Velotric · Commuter & cruiser · discontinued

Velotric Discover 1: real range, hills and charging

A 180 lb rider on the Velotric Discover 1 at 16 mph with relaxed pedaling over rolling hills (±2%) on pavement can expect about 45 miles per charge (36–54 mi), using 13.9 Wh per mile. The brand claims up to 65 miles. That is about 69% of the claim. On throttle only over hills it drops to about 29 miles. It is discontinued; Velotric's current successor is the Velotric Discover 3 ($1,999), about 48 miles in the same riding.

See the Velotric Discover 3 range · Check price at Velotric

Velotric

Last list price $1,299

691

Wh battery

500

W motor

mph max

Simulate your own ride

Price checked 2026-10-23. We may earn a commission.

How far does the Velotric Discover 1 go for your weight?

Miles per full charge on a new battery at 70°F on pavement, no wind. Each number is the middle of a ±20% band. Velotric claims up to 65 miles (pedal assist. the brand also claims 58 miles on throttle. at launch velotric claimed up to 80 miles.).

Rider weight	Easy 12 mph	Everyday 16 mph	Fast 20 mph	Throttle, hills
150 lb	79 mi (63–95)	48 mi (39–58)	33 mi (26–40)	32 mi (25–38)
200 lb	70 mi (56–84)	42 mi (34–51)	31 mi (25–38)	27 mi (22–33)
250 lb	63 mi (50–76)	38 mi (30–45)	30 mi (24–36)	24 mi (19–29)
300 lb	57 mi (46–69)	34 mi (27–41)	28 mi (23–34)	21 mi (17–26)

Easy 12 mph: 12 mph, relaxed pedaling, flat
Everyday 16 mph: 16 mph, relaxed pedaling, rolling hills
Fast 20 mph: 20 mph, relaxed pedaling, rolling hills
Throttle, hills: 15 mph, no pedaling, hilly

Independent range tests

Reviewers rode the Discover 1 until the battery died. Our model, run in the same conditions (180 lb rider assumed; testers don't publish weight), is shown next to each result.

lowest assist · 12.2 mph avg

52.36 mi

measured by Electric Bike Report · 13.2 Wh/mi

Our model: 53 mi (42–63) within band

PAS 1

highest assist · 18.8 mph avg

33.02 mi

measured by Electric Bike Report · 20.9 Wh/mi

Our model: 35 mi (28–43) within band

PAS 3, the top level on the bike they tested

Can the Velotric Discover 1 climb hills?

Highest steady speed on each grade, motor at its 900 W peak, limited by its 65 Nm of torque. A 10% grade is a steep city street; 15% is a hard hill.

Rider	5% grade	10% grade	15% grade
180 lb, throttle	18 mph	11 mph	8 mph
180 lb, pedaling	19 mph	12 mph	9 mph
250 lb, throttle	16 mph	9 mph	stalls
250 lb, pedaling	17 mph	10 mph	7 mph

Steepest grade at 8 mph (180 lb): 14% on throttle, 16% with moderate pedaling. Peak power lasts for short hills; on long climbs motors fall back toward their 500 W nominal rating.

Charging time and cost

Empty to full (3 A)

4 h 35 min

With a 5 A charger

3 h 9 min

Cost per full charge

$0.15

Cost per mile

0.30¢

US average residential electricity, 18.31¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 85% charger efficiency. Charge time: constant current to ~85%, then about an hour of top-off.

Range in cold weather

70°F

mi · 100% cap.

50°F

mi · 94% cap.

32°F

mi · 85% cap.

20°F

mi · 75% cap.

Everyday scenario, 180 lb rider. Capacity loss is temporary; store and charge the battery indoors and never charge it below freezing.

Simulate your own ride on the Discover 1

E-bike

691 Wh500 W25 mph max65 lbFull specs →

Rider weight180 lb

Cargo0 lb

Average speed16 mph

How you ride

Terrain

Weather, surface & battery age70°F · no wind · paved · new battery

Temperature70°F

Headwind0 mph

Battery health100%

About 80% after ~800 full charges

Surface

Estimated range

Velotric Discover 1

45miles

likely 36–54 mi · 13.9 Wh/mi · 2h 47m of riding

0 miBrand claim: 65 mi (69% of it)

Cost / mile

0.30¢

$0.15 per full charge

Full charge

4h 35m

3 A charger

Steepest hill

15%

at 8 mph, motor peak

Usable energy

622 Wh

of 691 Wh rated

Speed

16 mph

average, moving

Ride time

2h 47m

until empty

Same ride, different pedaling

Throttle only

38 mi

Relaxed pedaling

45 mi

Moderate pedaling

51 mi

Hard pedaling

60 mi

Open full simulator

Velotric Discover 1 specs

From the Velotric product page, checked 2026-10-23. est. marks values Velotric doesn't confirm.

