A 20-inch electric bicycle is gradually gaining popularity among Americans as convenient riding. Most Americans think about alternative vehicles for short travel due to heavy car maintenance expenses. Another reason is inflation, which creates more costs than benefits to owning a car.
However, other reasons exist besides household expenditure or car maintenance costs to move toward e-bikes. A 20-inch folding e-bike is the best fit for those families who love comfort, climbing mountains, family shopping, or visiting social events within a short distance.
Whatever the reason, I know you are reading this article for details about the 20-inch folding e-bike. Therefore, the prime objective of writing this article is to give you detailed insight so you can make a financially worthwhile decision regarding a folding e-bike.
Are you ready for 3 minutes of reading? If yes, then let’s start with the following.
Key takeaways
- A 20-inch folding e-bike could be better for commuting if you want portability, good battery range, and weatherproofing features.
- 20 folding e-bikes are a budget-friendly option for middle-class Americans looking for short riding.
- A folding e-bike could perfectly match a “last mile” commute, such as a bus or train station to your home or office.
- E-bikes depreciate slower than traditional cars.
What is a 20-inch folding e-bike?
A 20-inch folding electric bike is a compact and multipurpose 20-inch wheels e-bike designed for convenient riding.
You don’t need to peddle 20 folding e-bikes because it has a motor & battery that assist with peddling. It could be the best riding option for those looking for easy storage & portability.
You may be a car owner & want to know how an e-bike is financially worth more than a traditional car. Let’s understand it from the following question.
E-bike vs car
Noah lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. He loves to ride in urban environments & wants to enjoy Utah’s beautiful scenery of hilly terrain. Noah estimates a round trip to be 43.4 minutes, equivalent to 14.4 miles per day. As a Utahn, he wants to ride 5 days per week. Other data are the following.
- Car fuel efficiency miles per gallon= $35
- Average fuel cost= $3.80
- Initial cost of car= $20,000 (minimum)
- Maintenance cost per year=$1,000
- Insurance per year= $1,347
- Parking cost per month for a new car=$3,00
- Annual cost of Car in Utah
Yearly miles =14.4 miles per day×5 days per week×52 weeks in 1 year=3,744 miles/year
Required Gallons=3,744 miles/year ÷35 miles per gallon
=106.97 ≈ 107 gallons
Fuel cost=107 gallons×$3.80 per gallon=$406.6
Parking cost=$300 per month×12 months=$3600
Total = Fuel cost + Parking + Maintenance + Insurance
= $406.6 + $3600 + $1,000 + $1,347 + $20,000
=$6,353.6
Cost after 5 years= $6,353.6×5 + Initial cost of car
=$31,768 + $20,000
=$51,768
- Annual E-Bike Costs
- E-bike electricity cost per kWh=$0.11
- Initial cost of e-bike=$2,000 (high features, mid-range)
- Maintenance cost per year= $200 (maximum)
- Insurance per year=0 (not required in Utah. Often covered under home or renter insurance)
- Parking cost per month=0 (depends on your storage space but if occur that are very low amount.
- Cover 30 miles in single charge (500Wh battery)
Full charges needed=3,744 miles/year ÷30 miles/charge
=124.8 ≈ 125 charges
Electricity cost per charge=0.36 kWh×$0.11 per kWh=$0.0396
Annual electricity cost=125 charges×$0.0396 cost per charge=$4.95
Total = Annual electricity cost+ Parking + Maintenance + Insurance
=$4.95 + 0 + $2,00 + 0
=$204.95
Cost after 5 years= $204.95×5 + Initial cost of car
=$31,768 + $2,000
=$33,768
Car’s 5 years Cost > E-bike’s 5 years cost; So; Noah can save=$51,768 – $33,768= $18,000
- Decisions
A 20-inch folding e-bike seems financially worthy for Noah. He can save $18,000 in 5 years. Another factor is that cars depreciate faster than e-bikes. If we consider battery life, it lasts 3 to 5 years, i.e., slower depreciation & less financial burden.
You can take your favorite cookie now because you are in the middle position to buy a 20-inch electric bicycle. An impartial financial mind leads us to logical thinking, essential in purchase decisions. Have you made an e-bike buying decision, or don’t you clearly understand how a folding e-bike fits your riding needs?
Whatever your confusion, the following questions give some clear insight to judge whether you should buy it.
Should you buy 20 folding e-bikes?
It depends on individual riding preference. Why? A single family could pick one from a car or e-bike, but a more prominent family needs more options. If you are a father or mother of a large family & looking for an accessible, storable riding vehicle, then an e-bike could be a good choice besides a car.
