Electric bikes have taken metropolitan cities by storm over the past few years.
A mode of transport once limited to those with hefty disposable income, stylish bikes with e-assist cost an average of £2,000 to £4,000.
Companies such as Lime, Human Forest, Dott and Tier have been on a mission to democratise the use of e-bikes across cities. However, at around 27p per minute, hopping on an e-bike to get you from A to B in a flash still isn’t the most sustainable option for city dwellers who end up paying £3 for a 10-minute ride. Considering the level of maintenance required to make these e-bike projects function, and the sheer amount of vandalism we see on the average Lime bike, we’d struggle to keep the cost-per-minute prices low, too.
According to Auto Trader, while 47 per cent of people view electric bikes as a viable alternative to shorter car journeys, 50 per cent see the upfront cost as a significant current barrier.
Despite what luxurious e-bike producers such as Van Moof, Cowboy and Volt want you to think – there are plenty of more affordable options on the market that make sense as a long-term investment. Not only will you save plenty of money on public transport and bike rentals in the future, but you won’t have to empty your pockets entirely to do so.
Autotrader is one such platform that’s been on a mission to support consumers to make more environmentally conscious journey choices. Launched in 2023, the retailer’s e-bike platform stocks market-leading affordable brands like Cube and Rayleyigh – with over 200,000 ad views on electric bikes alone (and counting).
Likewise, the second-hand market for electric bikes is huge. If you simply can’t resist the pull of undoubtedly attractive e-bikes such as the Cowboy 4 ST or a brand-new electric Carrera – we recommend having a gander at the second-hand shop at Tredz or eBay. Auto Trader doesn’t sell second-hand just yet, as the platform doesn’t recommend purchasing un-verified used lithium batteries.
What to look for in an electric bike:
Below, you’ll find a selection of the best electric bikes to buy in the UK which are under £1,000. Keep scrolling for more.
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Batribike Omega
Thanks to Auto Trader, you can save £650 on a brand-new Batribike Omega – a sleek, stylish and high-functioning e-bike that’s perfect for city riding. The hybrid/commuter model has a classic step-through frame for easy mounting, a max speed of 16mph and a tyre diameter of 28 inches. The forest green shade is unique and highly aesthetically pleasing, and there’s plenty of room on the rear for pannier bags and backpacks. Battery and assistance levels are easy to monitor from the handlebar-mounted display, with a between 14-31 miles worth of assisted riding per charge (standard battery).
RRP: £1,424
Buy now £774.00, Autotrader
Honbike Uni4
A Van Moof-adjacent e-bike for under £1000? Don’t mind if we do. With a whopping 100km range (up to 62 miles), and a top speed of 25km/h (15mph), the Honbike Uni4 is a top choice for city-dwellers looking to get from A to B in a pinch. It has a highly resistant waterproof rating of IPX6, which is perfect for our dreary British Isles, and boasts up to 10,000km of maintenance-free riding. The uphill assist with gyroscope also makes it a fantastic choice for commuters. It’s totally sold-out on Uni4’s own website, so Auto Trader has come in clutch.
RRP: £1,499
Buy now £999.00, Autotrader
Pendleton Somerby Electric Hybrid Bike - White and Navy - S Frame
Pendelton hybrid bikes are an aesthetic and functional dream. At under £1000, they’re a bargain too. The removable battery (fitted to the rear luggage rack) equips the bike with up to 50 miles of assisted riding, with a recharge time of between 4-5 hours. The bike features a lightweight aluminium step-through frame, as well as 8-speed Shimano Acera gears and Tektro Aluminium V-brakes. The Somerby E also has an integrated smart control system that protects the battery from overheating, short circuiting or overcharging.
Buy now £99.00, Halfords
BTWIN Electric Folding Bike E-Fold 500 - Green
The BTWIN range at Decathlon offers a series of fantastic and practical regular and e-assist bikes at a value-for-money price. With the 20-inch electric, you’ll be able to cycle up to 50km in one go.
A brilliant commuter bike, the BTWIN electric can be folded up in under a minute and is small enough to fit in the average car boot for use on weekends away.
Powered by a reliable 250W rear hub motor, the bike provides a seamless pedal assist experience with three levels of assistance to suit your journey. With a battery range of up to 50km on a single charge, it’s built to handle daily commutes with ease. Hydraulic disc brakes deliver strong stopping power, ensuring control in all conditions.
Buy now £999.99, Decathlon
Rockrider 27.5 Inch Electric Mountain Bike E-ST 100 - White
Designed for all-terrain rides, the Rockrider E-ST is equipped with smart electric assistance which kicks into gear when you need it most. If, however, you’d like to manually adjust the level of e-assist – you can do so with ease thanks to the LCD display and button controls which sit unobtrusively on the bike’s handlebars.
Perhaps our favourite aspect of this e-bike is that it can be placed on “walk mode”. This means that when – for whatever reason – you find that you have to dismount, you can keep the e-assist subtly running to make walking your bike easy as you push it along.
Buy now £899.99, Decathlon
Fafrees F28 Pro 27.5'' Step-through City E-Bike
Compact yet powerful, the Fafrees City E-Bike is certainly faff-free, if you’ll pardon the pun. With an elegant and removable battery, not only does this bike look sleek and sophisticated, but it can be recharged with the utmost ease.
It has a maximum speed of 25km/h and provides brilliant shock absorption when changing terrains thanks to the 7.5-inch front suspension fork. With a built-in headline which illuminates the road ahead for up to 10 metres, a back-lit LCD display for ride stats and an incredible range of 110km – you simply can’t go wrong.
Buy now £699.00, Amazon
Apollo Phaze Electric Mountain Bike - M Frame
Not too dissimilar in terms of specs to the Apollo Metis, the main difference between the two pocket-friendly e-bikes is the fact that the Apollo Phaze has a step-over frame and has been designed with mountain bikers in mind.
It has the same range as the Apollo Metis (15-20km), but the battery is located in the frame’s centre as opposed to on the luggage rack - which the Metis does not have.
Buy now £575.00, Halfords
