Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle review: A nippy e-bike that is damn good looking

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle : One minute review

The best electric bikes come in many shapes and sizes. Some e-bike manufacturers embrace a brutalist and utilitarian design philosophy, while others try and keep their e-bikes looking as much like traditional push bikes as possible. The Quella Imperial Electric Courier before us today most definitely falls into the second category.

Quella is a British-based bicycle brand with a passion for fixed-gear bikes. It continues Quella's focus on creating stylish, minimalist bicycles. The Imperial is unlike a lot of other e-bikes on the market in that it features a rear hub that contains both the motor and the battery. This leaves the rest of the e-bike to adopt any design Quella decides, rather than being limited by bulky batteries and trailing cables. I loved the bike from my first ride.

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Price and availability

• $2,289 USD / £1,699 UK / $3,500 AUD
• Located in the middle of the market
• Fantastic spec for the price

The Quella Imperial sits comfortably in the mid-range of the e-bike market, competing with brands like VOLT and some models from manufacturers like Trek and Cube. These bikes, like the Imperial, offer a balance of features, performance, and price.

Even though the price will put a lot of people off, if you’re not comfortable spending more than this for a higher-spec e-bike, then the Imperial is an incredible offering.

• Value score: 4/5

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Design

• Rear hub with integrated motor and battery
• Regenerative braking feature
• Classic aesthetic with a modern twist

One of the most important features of the Quella Imperial e-bike is that the electric motor and the battery are integrated into the rear hub. This creates a beautifully clean and minimalist aesthetic, to the point that many would think it was a standard push bike. As a result, the frame is not cluttered by a battery, which means that the top, down, and seat tubes are free from electronic clutter.

There are, however, two distinct downsides to this type of hub design. The first is that the battery can't be removed, and therefore you need to bring the whole e-bike to mains power. I'm a big fan of removable batteries, as I can separate the battery from the frame and therefore charge it wherever I like. The other downside to this design is that if the battery fails, then you'll need a complete hub replacement or, worse, potentially a whole new bike.

While we're on the subject of the battery, it includes a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) that recharges the battery as you pedal backward. This is similar technology to that used in Formula One engines, and even though I didn't find myself using it very much, it is a clever and simple way to extend the bike's range.

Moving onto the design of the bike itself, Quella has created a modern e-bike that still embraces a classic, minimalist aesthetic. I love the vintage-inspired track frame made from 4130 chromoly steel that continues Quella's heritage style. In particular, it features a unique and eye-catching chrome-plated finish, giving it a polished, premium, luxurious look.

Quella has also inserted aggressive-looking deep-section rims and bullhorn handlebars, and I loved the riding position that this afforded me. The single-speed design won't be for everyone, but I love its simplicity, and the lack of derailleurs, shifters, and multiple sprockets means it's super low maintenance.

• Design Score: 4.5/5

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Performance

• Smooth and reliable power assistance
• Perfect for city living
• Effective regenerative braking feature

The Quella Imperial e-bike is far from a powerhouse, but despite this, it’s a very clever, lightweight, and efficient city commuter. Having tested numerous e-bikes, it doesn't get much better than this, especially if you have an aversion to heavy and bulky e-bikes that are hard to manoeuver around.

The assistance comes from a 250W motor and 40Nm of torque, which serves up smooth, subtle, and natural-feeling power delivery. It won't zoom around but rather provides a "helping hand" to make starts easier, maintain speed on flats, and take the sting out of minor inclines. The motor kicks in rapidly after you begin pedaling and is reliable enough to give you the assistance you need when pulling away from standing still.

The rear-hub motor is less efficient than mid-drive alternatives, especially when riding routes with a lot of inclines. This is further compounded by the single-speed design that restricts the rider to only one gear. As a result, the motor has to work much harder, which can lead to rapid battery drain and the risk of overheating. This makes it a less ideal choice for riders who frequently encounter hilly terrain.

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But given this isn't the target market of this e-bike, I don't see a problem with that. I actually really loved the simplicity of the single-speed design that meant I wasn't faffing around with gears all the time. This is an e-bike that you can just jump on and ride, and in all honesty, that's my favorite type of ride.

The regenerative braking, KERS, is one of its best features. In terms of functionality, when you backpedal, the motor acts as a generator, not only slowing the bike down but also recharging the battery. This worked incredibly well and was a serious game changer when I needed to finely manage any remaining battery life.

The Quella Imperial is about simplicity and efficiency, rather than brute force. It provides a seamless, non-intrusive power assist that makes urban cycling a breeze.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Battery life

• Small battery located in the rear hub
• A range of 37 miles (60 km)
• Two to three hours to recharge the battery

The Imperial e-bike has a 155Wh (watt-hour) battery unit that is significantly smaller in capacity compared to many other e-bikes that feature 400Wh batteries or more. The small battery is due to Quella's integration of the battery into the hub. This has the added benefit of reduced weight and minimalist design, but it does have an impact on range.

Quella claims the e-bike has a maximum range of 37 miles (60 km) on a single charge. I always find it near impossible to achieve an e-bike manufacturer's range claims because there are too many varying factors. These include the terrain, wind strength, temperature, and, of course, my weight. I gave it a go, though, and managed to achieve around 75% (just under 30 miles) of the advertised range. That's still not bad.

The limited range, compared to many competitors, can be offset by the fact that this is primarily an urban city bike and that journeys are likely to be much shorter between charging locations. If you're doing those types of rides, then you'll have no issues at all. If you're doing long daily commutes, then you will find that a daily charge is required – but you’ll need an extension cord, or to lug the whole bike over to a mains socket to do so, rather than removing the battery.

The battery takes approximately two to three hours to charge due to the smaller battery size, which is really quite fast for an e-bike.

• Battery life score: 3.5/5

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Scorecard

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle

I had the e-bike in my possession for around one month and used it to carry out a variety of different rides. I focused on shorter rides rather than longer commutes, as I wanted to be fair to the e-bike's core target market.

First reviewed: November 2025