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Coal Imperial Electric Courier Cycle: A Minute Overview
The best electric bikes Come in many shapes and sizes. Some e-bike manufacturers embrace a brutal and utilitarian design philosophy, while others try and make their e-bikes look more like traditional push bikes. The Coal Imperial Electric Courier before us today certainly falls into the second category.
Ingredients | Coal Imperial Electric Courier Cycle |
|---|---|
Size range: | 51 cm, 54 cm, 58 cm, 61 cm |
Motor: | Zahus Gen 2 All-in-One Rear Hub Motor |
Up speed | 15.5mph / 25kmh (UK) |
strength: | 155WH (watt hour) battery unit |
Control: | Phone app |
Classification of e-bikes: | Pedelec |
Speed: | Single speed |
brake: | Radius double-pivot caliper brakes |
Frame Material: | 4130 chromoly steel, with track geometry |
weight: | 15.2 kg / 33.5 lbs |
range: | 60 km / 37 miles |
Coal Imperial Electric Courier Cycle: Price and Availability
- 28 2,289 USD / £1,699 UK / $3,500 AUD
- Located in the middle of the market
- Imaginative, great style for the price
The Kola Imperial sits comfortably in the mid-range of the e-bike market, competing against brands like Volt and some models from manufacturers like Trek and Cube. These bikes, like the Imperial, offer a balance of features, performance and price.
While the price will put a lot of people off, if you’re not comfortable spending more than that for a high-spec e-bike, the Imperial is an incredible proposition.
Coal Imperial Electric Courier Cycle: Design
- Rear hub with integrated motor and battery
- Regenerative braking feature
- Classic aesthetic with a modern twist
One of the most important features of the Koala Imperial e-bike is that the electric motor and battery are integrated in the rear hub. This creates a beautifully clean and minimalistic aesthetic, to the extent that many people think it’s a standard push bike. As a result, the frame is not cluttered by a battery, which means the top, bottom and seat tubes are free of electronic clutter.
However, there are two distinct downsides to this type of hub design. The first is that the battery cannot be removed, and therefore you need to bring the entire e-bike to mains power. I’m a big fan of removable batteries, because I can detach the battery from the frame and therefore charge it wherever I like. The other downside to this design is that if the battery fails you will need a complete hub replacement or worse, possibly a whole new bike.
While we’re on the subject of the battery, it includes a Dynamic Energy Recovery (KER) system that charges the battery as you back pedal. It’s similar technology to that used in Formula One engines, and although I haven’t used it much myself, it’s a clever and easy way to increase the bike’s range.
Moving on to the design of the motorcycle itself, Kola has created a modern e-bike that still embraces a classic, minimalist aesthetic. I love the vintage-inspired track frame crafted from 4130 chromoly steel that continues the heritage style of the Coola. In particular, it has a unique and eye-catching chrome plating, giving it a polished, premium, luxurious look.
Kola has also inserted aggressive-looking deep-section rims and blunt handlebars, and I loved the riding position it afforded me. The single-speed design won’t be for everyone, but I like its simplicity, and the lack of derailleurs, shifters and multiple sprockets means it’s extremely low maintenance.
Coal Imperial Electric Courier Cycle: Performance
- Smooth and reliable power assistance
- Perfect for city life
- Effective regeneration feature
The Kola Imperial e-bike is far from a powerhouse, but nevertheless, it is a very nimble, lightweight and efficient city commuter. After testing a number of e-bikes, it doesn’t get much better than this, especially if you have an aversion to heavy and bulky e-bikes that are difficult to maneuver around.
This assistance is obtained from the 250W motor and 40nm of torque, which works to deliver smooth, subtle and natural fueling power. It won’t zoom around but does provide a “helping hand” to ease starts, maintain speed on the flats and pull the Sting out of slight inclines. The motor kicks in quickly once you start pedaling and is reliable enough to need your help when pulling away from a standing still.
A rear hub motor is less efficient than a mid-drive alternative, especially when riding on lots of inclines. This is further complicated by the single speed design which limits the rider to just one gear. As a result, the motor has to work harder, which can lead to faster battery drain and overheating. This makes it a less ideal choice for riders who frequently encounter hilly terrain.
