The Best E-Bikes for Long Distance Commutes

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When looking for an e-bike for your long commute, it’s important to consider its battery range, which is how far the bike can travel on a single charge. I consider an e-bike to be a long-range e-bike if it can do at least 50 miles on a single charge.

Not sure how much range you need to tackle your commute? You typically want the range listed on the e-bike company’s website to be double the mileage of your roundtrip commute. This gives you lots of wiggle room and ensures that if you forget to charge overnight you can still get to work. It also means that if you are in a hurry you can use max power and not worry about draining the battery too quickly. So, let’s say your commute is 25 miles roundtrip. You’d want an e-bike with a listed range of at least 50 miles.

Which e-bike has the longest range?

Our top pick for the best long distance e-bike is the Cannondale Topstone Neo 5, which has a 70 mile range. We also love the REI Co-Op CTY e2.2 with its 50 mile range. Continue reading for the full list of long range e-bikes that will help you tackle your commute.

Our Pick

Cannondale Topstone Neo 5

What we like about it

The Cannondale Topstone Neo 5 is a high-end gravel bike that is built for long rides on mixed terrain. Cannondale has been making bikes since the ‘80s, and their reputation is such that you know you’ll be getting a high-quality bike from them, whether it’s a road bike or an e-bike. This one has the Bosch PowerTube 500Wh battery, which gives you a solid 70 mile range. Its mid-drive motor (the Bosch Performance Line Speed drive-unit) makes it a breeze to climb up hills, and provides pedal assist up to 28 mph. Its high-quality Shimano components means precise gear shifting and excellent braking.

We also love that while it has a long range, it is “light” for an e-bike, at just over 40 lbs, making it suitable for a broader range of riders.

This is why it’s our best long distance e-bike.

Where it falls short

This is an expensive bike, so if you are using this for your daily commute, make sure you have secure bike parking.

What we’ve heard around town

• “Fantastic range”
• “A rocket ascending hills”
• “Has room for large tires”

Runner Up

REI Co-Op CTY e2.2

What we like about it

The price-point for the high quality components, plus the benefits of buying from REI, are what make the REI Co-Op CTY e2.2 stand out as one of our top for e-bikes with long range. This is a mid-range priced e-bike, and it comes with a high quality Shimano mid-drive motor that will be reliable and great on hills. Its Shimano 504 Wh battery gives you 50 miles of pedal assisted range. It’s also equipped with a torque sensor (rather than cadence sensor), which we prefer because it matches or magnifies the amount of torque you are producing when you pedal for more natural acceleration.

This bike is manufactured and sold by REI, which means you get great benefits if you are a co-op member. First, you can pick it up pre-assembled from an REI location and don’t have to build it yourself (which is often the case with direct to consumer e-bikes). You won’t have to worry about finding a local bike shop to do maintenance because most REI’s have their own bike shops, and they give you 20% off bike shop services as well as free flat tire repairs (labor only, parts not included). Finally, REI gives you two free years of adjustments as you loosen up the bike in that first years of ownership. We do love REI!

We also like that this e-bike is on the lighter side (for an e-bike) at “only” 52 lbs. It also has great front suspension that will help dampen any bumps you encounter on your commute, and the integrated rear-rack makes it easy to add a Child seat.

Overall, this is a solid bike and the runner up for best long distance e-bike.

Where it falls short

It’s a class 1 e-bike so it does not have a throttle. A throttle applies power regardless of whether you are peddling, which makes it easier to get started at a red light or stop sign.

What we’ve heard around town

• “Going over hills is easy”
• “Easier for shorter riders to mount”
• “Purposely built for commute”
• “Seat is pretty stiff”

All of the Rest

Vanmoof S3 with PowerBank

What we like about it

The Vanmoof S3 with PowerBank has the longest range of any e-bikes on this list; it’s normal range is 40+ miles, but the PowerBank extend it by 60 miles, giving you a comfortable 100+ miles of range.

This is also an excellent e-bike for commuting. Despite not having suspension, the S3’s thick tires and comfy saddle smoothen out the bumps of the road. Unlike many other mid and entry level e-bikes, VanMoof opted for hydraulic disc brakes, instead of more traditional cable breaks. Hydraulic breaking is much smoother and more responsive. They did away with the traditional greasy chain and instead have a belt drive with an automatic electronic gear shifting hub. It automatically and seamlessly shifts between four gears depending on the terrain. This gives you smooth riding.

It also has snazzy features like how it automatically turns on when you approach with your bluetooth enabled phone in your pocket, and anti-theft features like temper detection and remote lockdown mode.

This is a pretty e-bike to boot! The primary battery isn’t a bulky eye-sore, but instead is integrated into the frame. However, the added PowerBank is a bit bulky.

