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We’ve previously reviewed the Vvolt Alpha and Vvolt Proxima and found both to be terrific designs that offer a solid value.
The Vvolt Slice Lite features a 20-in. wheel in the front and a 26-in. wheel in the rear. It may look a little funny at first, but there’s a good reason for this. One truism of all moving things is that the lower the center of gravity, the more stable it is. By equipping the Slice Lite with a 20-in. front wheel rather than 26 in., Vvolt is able to offer riders a much lower attachment point for the cargo module—their front-mounted basket.
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Built around a 350W motor and a 500Wh battery, the Vvolt Slice Lite is limited to a maximum assist speed of 20 mph, but also includes a throttle, making it a Class 2 e-bike. Vvolt estimates a range of up to 55 mi. per charge, which seems reasonable. A 500W battery may not seem all that large, but when paired with a 350W motor, its capacity will go farther than usual.
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Vvolt Slice Lite Review: Specs & Features
Frame and fork
The Vvolt Slice Lite has an unusual look due to the 20-in. front wheel and a 26-in. rear wheel. What everyone is wondering is why they used a smaller front wheel than rear wheel. The answer is that the smaller wheel allows the front basket to be mounted lower and that lowers the center of gravity of the e-bike, making it easier to handle.
People may question why Vvolt didn’t include a suspension fork, but a rigid aluminum fork makes sense here. Putting a load in the basket will change how the suspension responds and no one wants to have to adjust the e-bike’s suspension every time they load something into the basket or remove it.
The integrated battery loads in from the top of the down tube, something that’s genuinely handy for anyone who parks their e-bike in a garage or on a porch but brings the battery inside for charging.
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Motor and battery
One criticism that some cargo e-bikes have suffered is that they are too heavy. An 85-90-lb. e-bike can be a challenge to manage and one of the easiest ways to reduce an e-bike’s weight is to go with a lower-power motor and smaller-capacity battery. The 350W brushless, geared hub motor has enough power to get the Slice up to speed, even with a load.
Vvolt estimates a range of up to 55 mi. per charge, which seems reasonable. A 500W battery may not seem all that large, but when paired with a 350W motor, its capacity will go farther than usual, which makes their 55 mi. estimate sound reasonable, rather than far-fetched.
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Componentry
Drivetrain, brakes and wheels
The drivetrain on the Vvolt Slice Lite is a mixed bag. On one hand, it is equipped with a Gates belt to eliminate the need for chain lube, lots of maintenance and pants stains. However, because Vvolt chose a 350W hub motor, that means that there’s just one gear. That’s less than idea for an e-bike that is designed with an eye toward carrying loads. Downshifting to a lower gear is usually helpful for starting out with an additional payload.
Vvolt equipped the Slice Lite with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes to give it the braking power necessary for riders to feel sufficient control, even when—especially when—the basket is loaded.
So why go with one small wheel in front and a big wheel in the rear, rather than going with two 20-in. wheels? By going with a larger wheel in the rear, Vvolt made the Slice Lite a little more stable at speed and it will also ride better on bumpy roads. That 26-in. rear wheel will roll over bumps more easily, sending less shock to the riders behind.
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EBR’s Vvolt Slice Lite First Look Review:
When we consider each of the features of this e-bike, a kind of portrait emerges of a probable use-case. The first detail to note isn’t the e-bike’s 350W motor, but its single-speed drivetrain. This e-bike’s owners will be happiest if their rides are flat. Motor or not, going uphill without being able to downshift is always a pain. Their loads are limited as well; the basket, which features an adjustable design with additional attachment points, has a maximum weight rating of 40 lbs.
The 350W motor means that the rider isn’t overly concerned with speed; after all, this is a Class 2 e-bike with a maximum-assist speed of 20 mph. The Vvolt Slice Lite rider is also interested in toting stuff—groceries, clothes, pickleball gear—not kids; that’s a different cargo e-bike, which is coming soon, we’re told.
This is an e-bike that will also make a good impression with anyone who lives and rides in an urban environment where nimble handling is prized. This is an e-bike that will negotiate narrow streets, tight parking lots and the odd sidewalk.
The Vvolt Slice Lite will be prized by restaurants making lunch and dinner deliveries. It can carry a load, will be easy to handle when loaded and will need next-to-no maintenance other than pumping the tires. And for anyone who needs to carry a load but doesn’t want it on their back or in a pannier on a rear rack, this will make for a user-friendly daily driver.
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