The Volt Axis: a funky-looking electric bike

The results of Volt's collaborative efforts with components maker Shimano are bearing fruit in the form of this funky-looking foldable electric bike, the Axis, says Richard Peace on Electric Bike Report.

At the heart of it is a Shimano E6000 crank drive motor, a "dependable, high-quality choice for city and leisure riders". You can shift gears electronically by pressing the up and down arrows on the handlebars, or switch to automatic changing mode, where the system will decide when to change for you.

But what it lacks in folding sophistication, the Axis makes up for with its 250w Shimano Steps battery and motor, says Rupert Radley in Cycling Weekly. "It's impressively slick, and I was pleasantly surprised that it took less than ten minutes of riding to work out exactly how the system works". In other good news, there is no shortage of torque when setting off from lights or at junctions, and the motor and battery were more powerful than the Brompton's, "pulling me clear of the line faster than most cars".

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Price: £3,099 fromvoltbikes.co.ukWeight: 16kg without batteries;18.65kg with batteryFrame: high-gradereinforced aluminiumFrame size: 20 inchesMax assisted motorspeed: 15.5mphPower: 36V standard 418WhDistance: 60+miles under Eco PAS modeCharge time: 3 to 4 hours

Sarah was MoneyWeek's investment editor. She graduated from the University of Southampton with a BA in English and History, before going on to complete a graduate diploma in law at the College of Law in Guildford. She joined MoneyWeek in 2014 and writes on funds, personal finance, pensions and property.