To define what is the best electric bike for carrying everyday carry gear will depend on many factors including purpose, carrying weight, technology and cost. From 2016 to 2017, sales of electric bikes jumped by a whopping 91%, and they have been increasing ever since. Those already on board with the e-bike revolution will understand why their popularity has grown so exponentially.
Despite the added convenience, speed and power, it can still be a challenge to carry your gear whilst you ride. Whether you have small children to ride aboard, looking for an off-road camping adventure or just to carry the weekly shop, using a standard bike to carry cargo is not always the easiest.
In this article, we will examine the factors you need to consider when using your e-bike to carry cargo. Let’s discuss the basics of electric bikes.
What Is An Electric Bike?
An electric bike is just like a traditional bike in many ways. However, they are equipped with a battery, a motor and a controller to assist you while riding. Electric bikes have been specifically designed for just about every type of cycling activity including touring, commuting, cargo and mountain biking.
To go a little bit deeper, there are two sub-categories: throttle and pedal assist. The latter is the most popular as throttle e-bikes are strictly regulated in some countries such as the UK.
What Is The Estimated Carrying Weight Limit On An E-Bike?
Well, that depends on the one you have chosen, as different models have different weight carrying capacities. For most, the weight limit is around 220-300 pounds (100-140 kg). This would include the weight of the rider as well as any everyday carry gear that you are looking to carry. Furthermore, it is important to remember that the weight you add will change your cycling experience.
Choosing The Best Electric Cargo Bike
If you plan on using your e-bike to carry gear, there are a number of points to consider. Electric cargo bikes have been specifically designed to carry heavy and oversize loads. If you only plan on carrying loads occasionally, you could look for an electric bike that can be fitted with panniers, front and rear racks.
Other factors to think about include:
Front suspension
High performance suspension is often seen essential for mountain bike riding, as it helps to dampen any rough terrain. For most people, the standard suspension such as RST Volant is usually satisfactory, with front suspension only being the most popular option.
Budget e-bikes tend not to be well suited to carrying heavy loads, as components may be low quality. Keep in mind that having a suspension system is not required to define the best electric bikes for carrying cargo.
Electric cargo bike motor power and brakes
In general, the higher the wattage the more powerful your e-bike will be. It is important to think about your weight, load weight and topography where you are planning to ride. Mid-drive motors are more powerful as in torque (so good to carry stuff), so when choosing the right one, make sure it has this type of motor.
On the brake side, most e-bikes feature hydraulic disk systems that have more power at stopping. This means that for carrying any gear, they are the ones to look for.
The best electric bikes for carrying everyday carry gear in the market also feature regenerative braking, which means that some power is fed back into the battery each time you use them.
Tires
Providing grip, traction and comfort, choosing the right set of tires is essential in ensuring your e-bike can perform at its best. When purchasing the right electric bicycle for carrying cargo, consider the width of the tires. This refers to having better control and traction on any terrain.
Accessories
There are so many different types of accessories that you can add to your e-bike to make them better equipped for carrying cargo. For example, cycle bags are available in different sizes and can be attached to front or rear racks, under your seat, or on the sides of the tires. Of course, to use any type of bag or pannier, make sure that you can add a front or rear rack. Not all electric bikes have the structure for racks.
Alternately, you may wish to opt for a trailer. This would be ideal for taking the kids to school, shopping, filling with camping gear or carrying any other form of cargo. Similarly, you need to ensure you pick a compatible trailer for you e-bike.
E-Bike Advantages
- Carry More: If you are using your bike to regularly carry cargo, the best electric bike means that you can carry much more than what you would normally while maintaining excellent average speeds.
- Ease of Use: The extra boost of power means that you can travel much farther without expending as much energy as you would on traditional bikes.
- Sustainability: Using an electric cycle instead of a car is also a more eco-friendly and sustainable mode of transport.
E-Bike Disadvantages
- Limited performance: If you are choosing an e-bike that is not specifically designed for carrying loads, there can be some issues with performance, particularly when climbing hills
- Limited battery: As they have yet to invent a battery that keeps on going, e-bikes are limited by the amount of charge. However, you can still ride pedal-assist e-bikes when the battery is flat so you will not be stranded!
- Regulations: The differences in regulations in different states and countries can be confusing, so check check out the rules in your specific location before making a purchase.
Recommended Best Electric Bike For Carrying Everyday Carry Gear
I know there are a lot of models to look at in the market but not all of them have: performance, quality of components and a good-looking aspect. After carefully reviewing some of the best electric bikes in 2020, some of our favourite e-bikes that are ideal for carrying cargo include:
Giant Explore E+2
According to Electric Bike Advisor (EBA), the Giant Explore E+2 electric hybrid bike offers excellent handling and adaptability, as it is ideal for trekking and exploring the outdoors anytime. It can handle the urban environment as well as the outdoors thanks to its 27” Giant CrossCut gravel 2 tires. It features a SyncDrive Sport motor by Yamaha, an EnergyPak battery and a rear rack mount so you can customise cargo capacity.
Riese and Müller Multicharger
The Multicharger is one of the best electric cargo bikes currently in the market. It performs well on a variety of terrains, thanks to its Bosch motor and puncture resistance tires. Definitively, it is well equipped to add any loads to the front of rear. And lastly what I most like is the front suspension. It may not perform the same as the best electric mountain bike but with a 60mm travel, it is enough to absorb any harsh bumps.
Conclusion
As you have seen, there are a few things to consider when buying best best electric bike for carrying everyday carry gear. The market is flooded with so many models that is really hard to know what to look at. Even though, I’m suggesting looking into Giant and Riese and Müller ebikes, if you like to explore other brands and designs, I suggest to read trusted reviews from reliable sources before investing such as Electric Bike Advisor.