Whether on the river bank, through forests and meadows or up the mountain – e-bikes have become a popular mode of transport. The choice of models and manufacturers is accordingly large. Stiftung Warentest has carefully examined several products for testing published in 2024 and provides guidance.
Trekking pedelecs were tested by Stiftung Warentest
Eleven hiking trails were examined. Eight of the bikes tested are mid-engined, and three select models are equipped with rear-wheel drive. The trekking pedelecs have been extensively tested to evaluate their performance and safety. First, two experts tested the driving stability of the e-bikes, with and without luggage. They performed various driving maneuvers to analyze the behavior of the wheels, including evasive maneuvers.
In addition, the charging time of the batteries was determined and converted to an average charging time to evaluate the efficiency. The operating instructions and handling of batteries and chargers were also subject to the quality assessment. Another important aspect of the test is the braking performance and visibility of the bikes, especially when riding at night. Tests were also carried out on the breaking strength of the saddle and seat post as well as tests for harmful substances.
Pedelecs Trekking at Stiftung Warentest – the test winners
It received an e-bike grade “Good” in the 2024 test. At the top with an overall grade of 1.8 are “Kalkhoff Endeavor 5 Advance +” and the “KTM Macina Gran 610”. According to the test report, the cheapest Pedelec among those rated “Good” is the “Cube Kathmandu Hybrid One 625”. He is ranked third in the test with an overall grade of 2.0; according to Stiftung Warentest, the average retail price (as of March 22, 2024) is 3,150 euros.