How Much do Electric Bikes Cost? (Your Bottom Line)
The first time I saw an electric bike ride by I thought to myself “Wow, that looks expensive.” As soon as I got home I started to research how much do electric bikes cost?
In total, Electric bikes cost anywhere from 500 dollars to 80,000 dollars. The cost of an electric bike varies on the company selling the bike, the motor, the size, and the specs of the e-bike. A more expensive bike will have better specs and will likely last longer than a cheap e-bike.
E-bikes can cost as little as a few hundred dollars or more than several thousand dollars. That’s a pretty large price range and you no doubt want to know why that might be; read on to learn a few reasons why bikes are so expensive, what the most common costs are, and whether you should buy a cheaper bike or a more expensive one. This will help you to determine how much the e-bike that you need will cost.
How Much Do Cheap And Used Electric Bikes Cost
| Ancheer Power Plus (2019) | $789.99 |
| Ancheer Folding Electric Bike | $469.99 |
| Cyclamatic Power Plus CX1 | $749.00 |
| Nakto City Electric Bike | $648.99 |
| Merax Mountain Bike | $689.99 |
| Swagtron Folding Bike | $529.00 |
| Ecotric Folding Electric Bike | $949.00 |
| Ecotric Fat Tire Electric Bike | $912.00 |
| Yiilove Electric Bicycle | $759.00 |
| NAKTO 26″ 250W Cargo Electric Bicycle | $649.99 |
Both cheap and expensive bikes exist for a reason, and while many would argue that paying top dollar is the best (and sometimes only) way to go, but cheap bikes have their merit. To help you understand which bike might be right for you, here are a few pros and cons of buying a cheap electric bike.
Pros of Buying Cheap and Used Electric Bikes
First and foremost, the price of cheap electric bikes is a huge plus. Some people simply can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars for what could very well be considered a frivolity.
However, with electric bikes costing 500 dollars or more, having one then becomes a possibility for some families who might not otherwise be able to afford one. While more expensive electric bikes do have a higher probability of lasting for a long time, even less expensive e-bikes typically last for at least a few years.
While we’re talking about saving and cutting costs, we may as well talk about insurance.
You will not have to pay nearly as much insurance for a cheap or used e-bike as you would for a new, expensive one, which means there will be a lot more cash to spend on potentially upgrading your used electric bike.
There are still several options available for those who cannot afford brand new, and possibly expensive, electric bikes.
You can buy used electric bikes at bike shops, auctions, yard sales, online, or pretty much anywhere else you can think of. There are plenty of options, plus plenty of locations you can buy from, so you’ll never have to wonder where to get one.
Despite what a lot of people think, warranties can still apply to a used e-bike. If you were to purchase a used e-bike that is less than five years old, it is likely that you might still be able to refer back to any applicable warranty on it.
Your job is just to make sure you know what you’re getting so nobody pulls the wool over your eyes.
Even if an electric bike is on the cheaper end of the spectrum, it is still much easier to use than a regular bike.
Most electric bikes can reach speeds of fifteen to twenty miles per hour. Whether your electric bike is a brand new one or not, you will have a much easier time riding an electric bike than your average bicycle.
Cons of Buying Cheap and Used Electric Bikes
On the flip side, cheap, used electric bikes don’t last for nearly as long as brand new, high-quality electric bikes do. Plus, as mentioned before, cheap bikes cannot be repaired with expensive parts, so you can’t improve the quality of your electric bike’s components.
Using higher-quality components to fix up an old or low-end bike may result in poor compatibility, and your electric bike may not run, even after you have correctly put everything together. That, in turn, could result in a whole slew of other problems for your electric bike that you will have to pay to have fixed.
Additionally, buying a used electric bike from somebody who didn’t take care of it can lead to you facing issues with your electric bike in the future.
Usually, what you see is what you get when purchasing a cheap or used electric bike, but you may want to go over a used one with a fine-toothed comb so you can catch any obvious or subtle problems that the e-bike has. Along those same lines, what you see is what you get.
While this is not always a bad thing, with e-bikes it means there are not many additional specs or features that come with a cheap or used bike. This also means that you probably won’t get to customize your bike exactly the way you want to.
You might have to forgo a spec or a specific color of your choice to get a good quality, relatively cheap electric bike.
If you do end up purchasing a used or cheap bike that has some unseen issues, you will have to pay to have it fixed or pay for new components so you can fix it yourself. While the bike may have been cheap, repairs can get expensive.
Insurance and warranties help, but they can’t always be used on a used electric bike. Purchase used electric bikes with caution, or you may have to pay a lot of money in the future to upkeep that e-bike.
