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EVELO is a Seattle based e-bike company that has been making e-bikes since 2012 and it shows. The quality of their e-bikes is outstanding and they have excellent customer service.
They have a number e-bikes and I’ve ridden the Omega and the Atlas. The Atlas holds a record for the longest contiguous e-bike ride when adventure cyclist Robert Fletcher and Wayne Grover completed an 8,400-mile transcontinental journey from Alaska to Panama. This speaks volumes about its durability and reliability for long-distance travel. I wanted to see what all of the fuss was about so I arranged a test ride at their Seattle warehouse (not something they normally do).
As we enter the Fall season, I start thinking about which e-bikes will make it to my Top 10 lists for the upcoming year. These lists change every year as new e-bikes are released or I come across hidden gems that I missed before. After taking the Atlas for a test ride last week, I believe I have found the perfect e-bike for commuting.
In this article, I will explain why I liked the Atlas and why I believe it will be my top choice for the best commuter e-bike in 2024.
Table of contents
Key e-bike details
Basics
- Base Price: $4,199
- Class: 3
- Max Speed: 28 mph
- Estimated Range: 25 to 60 miles
- Weight: 66.2 lbs
Motor & Electronics
- Motor: Bafang M600 600W, 1,200W Peak
- Torque: 120 Nm
- Motor location: Mid-drive
- Battery: 48V 15AH Samsung
- PAS Sensor: Torque & Cadence
- Throttle: Optional
- Display: Full Color IPS Display
Components
- Brakes: Zoom Hydraulic HB875E with cutoff switch
- Drivetrain: Gates CDX Drive with Enviolo Trekking CVT
- Belt Drive: Yes
- Tires: Schwalbe Moto X 27.5 x 2.8″
Misc
- Recommended Rider Height: 5’6″ – 6’3″
- Max Rider Weight: 350 lbs
- Payload Capacity: not given
What we like about it
- Impressive Acceleration: With 1,200 watts at peak and 120 newton meters of torque, the Atlas accelerates quickly and handles the hills with ease. This power makes it ideal for varied terrains.
- Optional Throttle: The throttle feature adds an extra layer of convenience, especially for those moments when you want to take it easy and let the bike do the heavy lifting.
- Crazy quiet motor: Similar to their Omega e-bike, the motor is almost silent, I have never ridden other e-bikes with motors this quiet.
- Good quality components: Equipped with a mid-drive power motor system, Gates carbon belt drive, and front suspension, the Atlas boasts good-quality components that promise both performance and longevity.
- Dual Sensors: The use of both torque and cadence sensors is uncommon but excellent for providing smooth, seamless acceleration. These sensors make the bike adaptive to your riding style, enhancing the overall experience.
- Comfortable Ride: The Schwalbe 2.8-inch wide moto tires coupled with front suspension ensure a smooth ride, even on bumpy roads. The bike handles potholes and rough patches exceptionally well.
- Enviolo CVT Hub: This feature allows for easy gear adjustments to suit any gradient you’re on. If you’ve ever struggled with finding the perfect gear on a climb, you’ll appreciate this immensely.
- Range Extender port: A demonstration of EVELO’s attention to detail is the addition of a small port at the rear of the frame for the optional range extender. It is convenient to have a dedicated port instead of having to reroute the motor cables, as I had to do on the Priority Current.
- Customer Service: EVELO offers a 21-day at-home trial with no hidden restocking fees, and their phones are staffed seven days a week with e-bike specialists. The focus on customer satisfaction is evident, a crucial factor when investing in an e-bike.
Where it falls short
- Limited Rider Height Range: The Atlas is tailored for riders between 5’6″ and 6’3″. If you fall within this range, gravy, but if you fall outside this range, you’re out of luck, this e-bike won’t be very comfortable to ride. I’d like to see EVELO offer the Atlas in additional frame sizes.
Watch our YouTube review
In-depth review
At the top of my list of praises for the Atlas is its impressive acceleration. This e-bike comes with a whopping 1,200 watts at peak (600 watts nominal) and 120 newton meters of torque, making it a beast when you hit the throttle. Whether you’re tackling a steep hill or cruising down an open road, the Atlas doesn’t shy away from flexing its muscles. I find mid-drive motors to be far superior to a hub drive motor when it comes to a more natural riding experience. A mid-drive motor makes it feel like you’ve got superman legs where as a hub drive motor feels a bit more like someone is pushing you on your back.
Speaking of the throttle, it’s an optional feature, but one that adds a touch of convenience and fun to the ride. The Atlas I test rode had the optional throttle. I highly recommend you get that add on. It’s helpful to have a throttle when you need to quickly cross a busy intersection from a standstill.
