Is this cheap electric bike too good to be true? | Engwe P20

The Engwe P20 is a folding electric bike built for city commuters and multi-modal travellers.

At its price point, is it an offering that's too good to be true? I take a closer look at how it performs in the city and up hills and discover its real world range results.

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00:00 A full tour of the P20
03:50 The build
04:22 Ride test
08:54 Real world range results
11:17 Hill test
13:38 A wholesome interaction
14:22 Warranty & support

#engwe #engweebikes #ebike
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[iantankwasp]

I have an Engwe engine pro 2.0 and recently there was a battery recall for a batch of batteries, I contacted Engwe with a photo of battery and mine was a possible faulty one so they are sending a new battery out and I have to dispose of the old one, so I’m impressed with Engwe support👍

[domramsey]

I don't think I'll ever be able to ride a bike again, even electric, thanks to my mobility issues, but I live in hope and in the mean time, really appreciate your reviews. Love seeing all the new tech!

[ers]

With a front hub motor and rear 11 speed hub using belt drive would be the ultimate low maintenance/capable machine. Why nobody makes this configuration amazes me.

[megapangolin]

Great review, Eilis, not sure that you are totally convinced by this bike, but you test so many that you will instinctively know if this one is your "style" or not. It seems a good budget offering, but not a shining example of bikedom. It looks robust and functional. Really like the carbon belt, muddies, rack and lights. Shame all bikes don't do that. Price looks good too. Always love your stuff, a good thing to end the evening on. Thank you.

[zapfanzapfan]

Those sun glasses sound like a really good idea!

[Unexpired_Milk]

I bought this bike when it first came out, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you fall into a specific category of rider. I originally chose it as a commuter bike, mainly for its looks, price, carbon belt (which I'll talk more about later), and the unlockable thumb throttle. However, I quickly became disappointed with it. One major issue, as mentioned in the video, is the "ghost pedaling" due to the lack of gears and the loose carbon belt, which threw me off completely. When you reach higher speeds, around 20 km/h, the pedals spin freely without resistance, which is frustrating since the bike tries to push you to the 25 km/h speed limit. In this zone, it feels awkward—you're pedaling, but nothing’s really happening. Also, while the motor claims to assist up to 25 km/h, in reality, it only helps up to 22 km/h, and though the 3 km/h difference doesn't sound huge, you can actually feel it. To hit 25 km/h, you have to pedal absurdly fast, which is tiring and feels unnatural.

Quality control was another disappointment. When I first got the bike, it seemed fine, aside from a stripped screw in the rear fender that came from the factory. But small issues began to pop up. The folding steering stem started creaking loudly, and though the paint looks stunning in person, it began to flake slightly at the folding seam. The paint in general feels thin, but it's not the worst problem. The battery gauge, however, is pretty much useless. Even on a full charge, it fluctuates wildly between 1 to 4 bars. I think it measures the battery's current output rather than the actual charge left. For instance, after using the thumb throttle a lot on a big hill, the gauge dropped to no bars, but once I hit flat ground, it jumped back up to 3 bars.

The bike lasted me only a few months, covering about 200 km before it was stolen, but honestly, I wasn’t too upset. I was already looking at alternatives soon after getting it because of the ghost pedaling issue. The carbon belt, which seemed like a major selling point, ended up being a letdown since the pedaling felt off in all assist modes—there's little to no resistance. Another reason I bought this bike was that I planned to upgrade the seatpost to a suspension seatpost, but the tube diameter is non-standard, making it nearly impossible to find one that fits. You could probably use a suspension seat instead. The stock seat is okay, but you'll definitely feel bumps, so an upgrade is recommended.

Another thing to note is that if you decide to return the bike after trying it, the return shipping is quite expensive—around £170. I imagine this is meant to discourage returns, which I would have done myself if it wasn't so costly and such a hassle.

That said, Engwe’s customer service is fantastic and very helpful. The motor is also quite punchy as mentioned in the video, and it carried me (110 kg, 190 cm) easily, even reaching an unlocked top speed of 32 km/h with the thumb throttle.

In conclusion, I wouldn't recommend this bike as a commuter. But if you’re using it recreationally for short rides on relatively smooth roads, it could be a decent budget option compared to pricier e-bikes. Just keep in mind it’s a cheap bike from a Chinese manufacturer, and it likely won’t be as durable as one from a more reputable brand.

[eBoardR]

*Engwe are easily my favourite eBike brand, great range of products at great prices.*
🤙🏽⚡️🤟🏽⚡️👌🏽

[martinkendal]

Good/interesting review but for us that are new to this what we need is for you to compare similar bikes/ bikes in similar price bracket. You could rate them as one to five - that would be particularly helpful???

[junic]

Great review Eilis. I did notice that the graphics of your weight converted to 43.3 lbs (10:26) is a little off. Can’t get good help these days! 🙂

[craigpostreplyutube]

Do you know how steep your hill is in % grade?
Great job, always love your reviews.

[robynrox]

One thing you might consider in future is to show the legal EAPC labelling on these bikes. I know it's not exactly sexy content but it would only take a few seconds. I bought an ADO A16 a couple of years ago and it complies with the 250W 25km/h assist limits but it doesn't have the required labelling, so if I was ever stopped by the police, they would be fully justified in confiscating the e-bike and dragging me into court for a six-point award on my licence. Otherwise it's a great e-bike, but I'm not going to risk riding it.

[elenali]

What’s the brand name for those sunglasses?

[greyareaRK]

As most Lithium batteries want to be recharged from 20% to 80% for longevity, perhaps a 80/20 range would be a helpful real-world measurement? I'll shut up now.

[JettaJack]

Too bad the P20 isn’t available in North America!

[callumworsley]

I have just buy a ebik how long do it take to charge. Ebike up

[delr]

voltage and battery capacity 36V 9.6Ah Lithium-ion*1 ; Speed · 25KM/H ; Charging Time · 5H ; Bike Weight · 18.5kg (40.7 lbs).on this bike 25 miles is the max range if you pedal a bit more, sorry i have a 36v 20ah battery and it gets me 50 miles.

[jimmyfang]

By the way since you’ve shoot this video in Brixton, Can you shoot your next video in Streatham ? which is right next to Brixton, if you can ..can you come to Leigham Court Road for an up hill test ? I live on Leigham court Road, right opposite Dunraven School !! Thanks for the video. My Love ..Love You Always, My E-Goddess

[weircottage]

You work hard on these videos and then link fails for you, grrrr!

[simonsaysrewind]

Mirider is starting a 20 inch wheels version soon. I 95 percent decided to go for mirider 24 gb3 next month. I sold my 4 year old original mirider. I want to know can I get a bike rack that easily slides on the pannier bag without the tie in on thing many seen to do.

[MrFrosty]

Hello. Interested to hear your comment about being able to take these on trains? Certainly greater anglia who run the services where I live have banned all e-bikes and scooters, whether they fold or not.