ebikes

Don't wait for electric cars to get cheaper; e-bikes are here, now. They're good for you, they'll take you further than you think, and some of them are even getting surprisingly affordable. Here are the e-bikes that impressed us in 2019.

Yes, this giant, bare-aluminum tank of a thing is available as a street-legal ebike. Stuffed to the gills with top-shelf components, including an automatic CVT and a switchable ABS system, meet the eye-bleedingly expensive Trefecta RDR.

Earlier this year, Delfast announced the powerful Top 2.0 e-bike, and has now designed a special edition for US police departments called the Top Cop, with 174 miles of range and a top speed of 50 mph.

Enki Cycles has returned to Kickstarter following the success of its Billy e-bike in 2017. This outing sees the California company tackle city streets with the stylish mid-motored Miller electric commuter.

In the battle of the uber-practical half-e-bike, half-moped urban getabout, Juiced Bikes has fired its latest salvo: the Scorpion.

At Eurobike this weekend, Skoda will be displaying its Klement concept, a weird, pedal-free e-bike with a novel control system.

Stripped back and super affordable, this modular urban getabout can carry plenty of cargo – and even passengers.

​​The e-bikes are coming and it’s safe to say most will be a whole lot heavier than what cyclists are used to, especially those plying their trade on lightweight road frames. In no small way, Specialized is looking to close the gap with its new S-Works Turbo Creo SL Founders Edition.

Tern's folding e-bikes have always been ruthlessly practical, but the HSD takes things up a notch. With fully adjustable ergonomics, it's also kitted out with super-solid racks front and rear that are ready to take over the job of carrying your shopping, your deliveries or even your kids.

This thing looks like an absolute monster, with up to 2,000 watts of "Ludicrous mode" power out of its chunky Bafang mid-drive motor. It rocks a carbon frame with six inches of Rockshox suspension travel front and rear - and it's just US$3450 on presale.

E-bike builder Stark is on a mission to offer folks more reasonably priced options, and is set to launch a pair of new electrified models that squeeze some impressive capabilities into a relatively affordable package. ​

If e-bikes tend to look a little ungainly for your tastes, check out this thing. With the motor, sensors and battery built into a discreet hub unit, the Nua Electrica​ is barely distinguishable from a regular fixie, and its "self-charging" mode means you can get away without ever charging it.