ECOTRIC electric bike review
Founded in 2017, ECOTRIC is a US-based company specializing in the production and sale of electric bikes. Their self-professed aim is to provide “intelligent urban transportation solutions” to the world. We wanted to check how they were doing by reviewing the ECOTRIC Fat Tire 26” electric bike.
For starters, it’s definitely an affordable e-bike. It costs around $900 USD (£644 / 740€). And the fat tyres really do excite us - it’s a feature that’s usually saved for the more expensive e-bikes.
ECOTRIC advertise this bike for beach and snow riding so it can handle itself in all terrains. The fat tyres add extra grip that can come in handy in various situations.
Other than fat tyres, the ECOTRIC 26” has a decent max speed, it has pedal assist and throttle riding modes, and a 7-speed gear system.
Let’s see if it’s the cheap electric bike for you.
Introducing the ECOTRIC 500 W e-bike with fat tyres
- Motor
500W brushless gear motor - Battery
36V/12AH Lithium-ion - Distance
25 km (15 miles) - without pedaling - Recharge Time
5-8 hours - Speed
32 kph (20 mph) - Load Capacity
120 kg (265 lb) - Weight
28 kg (58 lb) - Tyres
66 cm x 10 cm (26” x 4”) - Pedal assist settings
5 -
Extras
- Removable battery (has lock)
- Throttle mode
- Smart LCD display
- 7-speed gear system
- Pros
- Fat tyres
- LCD display
- Affordable
- Cons
- The height of the handlebar is not adjustable
- No added suspension
- No lights included
Design
The aluminium alloy frame is both strong and lightweight, though as a package the bike isn’t light. It weighs a total of 28 kg (58 lb). So you don’t want to be lugging it around. It may not fit in your car trunk but it will fit on the average car bike rack no problem.
* see also our review on the ENGWE EP-2 500W fat tyre electric bike that’s foldable
The ECOTRIC Fat tire e-bike has decent, brand-name parts including the Shimano drivetrain and Tektro brakes. While these and many other parts are from well-established manufacturers, they aren’t top of the line. But what can we expect from a budget electric bike?
The fat tyres are the stand-out part of the ECOTRIC fat tire e-bike - hence why they’re mentioned in its name. With dimensions of 66 cm x 10 cm (26” x 4”), these fat tyres can handle rocky terrain, as well as sand and snow.
Speed, Distance, and Battery
This ECOTRIC e-bike has a 500 W motor, which means the bike can overcome most uphill climbs on throttle power alone. Though don’t expect to be riding at the bike’s max speed.
Without pedaling, this e-bike’s max speed sits at 32 kph (20 mph). Add to this 5 pedal assist levels, and the bike can handle most rider preferences.
It functions well both as a fully electric vehicle and a hybrid manual-electric bike. If you need that extra push to get over rough terrain or steep inclines then the Ecotric fat tire 26” has you covered.
Using only the motor, the 36 V lithium-ion battery has a range of 25 km (15 miles). This is something we’d actually like to see updated to go further. Though it’s not bad, and actually better than the ANCHEER 250W/500W battery.
The upside is that the battery is removable, so you can bring a spare if you’re planning on an all-day adventure. The battery is attached to the bike using a key lock.
The Brake System
The brake system is simple. Tektro branded disk brakes are mounted on the front and rear wheels. The traditional brake levers are on the handlebars - left for the rear wheel, right for the front.
The brakes are fully replaceable if they become worn.
Certification and Safety
General safety checks are encouraged and included in the ECOTRIC user manual. They include general bike maintenance as well as proper use of the battery and electrical components.
The ECOTRIC fat tire 26” comes with an 18-month warranty. And ECOTRIC are so confident in their product that they’ve included a free 30 day trial for purchases made in the US.
Riding Experience
Though this ECOTRIC e-bike isn’t classed as a mountain bike, there’s no hill it can’t climb. This is where the pedal assist function thrives. As the rider pedals the motor kicks in to give that extra bit of power. And while the ECOTRIC can climb many hills in throttle-only mode, don’t expect to be racing up hills - it’s slow and steady, but it can make it.
Also, the bike has a 7-speed gear system to adapt to the terrain or hill gradient. This, as well as the motor, reduce leg strain for people looking for lighter riding. The e-bike also works without power as a manual bike, so if the battery dies, you can still get home.
The 5 pedal-assist modes are aptly named walking, eco, standard, power, speed - ‘walking’ being the least power assist and ‘speed’ being the most.
A potential downside to this ECOTRIC e-bike is that there is no added suspension. We say ‘added’ because the fat tyres do provide some suspension. Follow the user manual instructions for the appropriate tyre pressure.
Final Thoughts
The combination of good branded parts, a solid frame, and big fat tyres make the ECOTRIC 500 W good for the price.
It’s built similarly to other e-bikes in its price range and definitely fulfills what most people are looking for in a cheap electric bike. The clear standout features are those fat tyres and the price.
For its price range and quality level, we give the ECOTRIC fat tire electric bike a rating of .
If you’re looking for the best electric bike and money is no option, we don’t recommend the ECOTRIC fat tire 26”. But if you want a more affordable e-bike with fat tyres, we definitely recommend this one.
Related info:
- ECOTRIC fat tire electric bike User Manual
If you’re willing to spend a little more, check out other electric bike reviews we have. If you’d prefer something cheaper, take a look at our electric scooters, hoverboards and skateboards.