The picture 1 K 7
But given that this e-bike is not the target market, I don’t see a problem with it. I really liked the simplicity of the single speed design which meant I wasn’t fiddling with gears all the time. It’s an e-bike you can just jump on and ride, and in all honesty, it’s my favorite kind of ride.
Regenerative braking, Kerr, is one of its best features. Functionally, when you backpedal, the motor acts as a generator, not only slowing down the bike but also charging the battery. It worked incredibly well and was a serious game changer when I needed to fine-tune any remaining battery life.
Coal Imperial is about simplicity and efficiency rather than brute force. It provides a smooth, non-intrusive power assist that makes urban cycling a breeze.
Coal Imperial Electric Courier Cycle: Battery Life
- The small battery is located in the rear center
- A range of 37 miles (60 km).
- Two to three hours to recharge the battery
The Imperial e-bike has a 155WH (watt hour) battery unit which is significantly smaller in capacity than many other e-bikes that feature 400WH batteries or more. The smaller battery is due to the integration of the battery into the coal hub. It has the added benefit of light weight and minimal design, but it does have an impact on range.
Kola claims the e-bike has a maximum range of 37 miles (60 km) on a single charge. I always find it impossible to get the e-bike manufacturer’s range claims because there are so many different factors. These include terrain, wind strength, temperature, and of course my weight. I gave it a go though, and managed to get about 75% of the advertised range (just under 30 miles). It’s still not bad.
The limited range, compared to many rivals, can be attributed to the fact that this is primarily an urban city bike and its journeys between charging points are likely to be very short. If you are doing these types of rides then you won’t have any problem. If you’re doing long daily commutes you’ll find that a daily charge is required – but you’ll need an extension cord, or rather than removing the battery, you’ll need to take the whole bike to the mains socket.
Due to the small size of the battery it takes about two to three hours to charge the battery, which is really fast for an e-bike.
- Battery Life Score: 3.5/5
Coal Imperial Electric Courier Cycle: Scorecard
category | Comment | Score |
Price | A high-spec e-bike that sits in the middle of the market. | 4/5 |
Design | A rear hub with an integrated motor and seriously excellent frame. | 4.5/5 |
performance | Smooth and reliable power support with cool regeneration feature. | 4.5/5 |
Battery life | A small battery that achieves a range of about 37 miles / 60 km | 3.5/5 |
If you buy it…
If you don’t buy it…
Also consider
Ingredients | Coal Imperial Electric Courier Cycle | Brompton Electric G Line | Fig. Mapfor N1 Air |
|---|---|---|---|
Size range: | 51 cm, 54 cm, 58 cm, 61 cm | Small, medium, large | Not specific |
Motor: | Zahus Gen 2 All-in-One Rear Hub Motor | 250W | 250W in-rotor motor |
Up speed | 15.5mph / 25kmh (UK) | 15.5mph / 25kmh (UK) | 15.5mph / 25kmh (UK) |
strength: | 155WH (watt hour) battery unit | 345-WH 4-hour full charge using the included 2A charger | 360WH 10AH high capacity battery |
Control: | Phone app | LCD display | LCD display |
Classification of e-bikes: | Pedelec | Class 3 | Class 3 |
Speed: | Single speed | 4 Speed + 3 Speed (Electric Assist) | Shimano 7 Speed |
brake: | Radius double-pivot caliper brakes | Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 140 mm front / 160 mm rear | Hydraulic disc brakes |
Frame Material: | 4130 chromoly steel, with track geometry | Steel | Carbon |
weight: | 15.2 kg / 33.5 lbs | 16.1 kg / 35.5 lbs | 15.6 kg / 34 lbs |
Range: | 60 km / 37 miles | 30-60 km / 20-45 miles | 100 km / 62 miles |
How I Tested the Coal Imperial Electric Courier Cycle
I have had the e-bike in my possession for about a month and used it to perform a variety of different rides. I focused on short rides rather than long trips, as I wanted to be fair to the primary target market of e-bikes.
First review: November 2025
1 Comment
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