Only two are good: ADAC is testing pedelecs for beginners

Two pedelecs under 2000 euros are “good”: this is what ADAC found after testing a total of ten affordable e-bikes. Most of the test bikes are “satisfactory”, only two received a “poor” grade in the test.

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Both test winners received a grade of 2.5. These are the Deruise Quartz for 1400 euros and the Fischer Cita 2.2i for 1950 euros. The Deruise bike impressed ADAC with its powerful brakes and 73 kilometer range. Among the affordable pedelecs, the Fischer bike was the only candidate with a mid-engine, which, according to ADAC, contributes to pleasant ride characteristics. However, the automobile association would have liked a little more support at the highest level.

The off-road e-scooter Slidefox NT has scored high marks in tests with its appearance, motor and range

The two pedelecs from Grundig and Mokwheel performed quite poorly in the ADAC, both receiving a grade of 5.0. This is due to the discovery of the plasticizer DEHP, which was found in the handle of the Mokwheel Mesa Lite ST 2.0 and the saddle of the Grundig E-Citybike 28. With the ADAC rating system, this automatically means a school grade of 5 in the overall ranking.

Not cutting edge technology

Overall, ADAC says that no top technology can be expected from a cheap entry-level pedelec under 2000 euros. Still, buyers should be allowed to set expectations for drive, braking and battery performance, ADAC writes in a statement. However, many of the bikes tested only have pedal sensors, which, unlike torque sensors, do not allow for sensitive motor control. In addition, the motors are often loud and keep running even after you stop pedaling.

In many cases, the bike’s running time did not come close to the manufacturer’s promises, and the charging time of some models was also negative. What was surprising in the test was the weight limits of the pedelecs: Crivit was the lightest with 21 kg, the heaviest bike came from Fisher and weighed 29 kg. Depending on your body weight, this may be relevant for the permissible total weight.

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