I'm looking to start biking. I am 6ft while my wife is 5ft. We're looking for advice on which bike to buy. Not knowing how this will pan out, we would like something inexpensive. More than just pedal assist, rideable as an regular bike. Foldable is a plus. Thanks so much in advance for any effort. Its appreciated.
I don't know how much you like doing mechanical and electrical work.
If it was me, I would buy an electric bike conversion kit, and convert an existing bike. That should be less expensive. If something breaks, you can buy the appropriate part and replace.
You can start with a bike the rider likes.
Obviously, this option is not for people who don't like doing, or don't have the skills to do mechanical or electrical work.
For a 5ft person, the frame size you would be looking at is Small or Extra Small.
This is typically denoted by a Seat Tube to Bottom Bracket measurement in the close range of 14" (give or take half an inch). The top tube will measure something from 18" to 20" on average. The frame size is a bit more important than any other schematics on the bike (such as the crank arm length). The brand of the bike doesn't really matter as much as the measurements do, so shop freely and only make sure you're getting a bike with the proper measurements.