Another standout feature is the e-bike’s almost uncanny silence. Seriously, the motor purrs like a well-fed house cat—almost silent. This is particularly noticeable when you compare it to other e-bikes, which can sometimes produce a mechanical whir that’s not exactly music to the ears. The Atlas shares this trait with its sibling, the Omega, and it’s something you’ll come to appreciate more as you spend more time in the saddle. I don’t think I’ve ever ridden an e-bike as quiet as EVELO’s Atlas and Omega.
Quality of components is a crucial factor when choosing an e-bike, and the Atlas scores well in this department. It comes equipped with a mid-drive power motor system, Gates carbon belt drive, and front suspension. These elements not only promise a reliable performance but also add to the longevity of the e-bike. Along with the good hardware, the e-bike also employs dual sensors—torque and cadence—which is an unusual but smart feature. These sensors work together to ensure that acceleration is smooth. So, not only do you get a quick pick-up, but it also feels organic, almost as if the e-bike is responding to your natural riding rhythm.
Comfort is another area where the Atlas shines. It offers a smooth and enjoyable ride thanks to its Schwalbe 2.8-inch wide moto tires and front suspension. Even the unavoidable potholes and bumps you encounter along city streets become less of a nuisance when you’re riding the Atlas. It’s a feature that makes you feel like you’re floating more than riding on rugged terrains.
I also found the curved nature of the handlebars result in a very comfortable riding position.
If you’re someone who has struggled to find the perfect gear while climbing up a hill, then the Atlas has something special for you—an Enviolo CVT Hub. This feature is nice as it allows you to fine-tune your gear adjustments depending on the gradient you’re tackling. The shifter has a little diagram of a cyclist on a “hill” that changes the angle of the hill as you adjust the shifter.
The experience becomes a lot more enjoyable when you don’t have to battle the gears along with the climb. The only downside of the CVT Hub is that the range of the gears is narrower than say a cassette with manual shifters. That being said, I took the Atlas on a number of hills and because it has so much power and torque, I didn’t have any issues with the limited gear range of the Enviolo CVT Hub. I have this same hub on my daily kid commuter, an Urban Arrow Family cargo e-bike, and because that thing weighs 110 pounds — unloaded — the limited gearing range of the Enviolo CVT hub is noticeable on steep hills. Not with the Atlas.
It’s also worth noting that the rain fenders on the rear and front wheels provided ample coverage from the puddles.
Let’s talk about range. The Atlas advertises a range of 60 miles, that is on the Eco mode, if you ride with max assist most of your commute I’d guess that you are looking at a range closer to 25 miles. The frame integrated battery can be charged on the e-bike (see that little port on the side of the frame in the picture below) or it can be removed for off e-bike charging.
They do offer a range extender ($799) which goes on a rear rack above the rear wheel. This would give you a range of 100 miles. I really like EVELO’s attention to detail by placing a small port on the back of the frame for the rang extender to plug into. It’s placed conveniently and avoids the hassles of rerouting motor cables, a problem I faced with another e-bike, the Priority Current. Personally I’m not a big fan of this type of range extender because of the change in weight distribution. If you stand up and pedal the e-bike really rocks back and forth.
I was impressed with the quality of the color display. It had lots of useful stats and color bars that represented my speed and watts that would increase (and decrease) as I rode.
Finally, let’s not forget EVELO’s excellent customer service. They offer a 21-day at-home trial with a full refund policy, no hidden charges. Plus they will even cover the return shipping. I can’t find another e-bike company that offers this good of a program. Most other companies have some sort of restocking or shipping fees. If you know of another company that offers this, drop a comment below.
I appreciate that EVELO has a customer service line open seven days a week, staffed by e-bike specialists. This level of service speaks volumes about the company’s focus on customer satisfaction.
There really isn’t any drawbacks about the Atlas. It’s likely going to be my top pick for next year’s best commuter e-bike. Really, the only drawback is that they don’t offer the Atlas in multiple frame sizes. This means if you fall outside the recommended rider height (5’6″ to 6’3″) you are out of luck. I’d like to see EVELO add multiple frame sizes to their lineup.
In summary, the EVELO Atlas is a solid offering that ticks almost every box when it comes to an ideal e-bike. It’s robust, well-designed, and comes with a range of features that promise performance and comfort. The Atlas offers an all-rounded experience that is hard to beat. I see why it was chosen by Robert Fletcher and Wayne Grover for their World Record 8,400 mile ride from Alaska to Panama.
Pro tip: The Atlas normally retails for $4,199, but EVELO has an “Open Box Bikes” section on their website where they sell any of the e-bikes that get returned during that 21-day at home trial. They are typically sold at $400 off the retail price. So if there’s a sale going on AND you find an Atlas in the Open Box Bikes section you can get a screaming good deal. The e-bikes are lightly used, but they’ve been inspected and tuned up by EVELO’s mechanics so they are practically as good as new.
