Electrek.co
by Micah Toll
The Model E offers a great balance of quality parts and economical pricing. It’s right there in the name: Model E. The ‘E’ is for Everyone, as Electric Bike Company’s founder and CEO Sean Lupton-Smith explained to me as I tested the bike out on a cool winter morning in Newport Beach, California.
Not only did I get a chance to tour the company’s factory and watch how e-bikes were being built in front of my eyes, but I got to spend a few days riding around Newport on the Model E, getting a sense of just what makes this e-bike special.
Model E Tech Specs • Motor: 1,000W peak rear geared hub motor • Top speed: 40 km/h (25 mph) • Range: Up to 80 km (50 mi) • Battery: 48V with either 12Ah (576 Wh) or 14Ah (672 Wh) options • Weight: 25 kg (56 lb) • Max load: 158 kg (350 lb)
Model E Tech Specs (cont'd) • Brakes: Tektro Dorado hydraulic two-piston disc brakes on 180 mm rotors • Extras: LCD display, LED head and tail lights, thumb throttle, heavy duty kickstand, wide cruiser saddle, option for suspension fork, platform pedals, wide balloon tires (multiple tire choices), custom paint selection, incredible array of accessories
Technically the Model E is a cruiser e-bike, as that’s EBC’s specialty. But it feels a bit more like a city cruiser, as in something I could use both for lazy boardwalk rides and brisker city commutes.
The bike is powerful when you need it to be, but it doesn’t feel over-powered in an “I’m going to get myself in trouble” kind of way. 1,000 watts of power from that rear hub motor is definitely peppy, but the bike feels plenty controllable.
The bikes get shipped fully-assembled, meaning you just roll the bike out of the box, straighten the handlebars and ride away. Most e-bikes require between 15 minutes to an hour of final assembly by the customers, installing things like pedals, handlebars, fenders, lights, and other components.