If you have a mixed commute, or not much space at home, then a folding e-bike can make a lot of sense. And Raleigh are entering that part of the e-bike market with the Stow-e-Way, an £1,100 folding e-bike with a TranzX hub motor.

With a claimed weight of just under 20kg, the Stow-e-Way isn't the lightest folder out there but it's in the same ball park as similar bikes. With its 20" wheels and a folded size of 880mm by 440mm, it'll fit in the boot of your car or the luggage rack of most trains. The 245Wh battery helps to keep the weight down a bit; it'll also restrict the range (Raleight claim 30-50km) but this isn't a bike designed for grand adventures.

The Stow-e-Way uses TranzX's R15 brushless motor built into the rear hub, and an 8-speed derailleur transmission with a Shimano Altus mech. The wide-range 11-32T cassette shoucl cover cruising and climbing okay.

The TranzX system gets a bar-mounted LogixLine controller - that allows the bike to be hooked up to diagnostic systems, and you can also charge your phone from the USB port.

The battery sits behind the seat tube; that's a common setup for smaller-wheeled bikes where there's space for the battery there without increasing the length of the chainstays too much. The Stow-e-Way has a built-in rear rack for lugging your gear in panniers, and full mudguards to keep the worst of the weather off you.

There's built-in lighting front and rear too, powered and controlled by the motor system. It certainly looks like an interesting bike, and we've asked Raleigh if we can get hold of one for testing. We'll let you know when we do!

Raleigh Stow-e-Way full spec