Engwe, a popular maker of several different styles of electric bicycles, has just launched what appears to be its boldest and most powerful electric two-wheeler yet, the M20 3.0.
Previous versions of the M20 that I tested were already running up against, and sometimes just over, the contentious boundary between electric bicycles and light electric motorcycles. And make no mistake now, the new M20 3.0 blows past that line entirely. This is no longer an electric bicycle… It’s a powerful light electric moped with a top speed that will thrill some and worry others.
The Engwe M20 3.0 features a full suspension design with a dual-crown suspension fork and direct-linkage rear suspension. With a 3,300W peak-rated rear hub motor promising 120 Nm of torque, it looks like it can climb just about any hill… and quickly.
The high voltage 60V system is powered by either a single or dual 60V 20Ah (1.2 kWh) batteries, giving a claimed 90 or 180 miles (145 or 290 km) of range, depending on the selected battery option. And the inclusion of an 8A high-power charger lets the company claim a recharge time of just 2.5 to 3 hours.
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But the real cherry on top for speed demons will be the 40 mph (64 km/h) top speed, which is apparently only available in the fully-unlocked off-road mode, which is to say, will be fully available once 95% of new owners unlock it.
Despite a few marketing images doing some heavy lifting by showing the bike being ridden in the dirt, the street tires betray that this is obviously an asphalt-focused ride, and a new addition to the growing market of what are becoming known as e-motos, or light electric motorcycles. When they sometimes wear bicycle-style pedals, as the Engwe M20 3.0 does, they can conceivably be considered mopeds as well, though much debate still swirls around that classification, too.
But no matter what you call it, the point is clear: This is a powerful electric two-wheeler designed with enough motor and torque to handle higher speeds and stronger hill climbs.
Engwe throws several other nice features at us as well, from the 3.5″ color TFT display to the proximity unlocking from the user’s phone as they approach the bike, plus an integrated lighting kit including turn signals, and a horn for added measure.
On the hardware side, 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes on 203mm rotors give a prayer of stopping the fast and heavy bike (102 lb or 46 kg for the single battery variant), and there’s even a dual-length seat that allows riders to bring a friend along for the ride, though the swingarm-mounted pillion pegs mean that second rider would be well-advised to stay light in the knees.
The bike includes 20×4.0-inch tires, though it touts enough clearance in the rear to upgrade to a 5.0-inch tire.
As impressive as the specs are, the real kicker here is the pricing. The single battery version comes in at just US $1,399, while the dual battery version is just $1,699, which is arguably even higher value considering it packs in an extra 1,200 Wh (many e-bike companies sell a single 500 Wh battery for $400).
At that pricing, we’re looking at budget electric bicycle costs, but with e-moto performance.
Electrek’s Take
Look, I’m an e-bike guy, through and through. And I’m talking all e-bikes, from my silly little contraptions to my 60 mph electric scooters for the city, to my electric motorcycles that hit that 60 mph figure in just 3 seconds and then keep going. If it’s got two wheels and a motor, I’m interested. But it’s also critically important to understand that not all e-bikes are electric bicycles. The term e-bike gets thrown around a lot (motorcycle media refers to highway-capable electric motorcycles as ‘e-bikes’, for example), and the Engwe M20 3.0 looks like an impressive bike, but it’s not a street-legal electric bicycle, at least not when unlocked into its 40 mph mode.
So let’s call a spade a spade and recognize that while this thing kind of, sort of looks like an electric bicycle due to its pedals, that it’s really an e-moto and should be treated as such. That means that this isn’t the bike to buy for your 14-year-old kid. But it would be a great bike for someone old enough and responsible enough to use it correctly, and to use it legally where it is allowed. Some states might not allow it all, depending on their registration requirements. In others, it would probably be classed as a moped or a motorcycle. Verifying that based on your state is critical.
But ultimately, I’m here to appreciate the machines as much as I am to advocate for the space. And bikes like these divide me on that front. I love everything about it, but also hate knowing that some snot-nosed kids are going to potentially hurt someone or themselves by doing something stupid on this, and potentially draw further scrutiny on the perfectly legal, good-doing electric bicycles already out there helping people get around every day.
So let’s appreciate how awesome this bike is, but also accept that it needs to be used in its element. There’s a time and a place for machines like this, and that’s the take-home message.
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