The best new e-bikes of 2022

There are new e-bike offerings coming to market at a fast and furious pace, and it can make for a serious crowd. But, not all e-bikes are created equally. To highlight some of the best brands on the market, we decided to highlight our favorite new e-bike models with an eye toward urban cycling from folding bikes and hybrids to cargo bikes and cruisers. Here they are:

Dahon Unio E20

New this year from iconic folding bike brand DAHON, the Unio E20 is a robust and light electric folding bike at a fantastic price point.

We love the performance and flexibility that comes with the nine gears available with this one, accessed via DAHON custom trigger shifters at the right grip, which is certainly helpful in all manner of situations, but especially when the assist is off and a hill is on the horizon. The bicycle is driven by a 52-tooth front chainring and an SRAM X5 9-speed rear cassette.

The display is mounted on the left side of the handlebar and shows mode, battery level, as well as speed, distance traveled, and level of assist from one to five.

This mid-motor folding bike also features a battery that is hidden in the seat post. Fantastic creativity from DAHON. The battery charging port is at the top of the seat post near the saddle.

The motor itself is 36V/200w and that battery is 36V/8.7AH providing a serious amount of assist to navigate the most challenging of urban terrain. The top speed is 20 mph. We love the hidden battery as it adds to the looks of the Unio E20, not to mention an external battery on a folding e-bike often means something that must be carried on the handlebars and the chance of a disconnection remains high. Not here. Not with this gem.

And, of course, it folds. DAHON has been in the folding bike business since 1982, so consumers can trust that they get it right. This bike, although an e-bike, is easy to fold and transport when required. The Unio folds up into a tight package that will easily fit under a desk at work, and multiple bikes can fit in a trunk, for example.

The relatively light weight of this bike is due in part to the material DAHON has developed and dubbed Dalloy — essentially a double-butted aluminum used in the frame and fork.

Overall, the DAHON Unio E20 goes well beyond being that commuter bike used for the last miles between a transit station and work or home. It’s a fun bicycle with a powerful pedal-assist motor that will have you reaching for this beauty far more often than one might have originally thought. And for the price, a great option for all.

The Unio E20 folding bike will be available in North America soon, riders can locate their local DAHON dealer to inquire about purchasing or keep an eye on DAHON’s bike page for models available to buy online. Customers outside of this region can check availability by getting in touch with their nearest DAHON dealer/distributor. 

Lemond Prolog

LeMond is crafting some of the finest new e-bikes on the market: beautiful and bold. The name is well-known to cyclists who follow the racing scene. After all, Greg LeMond made history as a professional racer winning the Tour de France three times. And now he’s garnering a reputation for his impressive new line of e-bikes.

In addition to a Dutch step-through model, the new Prolog arrives styled after a city hybrid-style bike with a comfortable somewhat upright, and relaxed riding position and boasting a 250-watt Mahle X35+ rear hub motor and e-bike system.

The motor powers the bike up to 20 mph while an 11-speed Shimano GRX drivetrain can be upgraded to electronic shifting for the whizbang aficionados.

The battery is nuzzled lovingly into the down tube, which gives the bicycle a sleek appearance. One would hardly even notice it is an e-bike.

What separates the LeMond Prolog from the pack is the carbon fiber frame, fork, and bar/stem that makes this rig exceptionally light for an e-bike weighing in at a scant 27 pounds. That means, even without pedal assist being engaged, the Prolog is comfortable and even fun to pedal about town. Mostly, riders will only need the lowest of the three levels of assist reserving the higher levels for hills and at the end of a very long day at the office. You know what we’re talking about.

The battery is integrated with a built-in 500-lumen headlight and taillight, which we loved. And, there is one simple circular button that controls it all, including the three color-coded levels of assist. It’s all so minimalist and well-planned.

The wide 38mm LeMond/Panaracer Gravelking tires are perfect for handling the urban environment offering a great deal of stability and durability. The Selle Royale saddle is plush.

The Prolog is available in white, black, and dashing rose colors and the base model is priced at $4,795.

Tern Quick Haul

Urban mobility specialist Tern, of the GSD cargo bike fame, has launched a new compact cargo bike dubbed the Quick Haul, which is capable of carrying passengers and cargo in a much smaller and more affordable package. We are excited.

The new e-bike offers up much of what we already love about this particular brand of cargo bike starting with high-quality components such as a Bosch Active Line Plus or Performance Line Sport motor and Shimano Nexus 5 hub.

The line has two models the D8, which is a Class 1 e-bike capable of speeds up to 20 mph priced at $2,999 — the most affordable Bosch-equipped Tern on the market. There is also the P9, which is a Class 3 e-bike that can hit 28 mph at $3,299.Some e-bikes are less expensive, but Terns are usually priced well over $5,000, so the Quick Haul opens the Tern brand up to an entirely new audience.

Although smaller than a bicycle, the new Quick Haul is modular and customizable and comes with a full line of accessories. It also comes designed with the popular vertical parking feature allowing riders to easily roll the bike into an elevator and park it upright in the corner of a small apartment.

The Tern has a max gross vehicle weight of 330 pounds and is capable of carrying a child or a large amount of cargo. The seat and stem are adjustable, so the bike can be used by multiple people with a couple of quick adjustments. The Quick Haul fits riders approximately 4’11” to 6’5”.

What makes the new Tern Quick Haul a fantastic tool for the urban family is that it is compatible with the entire line of Tern accessories, and that’s a very extensive line such as the market baskets, dry goods bd, Storm Shield, and more.

Yamaha CrossCore RC

Yamaha is taking its new tech stateside that will be available in two new e-bike models, but we are most excited about their CrossCore RC model that is geared, ahem, to commuters with an upright and neutral geometry ideal for urban living by bike. The CrossCore has flat handlebars and comes with an integrated LED headlight.

The CrossCore features the PWSeries ST drive, which offers what has been described as the most natural-feeling power assist system on the market equipped with the Quad Sensor System. The PWSeries ST drive unit has four assist modes and an intuitive automatic mode and provides speed support up to 28 mph with a maximum power of 500 watts.

CrossCore RC has an integrated 500-watt-hour lithium-ion batteries in the downtube of a new frame design from Yamaha that optimizes geometry, frame rigidity, and weight balance for commuting. Stick to eco-mode, and the batter life can stretch for a whopping 100 miles. It also charges in just four hours.

The Shimano Alivio drivetrain offers nine speeds with Altus shifters. There are also hydraulic disc brakes, and CST Brooklyn Pro tires designed for cities.

Yamaha has been doing the e-bike thing for 29 years, the most experienced of any brand in the market.

Electra Cruiser Go!

We’ve always had a thing for the gorgeous cruiser bikes from Electra, and now the Cruiser Go! offers that same single-gear, simple charm, and comfort in an e-bike.

The Cruiser Go! puts Electra’s Flat Foot Technology to good use offering an elevated take on the classic beach ride that emphasizes the cruiser in a cruiser.

The Hyena rear hub 250-watt motor is integrated into the downtube and offers three levels of pedal assist and can enable a top-assisted speed of 20 mph.

The Electra E-bike System is powered by a fully integrated battery and provides pedal assistance through three levels of support with a rear hub motor. You can easily monitor battery charge and support level with the LED controller. Mechanical disc brakes provide powerful stopping while 26″ tires ensure a smooth ride from start to finish.

The Cruiser Go! comes in a step-through model (pictured) as well as a step-over.