In the Venn diagram of folding motorcycles and electric motorcycles, the Volt’s Lite folding electric motorcycle is not what you expected. For starters, there’s still nothing like a coiled cable that winds up to the back of your seat to imply any kind of electrical magic. But before we get into the main points of this magnificent engineering masterpiece, let’s talk a little about the Volt.
The UK-based company was founded in 2010 by two brothers on a mission to vastly improve their experiences of e-bikes by creating their own products. A decade and a half later, the company now has 13 different e-bike models covering folding, hybrid, urban and mountain bikes. The business has expanded across the UK and operates out of its HQ in London and factory in Milton Keynes.
Surprisingly, the Volt Lite feels like a much larger motorcycle on the road. The ride height makes it feel visual to other drivers or pedestrians and it’s incredibly agile considering its compact packaging. Including the battery, which is packed in the seatpost, the motorcycle weighs 18 kg (40 lb). This makes folding and shipping quite easy, and the folding mechanism is easy to implement. The concept of the Lite style is to be an electric motorcycle for urban travel.
On a full charge, Lite has a 50 mile range which should be more than enough for the daily ride into work. For some, it might even have a week’s worth of electric assistance in it before it needs recharging. Volt is also developing a smaller battery option to reduce weight even further. The belt drive system minimizes any exposure to dirty components which is especially important if you need to fold or unfold it wearing work clothes.
The Bafang motor can offer assistance up to 25 km/h and the assistance point can be controlled with the buttons on the left side. On the right handlebar there is a manual gearshift with a selection of 3 speeds. When it’s time to stop, the brakes provide reassuring feedback and stop the motorcycle firmly.
Perhaps the most impressive generation of the Volt Lite is its battery pack. Hidden in the seat post, its on/off button is located just under the seat for easy access. With the motorcycle on, all vital electrical data is displayed via its LCD screen. Simple graphics make it quicker to see how fast you’re traveling or how much speed is left. Front and rear LED lighting fixtures are very popular and the motorcycle takes about two to three hours to qualify.
Amongst Volt’s folding e-bike range, Lite is the most expensive option at £2,899 ($3,500). Much of this cost is down to its clever battery integration. Volt’s other folding bikes feature batteries attached behind the seat post. While the Lite’s seat post is chunkier than the others, its seamless design makes it an attractive choice. Volt also offers the Metro LS which has a low step frame or the standard Metro model, both of which are priced at £1,949 ($2,400).
Both Metro folding electric bikes are available in black, the low step is available in cream and the crossbar edition is also available in white. As standard, the Lite comes with a metallic finish, highlighting its aluminum frame. Other elements such as the handlebars and fenders are finished in black.
As tested price: £2,899 ($3,500)
Transmission: Belt with Bafang M820 motor
Battery: Panasonic 360Wh removable lithium-ion
Charge time: 2 to 3 hours
Range: Up to 50 miles/80 km
Weight: 18kg with battery
One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.
Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.
To do so, please comply with the posting regulations in our site’s terms of use. We summarize some of those key regulations below. In short, civilians.
Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:
User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:
So, how can you be a user?
Thank you for reading our Community Standards. Read the full list of posting regulations discovered in our site’s Terms of Use.