HOVSCO began in 2019 as a manufacturer of hoverboards and scooters. Expanding into e-bikes, they now make around 8 different models, from step-throughs and step-overs to folding bikes and models with a full suspension. With headquarters in Diamond Bar, California, HOVSCO designs and produces e-bikes that blend aesthetics and function. HOVSCO sent me their HovRanger 27.5″ electric bike to try out. Similar to the Coco HD I reviewed recently, the HovRanger houses the battery within its frame. Having ridden and/or reviewed nearly a dozen e-bikes, I really do prefer this design as it lends itself to a much nicer-looking frame.
HOVSCO HovRanger Electric Bike Overview
If you don’t take into account colors, the 8 e-bikes HOVSCO manufactures should fit a wide variety of people’s needs and styles. Aside from various colors, step-over, and tire options, you can get bikes that lean into portability, cargo, and long-range priorities.
The HOVSCO HovRanger is an adult-oriented solution for those desiring a more traditional look and feel. It features a brushless rear hub motor, as you might have guessed, and provides an excellent solution for daily commuters. The step-over design still allows for easy access while giving the bike a more confident stance compared to step-through designs. Of course, HOVSCO lets you choose either.
The bike came nearly fully assembled. By that, I mean that I still needed to attach the handlebars and front wheel as well as screw in the pedals. I also added the rail guard before adjusting the seat height and plugging in the battery (without removing it) to charge overnight.
Design of the HOVSCO HovRanger e-Bike
HOVSCO doesn’t offer sizes for this particular electric bike. you do, however, get your choice of Indigo (our selection) or Dark Grey. If you happen to order two, you can also come across Rose Gold. The bike kept my 5-ft 9-inch, 150-pound frame fairly comfortable while riding. It also fit my 6-foot-tall son well, though he leaned a bit further forward when riding than I did.
The tires are 27.5 x 2.25″ and require a tube with a Schrader valve. The tires give it a much more “commuter” look than models like the HovAlpha or HovScout, which feature fat tires, but you’ll also have to stay on the streets. A nice touch is that HOVSCO includes a front suspension with 75 mm (3 inches) of travel to help cushion the ride.
Overall, this was a comfortable electric bike for extended street riding. If you want them, you can add accessories like fenders and front and/or rear baskets. The bike does include both a front and rear LED light (the latter is battery-powered and activates manually with a switch while you can control the front from the touchscreen LCD panel).
Integrated Technology
The HOVSCO HovRanger electric bike ships with a Shimano 7-speed derailleur that uses a straightforward thumb shifter to advance and reverse through the gears. Sometimes, you have to adjust these to get them to go through all of the gears properly, but HOVSCO set these near-perfectly at the factory.
The Shimano derailleur provided plenty of options when using the HovRanger as a standard bicycle. The hydraulic disc brakes use 180mm rotors and let me quickly and smoothly stop the bike as needed.
LED Mode Display and Pedal Modes
HOVSCO’s LCD display uses a reverse white-on-black display that makes it easier to read in the sun. It displays the current speed, battery charge level, odometer, and the current pedal-assist (PAS) mode. It also indicates whether the front light is on and whether or not the Bluetooth system is active (for connection to the HOVSCO app).
Speaking of the app, it lets you “unlock” Level 3 pedal-assist speeds and tracks travel time, speed, trip, and odometer readings. It also has some cool networking features that I didn’t have time to fully test.
Unlike some electric bicycles, you can hop right on the HovRanger and go. The 500W brushless hub motor can be directly initiated with the throttle in addition to functioning in pedal-assist mode. You can use any of five pedal assist modes (not including “off”). The mode you select determines how much power the HovRanger e-bike adds when you pedal.
That 500W motor works with the integrated (but removable) 48V 720Wh (15Ah, so 648 Wh nominal) battery. HOVSCO claims up to 60 miles of range per charge on pedal-assist mode and around 40 miles when using electric power only. Based on my bicycling, I’d say you can get at least 25-30 miles on electric without batting an eye.
