Electric cargo bikes⁷

Buying an electric cargo bike: what to look for

All cargo bikes on this page are electric, with a 250 watt motor, assistance up to 25 km/h and hydraulic disc brakes. That makes them ordinary electric bicycles in the Netherlands: you do not need a licence, number plate or insurance. The differences are in the number of wheels, how many children fit in, the motor and the battery.

Two-wheeler or three-wheeler?

A three-wheeler stays upright by itself when you stop and feels stable at low speed. That is useful if you stop often or are still getting used to a cargo bike. A two-wheeler steers and rides more like a normal bike and is narrower, handy in busy traffic and in a narrow bike shed.

• Two-wheelers: the VOGUE Carry 2 and the Royal Cargo Bike 2W Premium and 2W Premium Plus.
• Three-wheelers: including the VOGUE Carry 3, Carry 3 Bafang Max, Journey Plus, Superior 3 Deluxe and Avenger, the Royal Cargo Bike 3W Eco, 3W Premium and 3W Premium Plus, the Cangoo Buckle Up and the Van Rixtel Dog.

How many children fit in?

Most cargo bikes here have room for 4 children, such as the VOGUE Carry 2 and Carry 3, the Journey S and Journey Plus, the Superior 3 Deluxe, the Caddy and the Royal Cargo Bike 3W models. The Royal Cargo Bike 2W models fit up to 3 children, the Keewee Bike 2.0 fits 2. According to the specifications, the Royal Cargo Bike models and the VOGUE Caddy can carry up to 220 kg in total.

Mid-drive or rear hub motor?

A mid-drive motor sits at the bottom bracket and responds to how hard you pedal. That feels natural, even uphill with a full box. The VOGUE Carry models, the Journey Plus, the Superior 3 Deluxe and the Avenger, the Royal Cargo Bike 2W Premium, the Cangoo Buckle Up and the Keewee Bike 2.0 have a mid-drive motor. The VOGUE Journey S and Caddy, the Royal Cargo Bike 3W Eco and the Van Rixtel Dog have a rear hub motor. The torque shows how much pulling power a motor has: from 45 Nm on the Royal Cargo Bike 3W Eco and the Van Rixtel Dog to 100 Nm on the VOGUE Avenger.

How far can you go?

That mainly depends on the battery. On these cargo bikes it ranges from 450 Wh (the smallest battery for the Van Rixtel Dog) to 700 Wh on the Cangoo Buckle Up. The range the manufacturers state is between roughly 40 and 90 km. With a full box, headwind or cold you will get less. If you ride a few kilometres to school and back every day, any battery here is more than enough.

What comes as standard?

That differs per model, so check the product page. The VOGUE Carry 2, Carry 3 Bafang Max, Superior 3 Deluxe and Avenger and the Keewee Bike 2.0 come with a rain cover. The VOGUE Journey S and Journey Plus come with an accessory pack with a rain cover, seat belts and a lock. For the Royal Cargo Bike 3W Eco you can buy a rain cover and cushion set separately.

A cargo bike for your dog

The Van Rixtel Dog is made to carry a dog. According to the specifications, the box can carry 80 kg and the rider 120 kg. It comes in several colours.

See also: VOGUE cargo bikes | Royal Cargo Bike | Van Rixtel cargo bikes | longtails | Black Friday cargo bikes