Where it falls short

While it has a very long (100 miles+ range), that’s only with the added battery pack. Also, as far as long commutes go, the seated positioning on this bike (sort of sporty and leaned forward, but also sort of upright) might feel awkward and not super comfortable for that long of a range.

The rear hub motor makes it a little tough on steep hills, requiring you to get out of the saddle and peddle. Larger riders (250lb+) may find that it feels under-powered and slower on the hills.

It lacks an easy way to attach a kid seat to the back, so if you are looking for a bike that can also be used to tote kids to school, this wouldn’t be the bike for you.

Also, the battery can’t be removed for charging, so you’ll need to make sure you have a wall outlet nearby.

What we’ve heard around town

• “The range has been pretty impressive”
• “So many great features integrated into this e-bike!”
• “20 miles with plenty of hills and I still had 50% left on the battery”
• “It’s as if Apple decided to make an e-bike”
• “Well worth the investment”

Juiced CrossCurrent S2

What we like about it

Juiced CrossCurrent S2 has a large battery that gives you a comfortable 65 mile range. The battery is removable, which is also useful for long commutes because it means you can charge it at your desk in the office for the way home. It’s a good looking bike with three different size options to ensure that it’s a comfortable ride for riders of all sizes.

From a technical perspective, we like that it uses both a torque and cadence sensor technology to give a more responsive assist when you pedal so there is less of a lag from when you first pedal and the motor assist kicks in. It also has hydraulic disc brakes which are much more responsive than cable disc brakes.

One important callout is that this e-bike is a Class 3 e-bike, not the more common Class 2. This means it has a pedal assist that can provide power up to a 28mph, compared to most other e-bikes that cap out at 20mph. It also comes with a throttle for pedal-less assist. Be sure to check your local laws, some states have outlawed Class 3 e-bikes that also have a throttle.

Where it falls short

The adjustable suspension fork for the front wheel is low quality making it hard to find the right setting so that it isn’t too stiff or too loose.

Unfortunately, rain guards are not included with the bike so you would have to buy those separately. Generally, rain guards are included with most other e-bikes, which is especially helpful for all-season commuting.

What we’ve heard around town

• “Great distance range”
• “Sporty vibe”
• “Ideal for daily commutes”

RadCity 5 Plus

What we like about it

I have a special place in my heart for the RadCity because the RadCity 4 has been my daily commuter bike for the past 3 years. The RadCity 5 Plus is Rad’s upgrade to that older model. It comes with a sleeker profile and upgraded components such as hydraulic disc brakes.

The RadCity 5 Plus has a 50 mile range, which is good but is one of the shorter ranges on this list.

Two upsides worth calling out are: (1) it’s suitable for people of different sizes because it comes in both a step-thru or high-step frame; and (2) it’s designed for wet weather riding, with water resistant wiring, long mud guards on both tires, and thick puncture resistant tires that are 2” wide (as expected for a company that is based in Seattle, Washington).

Overall the Rad City is a versatile and reliable e-bike for 30+ mile commute, especially at its price.

Where it falls short

At 64 pounds, it can be hard to ride without any peddle assist, or generally if you’re a smaller or petite person it may feel heavy.

The pedal assistance uses a cadence sensor which means it can be slow to kick-in when you are getting started at a red light. Thankfully, it also has a throttle that can be used to help quicken your starts.

What we’ve heard around town

• “Comfort and utility”
• “Great for commuting”
• “Smooth over bumps”

Wing Freedom 2

What we like about it

The Wing Freedom 2 has a stylish design, and at 39 lbs is the lightest e-bike on this list. It has three battery options, and the largest 14AH battery gives you an impressive 60+ miles of range. It has a few unique anti-theft characteristics, including an anti-theft tamper detection and alarm and the ability to add location tracking for $80.

The Wing Freedom 2 has high-quality Shimano parts, which make changing gears smooth. It also comes with a removable battery, which is useful if where you store your bike and charge your battery is different.

Overall a nice looking e-bike for city riding.

Where it falls short

Wing is a relatively new company (founded 2017) and took the design of their bike (and many of its features) directly from VanMoof (founded 2009). We’d like to see more innovation and uniqueness from Wing rather than copying everything from another brand.

Similar to the VanMoof, the rear hub motor makes it tough on steep hills, requiring you to get out of the saddle and peddle. Larger riders (250lb+) may find that it feels under-powered and slower on the hills.

The optional rear rack sold by Wing can only support 20 to 25 pounds which doesn’t give us confidence when it comes to putting our toddler on the back in a Child Seat. It might be okay for a 1 year old, but will be getting close to or exceeding that weight limit very quickly. If you are looking for a bike that can also be used to tote kids to school, this wouldn’t be the bike for you.

What we’ve heard around town

• “Sleek looking”
• “Can easily pick it up”
• “Alarm is shockingly loud”

Best Long Distance E-Bikes Compared

For more details, along with pros and cons of the various aspects of e-bikes read our Buyer’s Guide.