I tried a British e-bike with unique twist and it packs plenty of surprises

I was never convinced by the concept of electric bikes. They always seemed like a massive cheat and totally pointless if you are actually trying to get some all-important exercise and that heart racing. However, having recently taken the plunge and tested numerous e-bikes, I’m fully converted to this battery-powered way of getting from A to B. Most now offer a supremely comfortable ride, along with supplying a little bit of help when the road conditions get tough.

That not only makes a long ride through the countryside feel a lot less daunting but also means you can commute to work and not arrive needing a shower and change of clothes.

The only issue with buying a standard e-bike can be the size. If you don’t have acres of space to store your bicycle overnight, you need to pop it in the back of a car or take it on the train each day, it can be a massive pain.

That’s where folding frames come into their own, and I’ve been testing a new model made by the British team at Volt.

Their latest Volt Lite brings all the joys of going electric whilst offering a design that folds in half like origami.

Having ridden this machine around the streets of London – and taken it on much longer treks along more scenic routes – the one thing that has impressed – and surprised – me is how great it is to ride.

Other than a lack of springy suspension, it really does feel like a normal, solid-framed bicycle. I was comfortably able to head out on 10-mile road trips without feeling like the bike couldn’t cope.

Volt must be commended for the build quality of Volt Lite, you get total confidence when out on the road and I often forget I was even riding a folding bike.

There are Shimano Nexus 3-speed hub gears that are adjusted via a twist of the handlebar grip, a Bafang M820 central crank motor supplies the extra energy, and there’s a small screen which shows speed, power and how much battery is left in the tank.

Simple controls also let you adjust the amount of help you want from the battery, or you can turn off the extra power completely.

It’s a nice feature of Volt bikes, as you always have to pedal. There’s no throttle, and they don’t move without your own effort.

This means you’ll get a decent workout – my heart rate was always over 100bpm whilst riding the Volt Lite – but should you come across a horrible hill or tougher terrain, there’s a gentle boost to help keep the wheels turning.

Other notable features on the Volt Lite include built-in lights and mudguards to prevent your white office shirt from getting covered in muck.

To help cut down on maintenance, there are also 20-inch Schwalbe puncture-resistant tyres and a carbon belt so you don’t need to worry about mucky oil all over your smart trousers.

Battery life is also impressive, with it offering around 50 miles of range before needing a refill. The battery, which is tucked inside the seat pole, can also be removed to make charging more simple.

It might be better if Volt follows rival firm Ampler and switches to refilling via standard USB-C in the future, as, right now, you have to carry a dedicated – and pretty hefty – charger in your bag.

The Volt Lite is a real head turner with a design that stands out from the crowd. Considering this is a commuter-style bike, it offers a supremely comfortable ride that makes it ideal for a quick trip to the office or a longer jaunt in the countryside.

It’s a solid option but, sadly, there are some niggles.

Firstly, it will set you back a whopping £2,899. There is a deal currently available (at the time of writing) which drops that to £2,599 using the code KICKSTART but even with that discount applied this is an expensive purchase.

I also found that folding it up takes a bit of patience. You need to do everything in the correct order, or you end up in a bit of muddle. Once you get the hang of it, collapsing things down takes a matter of seconds, but it’s more fiddly than I was expecting.

Finally, and probably my biggest gripe with the Lite is that its name doesn’t match its weight. At 18kg, it is very heavy, and that mass doesn’t make it easy to lug up stairs at train stations or get it up to your first-floor flat.

If I had a choice, I’d probably stick to an e-bike like the brilliant Volt Alpine, as it’s not only a bit cheaper but also offers extras such as full suspension and a longer range.

That said, if you really want an e-bike that takes up less space when not in use, I’ve been impressed by the Lite. It’s fun to ride, provides some peddle power when needed, and feels robust enough to cope with city life or a longer trek out of town.

Switching to a foldable bike involves definite compromises, but it is well worth a look if you are fed up with being crammed on the Tube every day and fancy a more fun journey to the office.