A 20-inch electric bicycle is an excellent riding option for short distances & it would not be financially worthwhile to buy a 20-inch folding e-bike for long distances.
Making a buying decision sometimes needs precise facts & you may feel bored with my lengthy explanation.
Don’t feel bothered. The table below gives details on where an e-bike is best fit.
| S. N | Usable field of 20 folding e-bike |
| 1 | Family riding |
| 2 | Shopping |
| 3 | Leisure Rides |
| 4 | home to office |
| 5 | College or university ride |
| 6 | Any type of short travel |
Now I will ask you one question: have you decided to buy an e-bike? You are in an ambivalent situation & need more explanation for purchasing decisions. Am I right?
E-bike features
The 20-inch folding e-bike has many features that could best fit employees, students, and even business people.
The table provides some essential features of folding e-bikes that help you make buying decisions.
| Features (20-inch folding e bike) | Considerate factors |
| Monetary Benefits | Huge savings from gas, parking, maintenance cost.You can save from public transportation fares. Most of the U.S states offers some type of tax incentives to buy e-bike. |
| Price | $500 to $25,00 [ depends on features) |
| Battery Life | 2-4 years [depends on price] |
| Gears for varying terrain | More gears mean control riding on hills or flat type of terrain. If you are mountain climber, you can consider more gears feature. However, more gears lead to higher cost. Therefore, first judge your necessity then make decision to buy gears. |
| Maintenance cost | Car maintenance cost is a financial burden for middle class American. But e-bikes could save you from huge maintenance & energy cost. Comparatively, an e-bike cost low maintenance and energy costs compared to cars. |
| Battery Range | 20-50 miles per charge [depends on price] |
| Motor Power | 250W to 750W [depends on price] |
| Folding facility | E-bikes are easily foldable & takes minimum storage. If you wish you can fold it in apartments, cars, even in public transportation. |
| Weight | 40 to 60 pounds (Consider lighter models for easier carrying) |
| Warranty & Support | 1-2 years |
| States or local regulation | Yes (Riding & speed limit) |
| Aluminum vs weighted Frame Material | You could choose aluminum frame for lighter weight that cost low. If you are looking for durability, then pick stronger or weighted frame that cost more than aluminum. |
| Portable tire size | Pick wider tires if you are looking for stability. If you enjoy faster ride, then pick narrower. |
| Disc vs Rim Brakes | Rim brakes are comparatively less expensive than Disc. However, Disc brakes are better for stopping power than Rim. So, before picking anyone, first judge your need. |
| Lights | Lights could be a safety tools during night or dark environment. It works like torch light of car that helps to visible road. Usually higher prices e-bike included this feature. If you are in tight budget, then you have to buy it separately. |
| Fenders wet weather | E-bike riding also affected by wet condition like car drive. Therefore, you should buy e-bike with fenders features. If you don’t encounter wet weather or face less, then you can avoid it. Top performing e-bike usually include such features but for low featured e-bike, you have to buy it. |
Concluding Thought
A 20-inch electric bicycle could be a better portability, affordability, and functionality option. You can start with a basic featured e-bike & then add extra features as you wish.
As a financial expert, I advise buying a mid-range 20-inch folding e-bike. The mid-range e-bike is budget-friendly with comfort features.
However, I can’t read your necessity & it is impossible to say which one best fits you. My final suggestion would be to consider an essential to mid-range e-bike if you are from a single family. For a large family, you can buy one mid-range & another top features.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
American e-bike companies?
There are many e-bike companies in America, like Aventon and Juiced. However, I am writing this article to promote a friendly folding e-bike.
In the table below, I have mentioned better 20-inch electric bicycles according to the budget.
| Name | Price (range) | Features |
| Rad Power Bikes | $1,000 – $2,500 | Available passenger seat.Good cover range in charge.Very powerful motors. |
| Lectric XP | $700 – $1,500 | Good for adult riders.Simple & foldable design.Good motor power with decent battery range.You could add extra accessories for children. |
| Blix | $1,499 – $2,099 | 250 W motor36V 10Ah capacity battery with 30 to 40 miles distance cover range. Aluminum frame.LCD display screen.Front and back LED lights. |
| Addmotor | $1,000 – $2,000 | Motor range 250W to 750W.Aluminum frameLCD display screen. |
Disclaimer
This is not a Sponsored post & the purpose of this article is only education. By reading this, you agree that the information of this blog article is not crypto investing advice. Do your own research before making any financial decision. Therefore, if you lost any money, FinanceIdeas.org will not be liable for this.
