Can an eBike really get you up Irish hills?
Short answer: yes, if you pick the right one.
The real problem with hills
Most people who'd like to cycle to work aren't put off by the hill. They're put off by what the hill does to them: arriving tired, needing cycling gear, and needing a shower before they're fit to sit at a desk.
Pedal assist changes that. The motor adds power every time you push, up to 25 km/h, so you can take the climb at a normal pace in normal clothes and arrive the way you left.
The eBike doesn't just make the hill easier. It takes the lycra and the shower out of the commute.
What gets you up the hill
It's never one number. Five things work together:
- Torque (Nm): the motor's pulling power. Around 50 Nm handles most climbs; 75 Nm or a mid-drive for steep hills every day.
- Gears: low gears let you keep a steady, easy pedal on a steep pitch while the motor pulls. More gears give you more room to find the right one.
- Tyres: wider tyres grip on wet and loose climbs; smaller 20-inch wheels get going more easily from a standstill on a slope.
- Battery: climbing uses more of it. Quoted ranges are at the lowest assist level, so leave plenty to spare.
- Load: the more you carry, the harder every one of the above has to work.
| eBike | Torque | Gears | Tyres | Max load |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engwe L20 3.0 Pro | 100 Nm mid-drive | 7-speed | 20 × 3.0" | 150 kg |
| Engwe EP-2 3.0 Boost | 75 Nm | 7-speed | 20 × 4.0" fat | 150 kg |
| Engwe O20 Boost | 75 Nm + Boost | 8-speed | 20 × 2.125" | 150 kg |
| Fiido T2 Cargo | 55 Nm | 7-speed | 20 × 4.0" fat | 200 kg (rider 120 + rack 80) |
| Fiido M1 Pro | 50 Nm | 7-speed | 20 × 4.0" fat | 120 kg |
Manufacturer specs. None of these brands publish a maximum climbing gradient, so we go by torque, gears and tyres, and how the bike feels on a test ride. Pedal assist on every model works up to 25 km/h.
Carrying more? Pick a bigger motor
A work bag or a backpack is no problem for any eBike here. If you'll regularly carry more, a little extra torque keeps the climbs easy.
- Work bag or backpack: the figures in the table are your guide.
- Regular shopping or panniers: go one step up in torque.
- Kids or bigger loads: a cargo eBike with high torque and low gears is built for exactly that.
How much do you need?
- Gentle drags and bridges: most commuter eBikes will do.
- A proper climb on the daily route: 50–75 Nm with a torque sensor and a good spread of gears.
- Steep hills every day, or with a load: 75 Nm and up, or a mid-drive, and a big battery.
These are rules of thumb for one rider. Your weight, the gradient and above all how much you carry move the line, which is why feeling the assist on a test ride beats a spec sheet.
Feel it before you buy
Book a free test ride in Blanchardstown, Portobello or Cork to feel the assist for yourself. Tell us about your hill and we'll put you on the bikes that suit it.
Six questions, one minute, and we'll point you to the right one.