If you’re in the market for a fun and accessible e-bike for daily commutes and city rides, you might want to consider the Fiido L3+. This new model, an exclusive collaboration between Fiido and Popcycle, is an upgraded version of Fiido’s best-seller L3 long-range model.
Boasting an advertised range of 250km with pedal-assist and about 128 kilometers with the throttle, the L3+ is a long-range electric bike that can power the needs of city dwellers with ease. I got to test out this nifty folding electric bike for over a week and found that it can last a week for regular daily use and it has enough juice to power up weekend leisure rides.
Styling
At first glance, the Fiido L3+ looks like a regular folding bike. It’s small, compact, unobtrusive, and unintimidating. It’s not a far stretch to say that it looks almost like a toy rather than a durable e-bike with a powerful motor. It could easily pass as a traditional foldie if not for the battery and the wiring, which is neatly concealed for a clean and minimalist look. According to the tech specs, the frame is IP54 waterproof.
The L3+ comes in four colors (Green, Cream, Blue, and Violet) and features the Popcycle branding on the frame. The Violet unit assigned to me looked very dynamic and highly visible on the road, and popped in photos. I had to adjust the seat lower to use it, but the bike can be adjusted to suit anyone’s height from 4’8” to 6’5”. The saddle was soft and comfortable to sit on even for prolonged use.
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Battery
Most electric bikes have an average range of 50-100 km on a full charge. The whopping range of 250km on the L3+ is powered by a large 23.2Ah detachable lithium-ion battery under the seat. Fold the seat, turn the key ignition off, lift the battery up, and you can recharge it anywhere on the go.
The battery is pretty heavy to haul around, but since the bike is compact, you can also park it next to a socket and charge the bike directly. It takes roughly seven hours to recharge the battery from 0 to 100%, but Fiido advises not draining it completely. The indicator turns red once the battery is down to two out of five bars.
During the review period, I got a mileage of about 108km on the L3+ (including a 55km+ ride from Quezon City to Antipolo and back) with throttle use and mostly neighborhood rides in flat areas before the battery drained completely. Based on my estimates, one bar lasts roughly 30-40 km with a mix of pedal-assist and throttle use. It’s no wonder this model has become popular among delivery riders, as they can travel farther without needing gas, parking fees, or the need to recharge.
Ride and handling
So what’s it like using the Fiido L3+? I found this pedal-assist e-bike pretty smooth and easy to use. Using the throttle felt similar to using an e-scooter, but you get to sit comfortably and pedal (if you want) for an extra boost. But you can easily go full throttle in Eco mode and speed away with minimal effort, leaving normal bikers in the dust.
The bike’s settings can be switched from zero, Eco, Normal, Sport, Turbo, and Turbo+ depending on your preferred speed. There’s also a ramp-assist mode to give you a boost when walking the bike up inclined areas.
I kept it in Eco mode to conserve the battery and cruised at slower speeds in high-traffic areas for safety. While I managed to get a top speed of 28kph along an empty stretch, braking felt abrupt and jerky if you suddenly stop. The average speeds are faster on higher settings, with specs saying the bike has a max speed of 40kph. But if you want a workout, you can always turn it off and use it like a normal bike.
Since the bike has small 14-inch wheels, I felt the potholes a lot more, so it’s best to avoid those. Riding also felt a bit jigglier when maneuvering with only one hand, but the e-bike glides smoothly on flat roads with both hands on the handlebars. For longer rides, I found it more comfortable to use gloves when applying the throttle.
The great thing about e-bikes is they take the effort out of driving uphill through traffic in the heat, which is tough to enjoy in congested cities next to smoke-belching vehicles. This way, you can enjoy your rides easily and arrive at your destination not exhausted or drenched in sweat.
I barely felt the effort of going up to Antipolo on this e-bike. It tackled the ascent with ease, allowing me to cruise steadily at 14-15kph uphill. Even with other vehicles veering to park, it was easy to restart with the throttle if I lost momentum. It was a breeze going up to Ahon Cafe and Hinulugang Taktak compared to previous rides I’ve done on a normal bike.
The traffic on inner roads on the way to Antipolo Cathedral was heavy on a Sunday. On the L3+, I could weave through the cars inching their way to look for parking spaces, push the bike on a sidewalk, and get in and out of the area in no time.
Going downhill was more challenging than going uphill. I used the bike manually to slow it down and have more control of the braking. There’s a tendency for the bike to jerk or make rocking motions if you brake suddenly, so you need to be extra careful on downhills.
I also found the e-bike useful for errands and urban exploration since you can get where you need to go faster than on a normal bike with the convenience of using the bike lanes. You can fold it to a more compact size to eat in cafes, but it’s small enough to park in areas where you can easily keep an eye on it . Since it looks small and light, it’s easy to wheel up ramps or lift into the sidewalk or tight parking areas. It has a bike stand, so it’s easy to park anywhere. It can even fit inside an elevator without being folded.
While it’s too heavy to lift up steep stairs (the bike weighs a hefty 24 kg with the battery), it could be a great option for bimodal travel. You could stash this in the trunk of a car or a bus, and take it on the LRT, the MRT (assuming the station has ramps or an elevator), or on a ferry to unlock other areas to bike.
Extra features
The L3+ also features smartphone connectivity through the Fiido app. The app allows users to control the folding e-bike using their phones, including checking the bike’s performance, such as range, speed, and battery life. You can customize the settings on the bike such as the different modes, or access extra features.
The bike also has a built-in rear rack for easier storage and a bottle cage mount for stashing a tumbler. While it’s not normally included with the bike, the review unit came with a waterproof dry bag from local brand SackIt, available at Popcycle, which was useful for stashing the charger and other small items. Users can easily customize the bike with a basket, pannier bags, or add-ons for the rack depending on their needs.
Verdict
With its compact size and long battery life, the Fiido L3+ makes city rides and daily commuting hassle-free. The portability and the fact that this bike folds make it convenient for bimodal users as well as city dwellers who lack space. While it didn’t quite reach the advertised 250km range, the range is significantly longer than those of other electric bicycles available on the market, and the L3+ costs less.
With rising fuel costs and traffic problems, this e-bike could address the needs of daily commuters and provide a fun means of transport that might just inspire you to explore the city more.
SPECS: Popcycle x Fiido L3+
Price: P45,000
Power: 350 watts
Battery: 23.2Ah detachable lithium-ion
Charging time: 7 hours (0-100%)
Maximum speed: 40 KM/H
Claimed range: 250km
Maximum load: 120kg (265 lbs)
Net weight: 24 kg (with battery)
