Best electric bikes 2026, for every type of rider and budget

The best electric bikes help you go further, faster and for longer. They provide a smooth ride and make hills easier to climb.

Cheap electric bikes start from £500, but you can pay more than £8,000 for premium models. We've focused on electric bikes and electric mountain bikes costing less than £3,500 from top brands including Carrera, Giant, Raleigh, Specialized, Trek and more. 

Lots of bike reviews give one person’s opinion. Not ours: we recruit a diverse panel to test every bike, including a cycling novice and an e-bike enthusiast.

Four e-bikes and e-mountain bikes jumped to the front of the pack and gained our Best Buy recommendation. If you're after good performance at a lower price, there are also two Great Value options.

If you're short on space, read our reviews of the best folding electric bikes to find a brilliant and compact e-bike.

The electric bikes we tested

The biggest brands and most popular 14 electric bikes and e-mountain bikes are listed below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the electric bike test results.

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Assist Step-Thru Electric Hybrid Bike (2023)

Available from Halfords (£535)

Most recently tested April 2026

Manufacturer's claimed range Up to 20 miles

Weight 25kg

Rider heights 5ft 1in to 5ft 11in

Motor Shengei, front-hub

Battery size/claimed charging time 209Wh/4-5 hours

Need to know Kingmeter LED display, cadence sensor, three assistance levels, single-speed gear, V-brakes, 26-inch wheels, rear luggage carrier (maximum load 25kg)

Basis Dorchester Electric Bike (2023)

Most recently tested April 2024

Manufacturer's claimed range Up to 25 miles

Weight 23.4kg

Rider heights 5ft 2in to 5ft 10in

Motor Basis, rear-hub

Battery size/claimed charging time 400Wh/4-6 hours

Need to know LED display, cadence sensor, three assistance levels, Shimano Tourney 6-speed gears with twist shifter, V-brakes, 24-inch wheels, front-wheel suspension, kickstand, quick-release seat post, rear luggage carrier (maximum load 18kg)

Carrera Vulcan-E Electric Mountain Bike (2024)

Available from Halfords (£1,500)

Most recently tested April 2026

Manufacturer's claimed range 25-30 miles

Weight 24kg

Rider heights 5ft 3in (S frame) to 6ft 4in (XL frame)

Motor Bafang, rear-hub

Battery size/claimed charging time 378Wh/6-7 hours

Need to know LCD display, torque and cadence sensors, five assistance levels, Shimano Cues 9-speed gears with trigger shifter, hydraulic disc brakes, 27.5-inch wheels, front-wheel suspension, quick-release front wheel

Cube Supreme Hybrid One 500 (2025)

Available from MPG Cycles (£1,750), Cube (£2,299 view dealerships)

Most recently tested April 2026

Manufacturer's claimed range Up to 67 miles 

Weight 27.1kg

Rider heights 5ft (46cm frame) to 6ft 2in (58cm frame)

Motor Bosch performance line, mid-hub

Battery size/claimed charging time 500Wh/4.5 hours

Need to know Bosch Purion 200 LCD display, torque and cadence sensors, four assistance levels, Shimano Cues 10-speed gears with twist shifter, hydraulic disc brake, 28-inch wheels, front-wheel suspension, kickstand, built-in front and rear lights, quick-release front wheel, rear luggage carrier (maximum load 25kg), compatible with Bosch eBike Flow app

Elops High Frame Electric City Bike 900 (2025)

 

Available from Decathlon (out of stock)

Most recently tested April 2025

Manufacturer's claimed range Up to 43 miles

Weight 29.3kg

Rider heights Under 5ft 1in (XS frame) to 6ft 5in (XL frame)

Motor Elops, rear-hub

Battery sizes/claimed charging time 417Wh/6 hours

Need to know BTwin LCD display, cadence sensor, four assistance levels, Shimano Altus 7-speed gears with twist shifter, mechanical disc brakes, 28-inch wheels, front wheel suspension, kickstand, built-in front and rear lights, rear luggage carrier (maximum load 27kg)

Evercross EK30 Pro (2025)

Available from Evercross (£809.99)