Cost Of Buying A New E-Bike
If you spend the money on a new electric bike, you can expect to pay top dollar if quality components are a priority for you. Below are a few examples of various new expensive electric bikes.
| Prodego Titanio Bike | $5,000 |
| Specialized Turbo Bike | $6,000 |
| Hanebrink All-Terrain | $9,000 |
| Heavy-Duty Trike Truck | $10,000 |
| Outrider 422 Alpha | $12,000 |
| Stealth Bomber | $12,000 |
| Optibike 1100r | $14,000 |
| Hanebrink Hustler | $20,000 |
| M55 Electric Bike | $40,000 |
| Blacktrail Bt-01 | $80,000 |
Most people don’t have to pay anywhere near 80,000 dollars for a quality e-bike. The ones that are the most expensive are usually used by racers and those who collect high-end bikes.
Of course, if you have the money for it as well as a need for speed, an 80,000-dollar electric bike might be right up your alley.
As the chart above indicates, most high-quality bikes cannot be bought for anywhere under a few thousand dollars. If you have any qualms about purchasing an e-bike brand new that is really expensive, maybe knowing some pros and cons could help put your mind at ease. Here are a few you should know!
Pros of Buying an Expensive eBike
The first pro of purchasing an expensive e-bike is its long lifespan. Cheaper bikes can last for several years, but if you are willing to spend just a little more money upfront, you will likely save money on repair and maintenance costs later on.
It will also give you a good sense of security in knowing that your new bike is in perfect shape and should be able to be counted on as a reliable bike that won’t give you any problems right after purchase.
Unlike with cheap or used bikes, you will have the time and money to look for exactly the kind of features you want to have in your new bike. This includes color, wheels, brand, any kind of specs you can think of that might be desirable.
Again, it’s not a huge deal, but it will provide you with a satisfying experience and you will wind up with exactly what you want. It’s a win-win all the way around!
If you decide to sell your e-bike at some point in the future, buying a brand new one upfront means the bike will most likely have a higher resell value later on.
This will make it much easier to sell your bike because people will be more willing to purchase an e-bike that is unlikely to have problems in the future and is made of high-quality components.
Additionally, for those of you out there who feel strongly about keeping the planet clean and healthy, buying newer e-bike models might help you to do just that.
Many bikes out on the market right now have been designed so they produce a reduced carbon footprint when in use. This makes them a more eco-friendly choice.
Cons of Buying an Expensive eBike
Insurance is a definite blessing in life, but that may not always be the case. If you decide to buy an especially expensive e-bike, your tax and insurance on that bike can cost a pretty penny.
In fact, it could start to add up to as much or more of the cost of the bike, and that is most definitely not an extra cost that you need or want. Additionally, buying an electric bike brand new might improve the resale value, but it will start to depreciate as soon as you take it home.
Newly installed batteries and motors are great, but they will also add to the weight of your bike. This is one reason why buying a brand new bike will cost you. Newer models are hard to carry around and transport because of how heavy they are.
It might be a great workout, but it can get old after a while.
Additionally, it is possible that issues may arise soon after you purchase your e-bike. Brand new bikes are supposed to be reliable and function without problems. However, sometimes an e-bike malfunctions soon after it is bought, so make sure you are ready for any problems that can occur.
Brand new bikes are definitely reliable, just be sure you don’t turn a blind eye to what could happen.
If you are looking for an affordable foldable electric bike that is great for city rides, and folds to store anywhere, we recommend this VIVI folding e-bike.
Determining Cost: Why Do Electric Bikes Cost So Much?
As a whole, Electric Bikes cost so much because they have expensive components. Notably, the motor, battery, tires, and bike frame are very expensive parts that greatly add to the overall cost of the eBike.
First of all, let’s address the burning question of why there is such a huge gap between e-bike prices.
This is largely dependent upon where you are buying the bike from and what kind of specs the bike has. Components such as the motor, tires, brakes, and the bike frame itself all vary in quality, so e-bikes vary in price as quality parts are more expensive than cheap ones.
Components of an e-bike cost money and quality components cost more than cheap components. For example, if you purchase an expensive e-bike they will have expensive tires. If you purchase a cheaper e-bike it will have cheaper tires.
Much of the cost of an e-bike is influenced by the material the frame of the e-bike is made of and the quality of the battery that it uses.
If an e-bike has a lightweight frame that is made of cheap metal, then it will cost less than an e-bike that has a slightly heavier frame made of a more expensive, and higher quality, metal.
The battery quality and lifespan will also affect the cost of an e-bike. If your e-bike’s battery lasts a long time and will not deteriorate quickly, the overall cost of the e-bike will be more expensive than if it had a cheap battery that deteriorates quickly.
If an eBike has a higher capacity battery and is rated for more cycles it will be more expensive than a battery that has a lower capacity that lasts fewer cycles. We have put together a comprehensive resource about how long different electric bike batteries last. You can access that article here.
Hopefully, this will help you to understand a little better why there is such a huge price range for most e-bikes out there. Next, it is important to understand exactly what kind of bike you’re looking for, and then exactly what kind of cost you might be looking at.
Higher-quality bikes are going to be more expensive than used and low-quality e-bikes, so before you spend more or less than you think you should, take a good look at some different e-bikes and their costs.
