‘A child seat can be attached to a passenger seat using the available seat belt. Isofix is not yet available.’)

– There are not that generous legal payload limits for this class of vehicle; Microlino say 120 kg to 154kg depending on battery size. The vehicle itself weighs around 600kg and the legal gross weight limit (vehicle and payload) is 750kg.