Most recently tested April 2026

Manufacturer's claimed range 34-68 miles

Weight 47kg

Rider heights 5ft 4in to 6ft 4in

Motor Evercross, Rear-hub

Battery size/claimed charging time 864Wh/7-8hours

Need to know LCD display, cadence sensor, five assistance levels, Shimano 7-speed gears with trigger shifter, mechanical disc brakes, 20-inch wheels, front and rear wheel suspension, kickstand, built-in front and rear lights, front and rear indicator lights, rear luggage carrier (maximum load 25kg), front basket (maximum load 5kg)

Giant Fathom E+ (2026)

Available from Giant (£2,999)

Most recently tested April 2026

Manufacturer's claimed range 35-90 miles

Weight 23kg 

Rider heights 5ft 4in (S frame) to 6ft 4in (XL frame)

Motor Giant SyncDrive Pro 2, mid-hub

Battery size/claimed charging time 750Wh/6.5 hours

Need to know Giant RideControl Dash 2 LCD display, torque and cadence sensors, five assistance levels, Shimano Cues 10-speed gears with trigger shifter, hydraulic disc brakes, 20-inch wheels, front wheel suspension, compatible with Giant RideControl app

Looking for a more portable or compact electric bike? See the best folding electric bikes

Giant Talon E+ (2026)

Available from Giant (£2,299)

Most recently tested April 2026

Manufacturer's claimed range 35-71 miles

Weight 21.7kg 

Rider heights 5ft 4in (S frame) to 6ft 7in (XL frame)

Motor Giant SyncDrive Sport 2, mid-hub

Battery size/claimed charging time 430Wh/4-5 hours

Need to know Giant RideControl Dash 2 LCD display, torque and cadence sensors, five assistance levels, Shimano Cues 9-speed gears with trigger shifter, hydraulic disc brakes, 29-inch wheels, front wheel suspension, quick release front wheel, compatible with Giant RideControl app

Raleigh Captus Electric Hybrid Bike (2026)

Available from Halfords (£1,699), Raleigh (£1,899)

Most recently tested April 2026

Manufacturer's claimed range Up to 70 miles

Weight 25kg

Rider heights 5ft (S frame) to 6ft 1in (L frame)

Motor Bosch Active, mid-hub

Battery size/claimed charging time 400Wh/6.5 hours

Need to know Bosch Purion LCD display, torque and cadence sensors, four assistance levels, Shimano Cues 9-speed gears with trigger shifter, hydraulic disc brakes, 28-inch wheels, kickstand, quick release front wheel, built-in front and rear lights, rear luggage carrier (maximum load 27kg), compatible with Bosch eBike Flow app

Rockrider E-ACTV 100 Electric Hybrid Bike (2025)

Available from Decathlon (£999.99)

Most recently tested April 2026

Manufacturer's claimed range Up to 43 miles

Weight 23kg

Rider heights 4ft 9in (S/M frame) to 6ft 4in (L/XL frame)

Motor Rockrider, rear-hub

Battery size/claimed charging time 356Wh/4.5 hours

Need to know LED display, torque and cadence sensors, 3 assistance levels, Microshift 6-speed gears with twist shifter, mechanical disc brakes, 28-inch wheels, front wheel suspension, built-in front and rear lights, compatible with Decathlon Ride app 

Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0 (2025)

Available from Specialized (£3,250; only available in-store)

Most recently tested April 2025

Manufacturer's claimed range Up to 80 miles

Measured weight 25.3kg

Rider heights 5ft 1in (S frame) to 6ft 4in (XL frame)

Motor Specialized SL 1.1, mid-hub

Battery sizes/claimed charging time 320Wh/5 hours

Need to know MasterMind TCD display, torque and cadence sensors, four assistance levels, SRAM NX 11-speed gears with clicker shifter, hydraulic disc brakes, 27.5-inch wheels, front wheel suspension, kickstand, built-in front and rear lights, rear luggage carrier (maximum load 27kg), other colours available

Trek Dual Sport+ 2 Electric Bike (2023)

Available from Trek (out of stock)

Most recently tested April 2023

Manufacturer's claimed range Up to 34 miles

Weight 17.4kg

Rider heights 5ft 5in (M frame) to 6ft 6in (XL frame)

