Work mate who isn’t into bikes is looking to ditch his car and go ebike. I’ll order it through our cycle to work scheme he is looking to spend around 2k
And I’ve recommended he goes for a hybrid but I’ve no clue about ebikes so looking for some recomendations please.
Hi commute is all down hill to work only about 2 km but the return has a very steep hill so something that will power him up that. Cheers in advance.

Any ebike will get him up the hills but finding one for £2k might be the problem. You’re right that a hybrid might be the ideal bike for him though.

2k? What about a powerful e-scooter?

2k? What about a powerful e-scooter?

What about a powerful scooter

Go thru localish dealers with an ebike track record if poss (warranty), You MUST use dealer for 2 yr motor warranty.

Don’t go shimano motor (*not being rebuilt by 3rd party specialists)
Bosch motor – lots around, known, mainly rebuildable (* out of warranty),
FYI – https://www.ebikemotorcentre.com/. 3rd partyrebuild specialist, good reputation and has been known to give good, practical advice over the phone. Other motors are available , I like brose [specialized]
*bosch do several motors, with some being more powerful/sporty.
A test ride might help as they are heavy – say 25kg for a commuter.

Try Google – Bosch ebike 400
Or. Bosch ebike 500
Or. Cube trapeze ebike ( I was looking for mrs plenty of other brands)

400 is battery size, 400 is about as small as they come so lighter, cheaper, less range. **caution, range is about as easy to calculate as brexit was but I’d hope that using full power all the time you’d get at least 20 miles out of it, so 2k sounds doable………

E.g https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Cannondale/Adventure-Neo-4-Electric-Hybrid-Bike-2021/TA44?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&co=GBR&cu=GBP&glCountry=GB&id=1366136&ds_eid=700000001845766&ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=UK_EN_Profit_Google_Shopping_All+Users_Smart_Bikes%26Frames&ds_cid=71700000088556548&ds_ag=Ad+group&ds_agid=58700007489216342&ds_k=PRODUCT_GROUP&ds_kid=92700070282317762&ds_kids=p70282317762&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxZvB5rHt9wIVDtTtCh18fQ4VEAYYBiABEgKVkvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Good luck

Sorry the cannondale has the lower end active line engine (250% assist), the more powerful performance line engine is 300% assist, so would maybe be better on a really steep hill.

https://velorution.com/journal/a-guide-to-2022-bosch-e-bike-motors-batteries-and-displays/

I’d get a flat bar commuter with widish tyres, mudguards and pannier rack.
Decathlon or Halfords would be where I’d look.

Bit over your budget but I’m contemplating a Cannondale Tesoro, from Evans – £2.5k, flat bar hybrid, comes with lights, racks and mudguards. 🙂

https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/cannondale/tesoro-neo-sl-eq-711398

Doesn’t look too e-bikey, so hopefully less of a scrote magnet.

honestly, if he is 2km from home is a 2k ebike even worth a consideration? cheap 500 quid bike, roll to work, push back until fitness gets better
Unless, he palns to use it elsewhere? that might dictate the style of bike
however, do some shopping around there are some nice gravel e bikes not far off that budget

Honestly don’t get me started I’ve been at him for ages to ditch the car as it’s just total laziness. It takes him longer to defrost it in the winter than it does to drive down. So if an e bike is finally going to change his mind attitude then its a start just hoping it works. I’ve looked at the ribble just concerned as some of the hub motors struggle on the 10% climb ?
Cheers for all the replies

I’d be interested in if there is definitive answer to this question. Not for me, but for colleagues that ask the question of ‘the bike guy’. My place of work has C2W and have recently gone from unlimited to a £2K limit. I think cash flow might be the issue as imposing a limit seems daft otherwise – employers save money with nice big c2w contributions. I’m a firm believer in ebikes being a great commute bike choice for most unless very close to work or fit and like dressing up for the occasion (and stinking or showering). Pedalling to work in your work clothes and getting there without a sweat on is bike commute nirvana.

But……£2K for a new ebike cuts out the vast majority of what’s on offer. A £2K hybrid style ebike with a rack and guards, which is not a bso with a crap motor and battery strapped to it is what’s needed.

If he gets an ebike, he might decide he like riding it and make more journeys by bike 🙂
What about – https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Boardman-HYB-8-9E-2022-Electric-Hybrid-Bike_246571.htm

Scooters/Mopeds are much better value – just shows what a ripoff mountain bikes are these days

https://kit.honestjohn.co.uk/top-tens/top-ten-best-scooters-under-2-000/

Ok, so ive literally just got the boardman adv 8.9 which is the drop bar version with a sram drivetrain, Tredz had it heavily discounted, must have been a customer return with 300km on it
I’ve ridden it to work today for the first time, 9.5 miles, 3 pretty decent hills which normally get me chuffing on my hybrid/gravel
the asistance is more than enough for me, i still got hot and sweaty, but i got here quicker.. and honestly the hills were a breeze
the Fazua system was what i wanted, lightweight, removeable..
Id rather have had the shimano drivetrain that the hybrid comes with

Vitus also do the Fazua based bikes, but the e substance was sold outwhen i checked, they have a hybrid style version
And Orbea do a real nice looking hybrid i think for around that price

Oh, don’t be tempted by one of the Halfords Carrera impel eBikes. My mum has been after one for ages and they keep getting recalled. Manufacturers having issues, so could be a while turning up.

Scooters/Mopeds are much better value – just shows what a ripoff mountain bikes are these days

Pretty sure not available on cycle to work schemes.

I’ve looked at the ribble just concerned as some of the hub motors struggle on the 10% climb ?

The reason I’m looking at the Cannondale is because of Ribble supply issues – if Ribble don’t have what he wants in stock, treat any lead times with big handfuls of salt, logistics at the minute are a genuine nightmare for them (as, I think, for much of the industry). Ordered June last year, cancelled last week as it still hasn’t turned up.

just shows what a ripoff mountain bikes are these days

I take it you mean as in Emtb’s. and in that dont get me started 😡

Mine is £5K, and ive bits to fit bringing the total closer to £7K.

What in the outside world is available for 7 thousand pounds, compared to an ebike is bloody remarkable. Not just a motorbike, which has many other moving parts- engine, etc but for example a big engineering milling machine. Type of thing weighs 600kg cnc controlled, thousands of precision parts, and designed for industrial use. Compared to an Emtb i just cannot fathom the disparity

My mate has just bought the full suss decathlon one, £3600 and it’s ace.

Pretty sure not available on cycle to work schemes.

…and you cant really buy an ebike for £2k either

You can buy a moped for £700 that will be better in every way than the ebike for commuting

You can buy a moped for £700 that will be better in every way than the ebike for commuting

Might be better for you. I’d rather commute on a normal bike, but an ebike would come way above a moped any day.

I’ve got a cube ebike for bike to work and generally touring about it cost me just under £2.5k 2 years ago and has been excellent.

Plenty of ebikes that are good available at under2000