If you're a daily commuter on one of the best folding e-bikes, you know how much heavier they can be than a conventional folding bike. While great tools to take the sweat out of cycling, you might end up breaking that sweat after lugging it onto trains and up stairs.
Brompton's new Electric P-Line announced this week its billed as a lightweight e-bike perfect for commuting. Not only can you arrive at work looking fresh as a daisy after the motor takes the effort out of cycling, but at 12.7kgs without the detachable battery pack and 15.6kgs with it, it's incredibly easy to ferry around town.
The Electric P-Line has the same four-speed single-level gear system previously seen on Brompton's analog T-Line and P-Line models, and Brompton's typical Advanced Suspension block. However, what's new is the "refined geometry" frame design which helps to reduce weight and the smart torque sensor in the bottom bracket.
The bike is said to fold up in 20 seconds flat, and the detachable battery pack can be charged from any conventional plug. The 250-kWh hub motor offers speeds of 25km per hour, and that detachable battery offers a range of up to 70km on a single charge.
If you're running low on power, you can simply roll into work, remove the battery, and plug it in at a nearby mains socket. You'll then be able to return home on a full charge.
The only drawback? Prices start at £3,695 in Brompton's native UK, on the pricier end for a commuter e-bike. The bike will soon be able to pre-order in the US, starting at $4,700.
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The Electric P-Line doesn't reinvent the wheel for Brompton: it's a continuation of the company's design philosophy in a slightly lighter package. When the battery's loaded in only around two kilos lighter than the Electric C-Line, with the same top speed.
However, the lighter, more efficient bike frame alone would be a nice selling point, but it's all wrapped up in Brompton's signature attractive package. Brompton makes lovely, high-quality-looking-and-feeling bikes, and the Electric P-Line isn't the one to break the mold. We look forward to giving it a test drive - just remember to insure your e-bike before taking it on the roads.
