Budget
€0–€800
Published category bar
E-bikes / pedelecs (25 km/h, EN 15194)
This is the exact versioned market bar used by the deterministic engine. It defines what is mandatory, typical and above-class for each European price class.
- Version
- 2026.07-5
- Status
- Active
- Price classes
- 4
European price classes
Mid-range
€800–€1400
Upper mid-range
€1400–€2200
Premium
€2200+
The lowest documented European price selects the class. Within ±10% of a boundary, both neighbouring classes are calculated and the better result counts.
Mandatory category features
CE marking and EN 15194 declaration of conformity for bike, battery and charger
Delivered as an EU pedelec: max. 250 W rated continuous power, assistance ends at 25 km/h, no throttle above 6 km/h
Expected features by price class
Budget
- Motor with 250 W rated continuous power and approx. 40 Nm torque or more, pedal sensor and walk assist up to 6 km/h
- Removable, lockable battery of approx. 430 Wh or more
- Disc brakes front and rear (mechanical is standard in this class)
- Gearing with approx. 7 speeds from an established component maker (e.g. Shimano Tourney/Altus) or equivalent hub gear/belt drive
- Display with at least approx. 3 assistance levels and readable ride data (speed or battery level)
- Lighting fitted as standard (at least a front light; city/trekking bikes also mudguards and rack)
Mid-range
- Hydraulic disc brakes front and rear
- Removable, lockable battery of approx. 460 Wh or more (folding bikes from approx. 350 Wh)
- Street-legal (StVZO) lighting as standard plus the everyday equipment usual for the intended use (city/trekking: mudguards, kickstand, rack)
- Adjustable assistance levels and readable ride data — via smart display or app
- Brand derailleur with approx. 7–9 speeds (Shimano/microSHIFT) or low-maintenance hub gear/belt drive
Upper mid-range
- Torque sensor for natural, force-dependent assistance
- Low-maintenance carbon belt drive or higher-grade derailleur (approx. 8–10 speeds)
- Hydraulic disc brakes with brand components (e.g. Tektro/Shimano)
- Battery integrated into the frame (removable or with a charging port on the frame) and integrated street-legal lighting
- App with extra functions (custom assistance levels, ride statistics, firmware updates)
Premium
- Electronic anti-theft protection as standard: GPS tracking, alarm or electronic motor/wheel lock
- Torque sensor, frequently with adaptive/automatic assistance control
- Belt drive or automatic/hub gearing (low maintenance)
- Full integration of battery, cables and street-legal lighting into the frame design
- App with OTA firmware updates and service/anti-theft functions
Above-class bonus features
- Equipment clearly above class expectation (e.g. torque sensor or hydraulic brakes in budget, belt drive or mid-motor in mid-range)+5
- GPS tracking/alarm as standard without subscription below the premium class+4
- Service network in the EU beyond mail-in support (partner workshops, mobile service, pick-up/delivery) or a public spare-parts commitment of approx. 5 years or more+4
- All core functions usable without app/cloud account (local operation, no forced registration)+3
- Battery of approx. 600 Wh or more, or factory dual-battery/range-extender option+3
- Original replacement battery orderable through EU channels, with price publicly listed+3
- Battery with declared brand cells (e.g. Samsung/LG/Panasonic) or a published safety certification beyond the legal minimum (e.g. UL 2849, EN 50604-1)+3
- Permitted total weight of approx. 150 kg or more and/or official trailer approval+3
- Weight below approx. 20 kg including battery (city/folding)+3
- Wear parts in standard sizes (brake pads, tyres/tubes, chain/sprockets) available from EU retailers+2
- Brand tyres with puncture protection as standard (e.g. Schwalbe/CST with protective layer)+2
- Full charge in under approx. 3.5 hours or fast charger available+2
- Full suspension or suspension seatpost beyond the class expectation+2
Negative characteristics
- Safety recall/Safety Gate warning (e.g. battery fire risk) without transparent handling-8
- Manufacturer/dealer advertises easy derestriction or an 'off-road mode' above 25 km/h for the EU version-6
- Repeatedly documented severe quality defects (frame cracks, controller/display failures, rust out of the box)-6
- Support repeatedly documented as unreachable in practice, or warranty handling only via China with weeks of waiting-5
- Core functions only usable with a mandatory account via a non-EU cloud (bike cannot be unlocked or ridden with assistance without account/server connection), with no GDPR statement or EU server option declared-5
- Spare parts effectively only via direct shipping from China with documented delivery times of approx. 1–2 months-4
- Subscription required for core functions (e.g. GPS anti-theft or assistance modes only with subscription)-4
- Proprietary wear/attachment parts with no standard alternative on the open market (special-size brake pads, proprietary charger, proprietary display) at documented inflated prices (publicly listed part price clearly above comparable standard parts)-3