The Eco Lite is one of the first EVO series electric bikes to be introduced by Easy Motion in America. It resembles the older Easy Motion Neo Street in most ways including the use of 26″ wheels, fenders, rear rack, chain guard and lights but it uses a different battery configuration and interface. That’s the real benefit of the EVO line; while the batteries are still integrated into the downtube (and look great) they can now be charged on or off the bike. This means that if you park your bike inside and don’t need to take the pack off you’ll save time and perhaps wear by simply leaving it on when you charge. The only downside here is that the batteries are not interchangeable which could be a bummer if your family already owns a Neo.
The motor driving this bike in electric mode offers 350 watts of power and is mounted in the rear wheel. It’s relatively small and quiet which means you won’t attract a lot of unwanted attention. The diameter of the hub motor itself matches up quite well to the 7 speed cassette in the rear which really helps it blend in. With that said, you still get a solid performance here with good acceleration and climbing ability. The top speed of the bike in throttle only mode is 20 miles per hour but if you switch to the highest mode of pedal assist (Boost) and pedal actively it’s possible to hit ~25mph. This is a 27 speed bike and the shifters are easy to reach and use even though you’ve also got the half-grip twist throttle on the right and LCD display panel on the left.
The computer system that Easy Motion uses with their ebikes is one of my favorites and nothing has really been changed with the EVO series in terms of functionality. The display itself is still backlit for use at night and removable to prevent tampering and vandalism. Removing the display shuts off the bike so even if you leave your battery pack attached, nobody can really mess with it. To turn the bike on you press the middle button for a few seconds then use the up and down arrow buttons to change assist level. It’s that simple… In the lowest mode (zero mode) you can use the throttle only and as you ascend through Eco, Standard, Sport and Boost you get increasing support with pedal assist. The bike uses a torque sensor and is relatively smooth but does require a more active pedaling style vs. cadence sensing like the Pedego City Commuter.
The battery pack that powers the motor and display on this bike offers a solid 36 volts of power and 8.8 amp hours of capacity. It’s not the largest pack out there but the cells are high quality Lithium-ion chemistry from Samsung and they come with a two year warranty. I love how well the pack mates to the downtube, it blends in just like the hub motor and also keeps weight low and center for balance. The new ability to charge the pack on the bike is great but you can still unlock it and take it completely off for safe storage or moving the bike. Not everyone can bring their bike inside and the removability feature is ideal in this situation. The pack also includes an LED charge indicator so if you do have it off and aren’t sure how full it is you don’t have to carry it down to your bike to find out… just press a button and get a quick estimate. It’s worth noting that the front and rear LED lights on this ebike aren’t powered by the main battery pack and this is a good thing. They actually run off of a dynamo located in the front hub and use capacitors to stay lit even when the bike is stopped for a few moments. This is an important safety feature for if your main battery did run out – you will still be seen by cars when pedaling.
The EVO Eco Lite is a beautiful, well rounded electric bike. It’s not overly heavy at ~52lbs and is easy enough to pedal even in off-mode without electric assist. The ergo grips, riser (swept back) handle bars and comfort saddle feel good but the Lite version of the EVO Eco does not have a suspension post so keep that in mind if you travel on rough terrain frequently. With the option of using pedal assist or twist throttle this bike stays useful whether you’re feeling energized or just need something to get you there. It’s ideal for commuting and the step-thru frame design paired with the smaller 26″ wheels is very easy to mount. Even though the bike only comes in Medium, the seat post and handlebars can be adjusted to accommodate a wide range of riders and to me it felt pretty good (I’m 5’9″ at ~135 pounds).
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Alastair Campbell
9 years agoI wonder if you have a more current review of the Easy Motion Evo Eco Lite bike? The one on file is two years old and these Easy Motion bikes are upgraded quite a lot each year. I find you reviews very helpful and well reasoned. Thanks.
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoHi Alastair! Well timed comment, I just reviewed a handful of Easy Motion ebikes at the headquarters but have like 15 other reviews to do before I get to them… So many new ebikes from all of the companies. Keep an eye out and thank you for the request :)
ReplyAlastair Campbell
9 years agoThanks. One more question on the Evo Eco Lite bike. With pedal assist on the Eco Lite there are four modes of assist: Eco at 70%, Standard at 140%, Sport at 200% and Boost at at 300%. The other Easy Motion bikes I have demoed also have four pedal assist modes: 30%, 50%, 70% and 100%. What is going on here? I like and understand the 30 / 50 / 70 / 100% configuration but have no clue what is going on with the Lite bike percentage sequence. The higher percentages appear to draw down battery power quickly. Do they? Thanks so much. Alastair.
