Is the EVELO Compass worth buying?
The Compass is the grown-up choice, and our formula is a little hard on it. EVELO fits a Bafang mid-drive motor (500 W, 105 Nm of torque), which powers the pedals instead of a wheel, with a rear differential that drives both back wheels. The warranty runs four years or 20,000 miles and you get 21 days to try it at home. It costs $3,199 on November 13, 2026, twice a Lectric, with a 504 Wh battery. If you buy on specs per dollar, look higher up. If you buy on build and backing, read on.
Buy it if
- You have hills: a mid-drive with three gears climbs where hub motors struggle
- You plan to keep the trike for years and want the warranty to match
- You want something that feels like a bicycle, not a scooter
Skip it if
- Your budget is under $2,000: the Mokwheel Granite gives you gears and hydraulic brakes
- You need long range out of the box: the Addmotor Grandtan M-340 carries 960 Wh
Why does a mid-drive motor matter on a trike?
Most electric trikes have their motor in a wheel hub. The Compass has it at the pedals. A mid-drive sends its power through the trike's own gears, here a Shimano 3-speed hub, so in first gear the motor's 105 Nm is multiplied for climbing. EVELO takes the question head-on: yes, the motor is rated at 500 W where others say 750 W, but the trike is geared very low, so in first gear it can take steep hills with heavy riders. It is built for torque, EVELO says, not for top speed.
Behind the gears, a differential splits the drive between both rear wheels. Two driven wheels grip better than one on wet leaves or a gravel driveway, and the differential lets them turn at different speeds in a corner. It is the most refined drivetrain in this ranking.
Why does it rank low, then?
Because our formula scores what is published, and it weighs price. At $3,199, the Compass costs about 1.9 times the median trike in our list, so it scores low on value. Its battery is small. And several things our formula rewards are not stated on EVELO's page: a parking brake, a UL 2849 certification, a backrest.
What the formula cannot see is how a trike is put together or how the company answers the phone in year three. A 4-year, 20,000-mile warranty is EVELO putting money behind that. We would rather show you a low score with the reasons than adjust the rules for a brand we happen to like.
Video: "EVELO Compass Unboxing & Assembly", EVELO Electric Bicycles on YouTube. Not made by us; chosen because it shows the trike or the topic clearly.
What's in the box?
The trike, the Panasonic 48 V 10.5 Ah battery, a 48 V smart charger, the rear basket and the manual. EVELO posts an unboxing and assembly video, shown below.
How do you set it up, and what should the first ride be?
Follow EVELO's unboxing and assembly video. Once built, leave the trike in first gear and assist level 1 for the first ride. A mid-drive rewards shifting: change down before a hill, not on it. The top assisted speed is 20 mph and the rider can lower it in the display, which is worth doing for the first weeks.
What does it really cost?
$3,199 was the sale price on November 13, 2026; EVELO's list price was $4,299. The add-on battery that takes the stated range from 40 to 80 miles is the main extra, and the spare 48 V 10.5 Ah pack was listed at $849 (sold out that day). A suspension seat post was $159.99.
Per watt-hour of battery, that is $6.35: the figure our tie-break uses.
What do we like, and what should you know?
- Mid-drive motor with 105 Nm of torque and a rear differential, two-wheel drive
- 4-year / 20,000-mile warranty
- 21-day at-home trial
- 15-inch step-over; fits riders from 4'10" to 6'2"
- 77 lb with the battery: lighter than most trikes here
The catch: The battery holds 504 Wh, for a stated 40 miles; doubling it means buying EVELO's add-on battery. The brakes are mechanical discs, and the page does not mention a parking brake or a UL certification for the trike. At this price, some buyers will expect hydraulic brakes. It does not fold.
Where can you ride it, and how do you ride it safely?
EVELO's figure: 20 mph maximum assisted speed, adjustable by the rider. Federal product law (15 U.S.C. 2085) describes a low-speed electric bicycle as a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with working pedals, a motor of less than 750 watts and under 20 mph on motor power alone. Where you may ride is set by your state and city (see the PeopleForBikes summaries): check yours. This isn't legal advice.
A trike doesn't lean, so slow down before every corner. Hold a brake lever while you get on or off. The page doesn't state a UL certification: ask before you order. The CPSC says to stay present while the battery charges, use the maker's charger and wear a helmet on every ride.
EVELO Compass specifications
| Motor | 500 W, 105 Nm of torque |
|---|---|
| Drive | Mid-drive |
| Battery | 48 V 10.5 Ah (504 Wh) |
| Range (brand figure) | Up to 40 miles; 80 miles with the add-on battery (EVELO) |
| Top speed | 20 mph maximum assisted speed, adjustable by the rider |
| Total payload | Recommended for riders up to 350 lb |
| Trike weight | 71 lb without the battery, 77 lb with it |
| Stand-over height | 15 in |
| Rider height | 4'10" to 6'2" |
| Tires | 24 × 2.4 in |
| Brakes | Tektro MD-M300 disc brakes, 180 mm rotors |
| Parking brake | Not stated |
| Rear differential | Yes |
| Gears | 3-speed |
| Pedal sensor | Not stated |
| Throttle | On demand |
| Suspension | Not stated |
| Seat backrest | Not stated |
| Baskets | Large rear basket |
| Folds | No |
| Certification | Not stated |
| Delivered | Unboxing and assembly video on the product page |
| Warranty | 4-year / 20,000-mile warranty |
| Returns | 21-day at-home trial |
"Not stated": not on the pages we read on November 13, 2026. Range, speed and payload are EVELO's own figures.
Why 7.8/10? The score, criterion by criterion
Each criterion is scored out of 10 from the published figure; what the brand doesn't publish scores 2. The full method is public.
| Price, against the catalog median (20%) | 4.3/10 |
|---|---|
| Stability and brakes (20%) | 4.5/10 |
| Battery energy in watt-hours (15%) | 5.6/10 |
| Stand-over height (10%) | 8.0/10 |
| Total payload capacity (10%) | 7.0/10 |
| Warranty (10%) | 8.5/10 |
| Comfort and carrying (10%) | 4.0/10 |
| Return or trial window (5%) | 5.5/10 |
How much is the EVELO Compass, and where do you buy it?
$3,199 on EVELO's own US store on November 13, 2026. Sale price shown on November 13, 2026 (Black Friday period); the crossed-out list price on the page was $4,299.
One step up, the Pedego Fat Tire Trike is $3,295 for 7.7/10. We link to the brand's store because that is where we read the price and the stock.
What should you ask EVELO first?
- Does the Compass have a parking brake or a way to lock the brakes when I load it?
- Is the trike certified to UL 2849, and the battery to UL 2271?
- What does the 21-day trial cost me if I send the trike back?
- Is there a service partner near my zip code?
Which trikes should you compare it with?
The two trikes closest in price: Pedego Fat Tire Trike ($3,295, 7.7/10) and sixthreezero Rickshaw ($3,399.99, 8.1/10). Put all three side by side.
Head-to-heads: EVELO Compass vs Pedego Fat Tire Trike. Its closest rivals, compared with each other: sixthreezero Rickshaw vs Addmotor Greattan L.
Rankings with this trike: best electric trikes, electric tricycle for seniors.
Guides that mention it or help you decide: electric trike vs electric bike.
Where do these figures come from?
- evelo.com/products/compass, read November 13, 2026
Not medical or legal advice: rules vary by state and city, and your doctor knows your health.
