Volt London
An award-winning e-bike that majors in practicality for the urban environment
As society slowly moves towards a greener future, e-bikes are playing an important role in changing how we travel locally. To get people out of cars and onto two wheels, bicycle manufacturers need to offer practical solutions, which is precisely what Volt has achieved with its London e-bike. The company’s efforts have been internationally recognised too, with the London having won the Red Dot 2022 Bicycle Design award.
So what makes an award-winning bike? In the case of the London, it starts with a simple but classic double-diamond frame built from lightweight aluminium tubing. The frame’s oversized down tube then houses a 504Wh Panasonic battery while leaving it easily removable for charging. The motor to which it’s connected is a 250W Bafang hub unit built into the back wheel. The wheels themselves are 27.5 inches in diameter and wear large-volume Schwalbe G-one tyres that provide both grip and comfort.
The London is aimed squarely at city riding, so Volt has made the bike single-speed, and the electric assist should be more than enough to make riding relatively easy as long as you don’t tackle anywhere too hilly. Doing away with the extra parts required for gears makes the bike as simple as possible to use and maintain, and also keeps the cost down. And if you do locate some hills and need to control your speed on the way down, you’ll discover that Volt hasn’t scrimped on the powerful hydraulic disc brakes.
The practicality of the London, and perhaps what helped it to win the Red Dot award, is the inclusion of extras such as a framemount lock for the rear wheel, full-length mudguards, suspension seatpost, integrated lights and a handy front rack. There’s the further option to add a rear carrier and a set of panniers for even more storage.
Also counting in the bike’s favour is its comparatively accessible price. Of course, using a cheaper hub motor and single-speed drivetrain helps here, but each is a solid choice in its own right given the bike’s design and intended applications. And it doesn’t hurt that the whole ensemble looks good too.
▶ £2,199
▶ voltbikes.co.uk