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoHi Alastair! I believe this is a case of different display version numbers and possibly even hardware. Easy Motion has used the same display interface for a long time but the panel itself has evolved over time. Some displays show different readouts and while I believe they are cross compatible, the newest versions have completely different plastic rectangular buttons vs. rubberized circles. Also, it may appear that the battery is being drained more quickly but I believe this is a result of having a smaller battery size on the Evo Eco Lite compared to many of the newer Evo models :)
ReplyTim G
8 years agoAfter researching the heck out of electric bikes for TWO YEARS (thanks to this site!), we narrowed our selection down to this one, as it’s the perfect blend of looks, modernity, weight, cost and reputable brand. Even found it on sale in Texas, at a wonderful shop who was willing to give free shipping after partially assembling the bike for us … fast, too!
However, after final assembly and charging the battery, all seemed to be going well UNTIL I turned on the LCD display. That’s when the Evo Eco Lite’s motor went immediately to full speed and the bike nearly took off (lucky I’m strong enough to lift it off the ground and hold it there), until I could figure out how to stop it — clicking “Up” to the lowest Assist Mode was the solution. But repeated tests of having the bike “Off” and turning it “On” while in “No Assist” Mode — or bumping down from least Assist to “No Assist” — even while not touching the throttle, repeatedly caused the same thing to happen: Motor going full tilt, bike out of control!
Ever seen this happen?? My “solution” (let’s hope it sticks cuz tomorrow is when my gf wants to test-ride the bike, having never seen it assembled) was to disconnect the electrical line between the throttle and motor (while LCD was “Off”) and then reconnect it. That seems to have eradicated the gremlins … for now.
I must emphasize that during these initial tests, the throttle was never touched, and checking it for position assured me that it was 100% in the ‘forward’ or ‘unsprung’ position, thus no motor activity ought to have occurred. Should it happen again, especially with my gf on it stopped at a stop light <> … it could be very dangerous. I’ve let the store know, and encouraged them to share my experience with BH Easy Motion, the manufacturer. If I learn more, of course I’ll share it here with you and any prospective buyers!
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Tim! Thanks for sharing your situation, I’m glad the shop was quick to ship but bummed that the throttle is sticking (or whatever the issue is). Please do let us know what the issue is if you’re able to resolve it, I’d love to know! Maybe someone else will also chime in if they’ve had a similar experience :(
ReplyTim G
8 years agoI hope my original comment included the fact that the issue appears to have been resolved immediately after I disconnected/reconnected the 3-wire electrical junction (it just unscrews by hand) between the throttle assembly and the rear hub. The shop (who responded quickly on Facebook) said this was a new one on them, too, but also suspect the wiring may be at fault, noting that it may have gotten jostled during shipping. Hey, anything’s possible!
Trust me, you (and they) will hear from me again if it recurs. Meanwhile, the shop is taking my report very seriously and has notified Easy Motion in my behalf. Keep up the great work, Court!
Krishna
8 years agoanyway to get rid of the speed limit ?
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoI’m not sure Krishna but you could poke around the Easy Motion forum and ask if anyone there has figured it out. There are some systems from Bosch that can have the speed limit changed but I believe it voids the warranty :)
ReplySanjo
7 years agoI bought this bike some years back after reading about it here and I still love it. I ride it every weekend. Electric bikes are so much fun! I feel like I am on vacation the minute I climb on. I convinced my husband to get the Genze ebike from Costco which I don’t love as much (the Easy Motion bike is better and priced accordingly) but I do love having ebike dates. I was hoping to rent ebikes for the week when we go to Kauai this summer but this is not an option. We are doing one excursion plus going to Waimea Canyon, but other than that I would have preferred to use an ebike to get around to the beaches and restaurants.
Replycourt
7 years agoWow! Sounds like you have a wonderful spirit and relationship Sanjo, I’m so happy for you :D my own Uncle described his ebike experiences (riding to work and a bit for fun on the weekends) as being like a vacation. You can see the interview we did here. It’s always nice to read the sort of fun and positive feedback you shared, so thanks, enjoy your trip to Hawaii!!
ReplySanjo
6 years agoI just came back to this site to check on a minor issue with my bike and saw that you responded to my comment months ago. Yes, we had a great time in Hawaii and ended up having a terrific time with some conventional bikes we rented. There is a beautiful path along the beach on the back side of the town of Kapaa. I watched the interview with your uncle just now and I completely agree with and can relate to everything he said. I use panniers and have picked up lots of groceries in addition to carrying my lock and pump and whatever else is appropriate for the journey. I feel the same enthusiasm even though I have been riding my bike for 4 years. I have not yet switched to commuting to work by bike (other than Bike to Work Day), but I am looking to start in the fall. I also watched your review of the Pedalist a while back and while I would love to try one of those, I think I may follow your uncle’s lead and just wear appropriate layers when the weather is bad. Anyway, thanks for doing what you do, informing about and advocating for electric bikes!