Price: $1,299

Source note

velotricbike.com archived Apr 2023: $1,299 (compare-at $1,399). The original Discover 1 is no longer sold. The same URL (velotricbike.com/products/velotric-discover-1) now sells the revised 'Discover 1 Plus' at $1,699 (Cyan in stock, Silver sold out on 2026-10-23). The Plus has 5 PAS levels, a 12-28 mph adjustable limit, an adjustable stem and a 60 lb weight; its motor and 691Wh battery are unchanged.
Class: Class 2, throttle

Source note

Brand (2023): '48V 14.4Ah, 500W Class 2 with Throttle Assist'.
Top assisted speed: 25 mph

Source note

Velotric comparison table (2023): '20 MPH Unlockable to 25 MPH'. Ships capped at 20 mph. The Discover 1 Plus raised the limit to 28 mph. web.archive.org
Battery: 691 Wh (48 V × 14.4 Ah), removable

Source note

Brand: '48V, 691Wh'; 48 x 14.4 = 691.2. Electric Bike Report lists 692Wh.
Motor: 500 W nominal, 900 W peak, rear hub
Torque: 65 Nm

Source note

Brand: 'Hub 48V, 500W, max torque 65Nm'.
Pedal sensor: Cadence
Claimed range: Up to 65 mi (Pedal assist. The brand also claims 58 miles on throttle. At launch Velotric claimed up to 80 miles.)
Weight: 65 lb with battery

Source note

Brand: high-step 65 lb, step-thru 63.5 lb.
Max load: 440 lb rider + cargo

Source note

Brand 'Max Bike Load 440 lbs'; front rack 33 lb, rear rack 55 lb.
Wheels & tires: 26" × 2.5"
Frame: Aluminum alloy with fully integrated lockable down-tube battery; step-thru and high-step; 80mm suspension fork with lockout
Charger: 3 A

Source note

48V 3A, 5-6 h
Safety certification: UL 2271

Common questions

What is the weight limit of the Velotric Discover 1?

Velotric rates the Discover 1 for 440 lb total (rider plus cargo). At 300 lb it still goes about 34 miles in everyday riding.

Can the Velotric Discover 1 climb steep hills?

On throttle alone, with a 180 lb rider, it can hold 8 mph up a grade of about 14% (our estimate from its 900 W peak power and 65 Nm). With moderate pedaling, about 16%. On a 10% hill it holds about 11 mph on throttle.

How long does the Velotric Discover 1 take to charge?

About 4 h 35 min from empty with the 3 A charger, or about 3 h 9 min with a 5 A fast charger. A full charge costs about $0.15 at the US average of 18.31¢/kWh, or 0.30¢ per mile.

Is the Velotric Discover 1 a Class 2 or Class 3 e-bike?

Velotric lists it as Class 2, with a top assisted speed of 25 mph and a throttle. Class 3 speeds (up to 28 mph) are limited to pedal assist; on throttle, Class 2 rules cap it at 20 mph.

Which hitch racks fit the Discover 1?

At 65 lb with battery (about 57 lb without it) and 2.5" tires, 21 of 23 hitch racks we track can carry it (some only with the battery removed).

Kuat Piston ION 2-bike	100 lb/bike	Fits
1UP USA Super Duty Double	100 lb/bike	Fits
Saris MHS 2 Bike Package	100 lb/bike	Fits
Aventon Hitch Rack Pro	85 lb/bike	Fits
Yakima OnRamp LX	80 lb/bike	Fits
Hollywood Racks Sport Rider for Electric Bikes	80 lb/bike	Fits
Hollywood Racks RV Rider E-Bike Rack	80 lb/bike	Fits
Aventon Hitch Rack	77 lb/bike	Fits
Thule Epos 2-bike	75 lb/bike	Fits
Yakima StageTwo	70 lb/bike	Fits
Hollywood Racks Destination E	70 lb/bike	Fits
Allen Sports High Capacity Locking Premier for Electric Bikes	70 lb/bike	Fits
Kuat Piston Pro X 2-bike	67 lb/bike	Fits
Yakima OnRamp	66 lb/bike	Fits
Thule EasyFold XT 2	65 lb/bike	Fits
1UP USA Heavy Duty Double	65 lb/bike	Fits
Thule T2 Pro XTR 2-bike	60 lb/bike	Fits with battery removed
Kuat NV 2.0 2-bike	60 lb/bike	Fits with battery removed
Kuat NV Base 2.0 2-bike	60 lb/bike	Fits with battery removed
Saris Door County 2-Bike Motorized	60 lb/bike	Fits with battery removed
Saris SuperClamp G4 2-Bike	60 lb/bike	Fits with battery removed