Motor Hyena Drive, rear-hub

Battery sizes/claimed charging time 250Wh non-removable/not stated

Need to know Trek LED display, torque sensor, three assistance levels, Shimano 9-speed gears with clicker shifter, hydraulic disc brakes, 27.5-inch wheels, built-in front and rear lights

Trek Marlin+ 6 Electric Mountain Bike (2024)

Available from The Electric Bike Shop (£2,100)

Most recently tested April 2024

Manufacturer's claimed range Up to 39 miles

Measured weight 24kg

Rider heights 4ft 9in (XS frame) to 6ft 5in (XL frame)

Motor Bosch Active Line Plus, mid-hub

Battery sizes/claimed charging time 400Wh non-removable/6 hours

Need to know Bosch Purion 200 LCD display, torque and cadence sensors, four assistance levels, Shimano Cues 9-speed gears with clicker shifter, hydraulic disc brakes, 27.5-inch wheels (XS to S frame) 29-inch wheels (M to XL frame), front-wheel suspension, quick-release seat post, works with Bosch eBike Flow App, other colours available

Voodoo Bizango-E Electric Mountain Bike (2025)

Available from Halfords (£2,300)

Most recently tested April 2025

Manufacturer's claimed range up to 60 miles

Measured weight 26.7kg

Rider heights 5ft 5in (S frame) to 6ft 4in (XL frame)

Motor Shimano EP6, mid-hub

Battery sizes/claimed charging time 504Wh/7.5 hours

Need to know Shimano SC-EN500 LCD display, torque and cadence sensors, four assistance levels, Shimano CUES 10-speed gears with clicker shifter, hydraulic disc brakes, 29-inch wheels, front-wheel suspension

More electric bikes from our tests

Here are the rest of the electric bikes we've tested, listed in alphabetical order.

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How we test electric bikes

We test e-bikes from key UK retailers such as Argos, Decathlon and Halfords with a focus on lower-priced bikes (around £3,000 or under) from top brands, including Cube, Giant and Trek.

Every e-bike is ridden and assessed by a diverse panel of cyclists, ensuring our reviews are not just the view of one person.

After surveying the general public about the most important factors when choosing an electric bike, we now place greater emphasis on how comfortable and easy to manoeuvre each e-bike is. 

Brands can't buy their way onto our testing programme. We pay for every e-bike we test, and regularly revisit the e-bikes on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing. When we find them, we test them.

• Comfort Our panel of testers assesses how comfortable and shock-absorbent each bike is on a variety of terrain, from smooth tarmac to off-road woody trails. The best are comfy to ride on, no matter the surface or height of the rider.
• Manoeuvrability Each bike is ridden around a course of tight turns and slaloms to assess how easy each bike is to steer and corner, including on tight turns while pedalling.
• Motor Our panel rates how rapidly and smoothly each e-bike accelerates, how quickly it responds to changes in speed and pedal stroke, and how smoothly the power tapers off when you reach 15.5mph (the legal limit in the UK).
• Hill climbs We ride each e-bike up the test hill at Brooklands Museum – which has fixed gradients – to see how it handles shallow and steep inclines. The best can climb very steep 25% gradients, and some are even able to hill-start on them.
• Gears and brakes Our panel assesses how good the brakes and gears are. The best help you to get up steep slopes and stop in good time.
• Build quality We rate how neat the electrical cable management is, how premium and comfortable the handlebars and saddles are, the neatness of welding on the frames and more.
• Ease of use Our panel assesses how easy each bike is to lift and carry short distances, and how easy the battery is to insert and remove.

Why we don't test the range of electric bikes

Factors such as rider weight, motor assistance level, weather, wind speed and road conditions all affect how long your bike battery will last on any given day.

As such, it's very difficult to test the range of an e-bike in a way that gives useful results.

Our reviews list the battery capacity (measured in watt-hours) and the manufacturers' claimed ranges:

• As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the battery capacity, the further you'll go on a single charge.
• Some manufacturers only give an 'up to X miles' estimate. These are usually based on ideal cycling conditions, so treat these as an absolute maximum.
• Some give an 'X to Y miles' estimate. The shorter distance is closer to what you can expect from the bike if you cycle in hilly areas, in less-than-ideal conditions and/or have the motor assistance set to maximum.

Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent

Watch: How to buy the best electric bike

Here are the main things to think about when deciding which e-bike to go for:

• Frame size Getting an oversized or undersized frame can ruin your enjoyment. We recommend you test-ride a bike before you buy or, at the very least, check the manufacturer's guidelines to find the right frame size.
  
• Motor position Front-hub motors make it easy to customise gears on the rear wheel, but feel less natural as you're pulled forward. Rear-hub motors feel more natural as you're pushed, but can make the rear wheel difficult to remove. Mid-hub motors provide the best overall balance and natural-feeling ride, but are typically on more expensive e-bikes.
• Sensors E-bikes use speed, cadence or torque sensors to determine exactly when and how much power the motor should deliver. Models with torque sensors respond faster to your pedalling force, making them ideal for hill starts.
• Battery Larger batteries cost more, but should get you further on a single charge. Batteries degrade over time, so check if you can buy an official replacement one and how much it costs.
• Display The control display usually sits on the handlebars and allows you to adjust the assistance level as you go. Some displays only show battery level, while others give more information such as your speed and the distance travelled.
• Assistance levels Different e-bikes have slightly different setups, but most will offer an equivalent of low, medium and high-assistance modes. These usually equate to the motor matching your input, giving one and a half times your input or even doubling it.
• Brakes You can choose between easy-to-replace V-brakes, mud-resistant cable brakes for off-road cycling, or popular disc brakes whose main advantage is increased stopping power in wet conditions.
• Weight E-bikes can weigh anywhere between 16kg and 25kg, making them much heavier than a non-electric bike. The lighter models tend to be pricier, and weight is distributed better on e-bikes that have a mid-hub motor.
• Gears If you only intend to ride on flat terrain, you can get away with an electric bike with a single gear (these tend to be lighter and cheaper), but if you live in an area with hills, you'll need one with several gears to get up them.

How much should you spend on a good electric bike?

The cheapest electric bikes start at around £500, but you can pay more than £8,000 for top-end electric mountain bikes.

Lower-priced e-bikes can take the strain out of shallow hills, but have motors that are a bit older, noisier and can sometimes – although not always – struggle with even moderately steep hills. 

More premium e-bike features, such as a mid-hub motor, lighter frame (for example, carbon fibre) and larger battery, typically appear on pricier models.

Log in to get our recommendations for different budgets.

Bike accessories – discover our in-house bike nerd's top picks for lights, pumps and cycling clothing

Are electric bikes legal in the UK?

Yes, as long as:

• You're over the age of 14
• The motor has a maximum power output of 250W
• The motor only propels you when you're pedalling
• The motor doesn't propel the bike when it's travelling more than 15.5mph.

If it meets these requirements (which all the electric bikes we've tested do), then you can cycle them anywhere normal non-electric bikes are allowed, such as cycle paths.

Do you need a licence for an e-bike?

No, as long as it meets the requirements outlined above, it counts as an 'electrically assisted pedal cycle' (EAPC) and doesn't require a licence to ride. It also doesn't need to be registered, taxed or insured. 

Are throttle e-bikes legal in the UK?

Some e-bikes have a 'walk' button that propels the bike to a maximum of 3.7mph to make it easier to move the e-bike. This is fine, and the e-bike still counts as an EAPC.

But any throttle that propels you faster than this without pedalling means the e-bike is classed as a twist-and-go EAPC.

These require type approval (which the manufacturer or importer should do) and registering with the DVLA to be ridden legally.

You can tell if a twist-and-go EAPC has been type approved, as it will have a plate showing its type approval number.

Should you be worried about e-bike fires?

Probably not, so long as you buy your e-bike from a reputable brand and retailer and follow the advice for storing and charging the battery.

But that isn't to belittle the risk. Although most e-bikes are very safe when used correctly, they use large lithium battery packs that can cause serious fires and are very hard to extinguish.

The number of reported e-bike fires has also been increasing year after year. 

