Best for getting around town: GoCycle £1,198

The first generation of electric cycles bolted a motor and battery onto an existing bike frame. That’s still the approach of some models on test, and very good they can be, but the GoCycle, left, shows the way forward, being a comparatively light (35lb), purpose-built design with a battery inside the frame. Used power-free, it’s a simple around-town bicycle, with a ride similar to its clear inspiration: Brompton’s collapsible bikes. That means nippy (if slightly wobbly) handling, easy pedalling and simple but adequate three-speed gearing. Hit the boost button on the handlebar and pedalling gets easier as the 250W front-wheel motor kicks in; brake or let go of the button and the motor stops. The GoCycle also features an integrated stand and lock, a rear shock absorber doubling as a locking point, and the ability to be folded up quickly to travel in a bag or fit in the boot of a small car.

Verdict:
The first fully thought-through electric bike.
www.gocycle.com

Best for lightweight speed: Cytronex Capo £1,650

Cytronex’s version of a single-speed Cannondale Capo is the lightest electric bike in the world, weighing just 30lb, despite the front hub motor and a hefty battery sitting where the water bottle would go. The electric boost from the 180W motor kicks in smoothly and quickly, by way of a switch on the handlebars, solving two big problems associated with single-speed push-bikes: that they can be slow to pull away from standing and are difficult to pedal uphill. The Cytronex can be ridden fast — but is this what electric-bike buyers are looking for?

Verdict:
Light and fast, but expensive with it.
www.cytronex.com

Best for long distances: Giant Twist Freedom CS £1,950

Twin batteries in the panniers help make the Twist, at 60lb, one of the heaviest on test. These give up to 70 miles of electric-assisted cycling — perfect for low-effort touring. But the Twist’s boost button never seems to deliver all 250W of power to the rear wheel; the upright seating suits short-hop riding; and the panniers (vital for touring bikes) are nearly useless, stuffed full of batteries. You can run it on one battery, making it lighter but halving the range.

Verdict:
The high-mileage battery setup isn’t worth the downsides.
www.giant-bicycles.com

Best for quick starts: Urban Mover UM44S £1,100

A mere pedal push and the 250W rear motor causes the UM44S to lunge forward, making it the best bike for a standing start at the lights. Its upright seating position is well suited to town riding, as are accessories such as a rack and integrated locks — although these take the bike’s weight up to a meaty 47lb. Build quality is poor and it feels a bit like a kit bike — a power cable came undone on the road and the battery nearly fell out.

Verdict:
Nippy, with little pedalling required, but chunky and clunky.
www.urbanmover.com

Best for budget riding: iZip EZ Ride £550

This bike gives you a lot for little money: seven-speed gripshift gears (operated like a throttle), a 22-mile range (under “normal pedalling”) with the option to double it with a second battery, and a quick cut-in from the 450W electric motor. There are downsides, though. The worst is having to twist a throttle to power any boost. This is fiddly, and if the other hand is changing gear, you are unable to brake for a second. The heavy motor is mounted to one side, significantly affecting the handling of this 62lb bike.

Verdict:
Great for the price, but with a few niggles.
www.moorelarge.co.uk

Electrical bikes: the legalities

In the UK

To qualify as an electric bicycle, models must weigh less than 88lb, not exceed 200W continuous power output — the higher outputs of some of the motors on test are for short bursts only — and powered speed must not exceed 15mph. Riders must also be at least 14. If you and your bike comply, you won’t need a licence, tax disc or insurance to ride on the road. Helmets are not compulsory either, and if you can pedal faster than 15mph without any assistance, that’s allowed too.

Taking one abroad

“Electrically assisted pedal cycles” (or EAPCs to Brussels bureaucrats) fall into two camps: “pedelec” or “e-bike”. With pedelecs, the electric motor is triggered only if you’re pedalling; e-bikes work when you press a button whether you’re pedalling or not. In the UK, both types are street legal as electric bikes, but in Europe e-bikes are seen as the equivalent to mopeds and require a licence, tax disc, insurance and so on. The GoCycle falls into the latter camp, as does the iZip in one of its two operating modes.