Riding the HOVSCO HovRanger Electric Bike
The HOVSCO HovRanger eBike is comfortable and pedals easily and smoothly. You can adjust the suspension to suit your riding style. The HovRanger starts a bit abruptly due to the powerful hub motor, but once you get started, it’s easy to adjust the PAS mode to keep up with faster cyclists. I also found it easy to operate the pedal assist modes while riding the bike.
Over time, finding the right combinations of gearing and pedal assist resulted in a very satisfying use of the bike. I could always find something that worked to cater to my desire for speed or to make it more relaxing after a harder session of pedaling. I don’t run into a lot of hills here in Central Florida, but the assisted modes and adequate gearing ensure that I can tackle anything I come across.
How Fast is the HovRanger Electric Bike?
Placing the HovRanger into 7th gear, I got the bike up to 27 mph on a flat paved street. HOVSCO claims a maximum of 28 mph, and with the right rider, that’s likely possible. It also got to that top speed rather quickly. The HovRanger can pull out quickly, making it an excellent commuter bike for dealing with traffic flow.
When stopping—even when doing so quickly—the hydraulic brakes slowed the bike quickly and smoothly as expected.
720Wh Locking Removable Battery
HOVSCO makes it easy to charge the battery in place or remove it and bring it inside. Not just a matter of convenience, bringing the battery in from the heat is a great way to extend its useful life. A rubber cover keeps water and debris away from the frame’s charging port. A keyed lock keeps the battery safely in place when in public. The 54.6V 3A charger takes around 7 hours to completely replenish a dead battery.
You can replace the 48V, 15Ah battery for about $450, though HOVSCO didn’t have it in stock at the time of this writing. I typically expect around 3 years of life from any lithium-ion battery—particularly one that uses LG/Samsung cells as this does. In theory, if you do a lot of riding, you could order a spare.
HOVSCO HovRanger vs Kona Coco HD
It’s always fun to compare eBikes, so we pitted the HOVSCO HovRnger against the Kona Coco HD. Both bikes match up pretty well—from features to price. Most notably, the motor is larger on the HovRanger, but that doesn’t seem to affect either top speed or range. The big deal here is that the HovRanger has electric-only mode while the Coco HD functions in pedal assist only.
| HOVSCO HovRanger | Kona Coco HD | |
|---|---|---|
| Max Speed (motor only) | 19.9 mph | NA |
| Max Speed (pedal assist) | 28 mph (unlocked) | 28 mph |
| Max range | 40-60 miles | NA |
| Battery | 48V 15 Ah (~648Wh) | 48V 14 Ah (~604.8Wh) |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Charge Time | 7 hours | 7 hours |
| Brushless Motor | 500W | 400W (peak) |
| Wheels | 27.5 x 2.25 in. | 650x47c |
| Derailleur | Shimano 7-Speed | 8-Speed Shimano Altus |
| Braking | Hydraulic | Tektro HDM275 Hydraulic |
| Max Load | 300 lbs. | 264 lbs. |
| Weight | 55.8 lbs. | 46 lbs. |
| Price | $1599 | $1999 |
Conclusion
The HOVSCO HovRanger electric bike has the stylings of a traditional bike and rides with the power and assistance of electric. It’s a comfortable ride and has a lot of pickup for a commuter bike that needs to deal with traffic. We love that HOVSCO integrates the battery into the frame and the LCD screen is more effective than most. Overall, this e-bike offers an excellent value.
HOVSCO HovRanger Electric Bike Specs
- Tires: 27.5 x 2.25 in. tubed pneumatic w/Schrader valve
- Motor: 500W (970W peak) 48V brushless
- Battery: 48V 648 Wh removable
- Charge time: 7 hours
- 7-speed Shimano derailleur
- Braking: Hydraulic
- Price: $1599