It's worth keeping in mind the following when you see these alarming headlines:

• Most e-bikes are safe when used correctly. The risk of fires increases if e-bikes are non-compliant (don't meet UK safety regulations), counterfeit, poorly manufactured, damaged, used with an incompatible charger, or modified or repaired with non-compatible parts (a third-party battery, charger or motor).
  
• The majority of e-bike fires involve converted e-bikes. This is a bike where the user has modified or added electronics to it post-purchase. For example, in 2024, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) received 170 reports of e-bike fires, of which 45% were confirmed to be 'post-market conversions', 20% confirmed to be 'manufactured e-bikes', and 35% by e-bikes of an 'unknown build'.
• According to the OPSS, the procedure for fire brigades to report fires involving consumer products to them is voluntary. So the rise in reported numbers year after year is, in part, down to better reporting. The OPSS says 'Comparisons across time periods should be made with care.' 

Lesley Rudd, chief executive of consumer charity Electrical Safety First, said:

'E-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries are generally safe when purchased from reputable manufacturers and used correctly. However, poor-quality products – often sold via online marketplaces – improper charging, or misuse can cause ferocious fires and pose a serious risk to the buyer. Safety starts with where you shop. Sticking to reputable sellers will provide confidence that your e-bike is safe and manufactured to a high standard.'

How to buy a safe e-bike 

When buying an e-bike, follow the government's advice:

• Buy a complete e-bike, with battery pack and charger included, from a reputable retailer
• Register your product with the manufacturer. This makes it easier to contact you in the event of a recall or safety alert
• If you need a spare battery pack or charger, buy only genuine items authorised by the e-bike or motor manufacturer

The warning signs of a faulty e-bike battery

After you've bought your e-bike and battery, keep an eye out for these warning signs:

• Heat Batteries generate heat, but if it's extremely hot to touch it may be defective
• Lumps or leaks A battery swelling out of shape, leaking or having a lump is a common sign of failure 
• Noise A Li-ion battery shouldn't make a hissing or cracking sound
• Smell A strong or unusual smell coming from the battery
• Performance Failing to fully charge or taking much longer to charge than it should can be a sign it's defective

If you see any of these signs, stop using and/or charging the battery. Move it outside away from people and pets, to a location where risks would be minimised if it were to catch fire.

If a battery is smoking, a fire has already started inside it. Get out of the house and call 999.

How to dispose of an e-bike battery

Check your e-bike battery regularly for any signs of damage. If you suspect any damage, replace the battery with one authorised by the e-bike or motor manufacturer.

To dispose of a damaged battery:

• Don't put it in your household waste or recycling
• Contact the bike manufacturer or retailer to find out the details of their take-back service for battery packs
• Alternatively, check your local authority for battery recycling arrangements in your area

For more advice on battery safety for e-bikes, go to gov.uk

How to charge an electric bike battery

We advise you to charge the battery at least once a month, even if you’re not using the bike, to keep the battery in top condition.

It's also important to charge your e-bike battery safely to minimise fire risks. The best practice when choosing where to charge and store your e-bike battery is:

• Don't expose the battery to extreme temperatures and keep it out of direct sunlight
• Don't charge or store the battery near combustible or flammable material
• If possible, charge and store the battery in a shed or garage separate from your home
• If charging inside your home, don't charge a battery where, if a fire broke out, it could prevent you from safely leaving your home. Also, insure your home has suitable fire detection installed

When it comes to charging the battery:

• If the battery is hot after use, let it cool before putting it on charge
• Use the charger supplied with the e-bike use a third-party one
• Only charge while you are awake. Don't leave batteries on charge while you are asleep or away from home
• Don't cover the charger or battery while it's plugged in
• Don't plug into an overloading socket or extension lead. If using an extension lead, make sure it is uncoiled and it is suitably rated for what you're plugging into it
• Always unplug the battery from the charger once it is fully charged
• If you spot any wear or tear on the charger, replace it with an official replacement charger from a reputable retailer

If you spot any wear or tear on the charger, replace it with an official replacement charger from a reputable retailer. 

In the event of a battery smoking, or catching fire don't try to put it out yourself – get out of the house and call 999.

National Fire Chief Council – get more battery charging and storage advice for e-bikes