The cargo bike has finally arrived in the political arena. The promotion of private cargo bikes - triggered by a proposal from the Green Party - has become an election campaign issue. Specifically: According to the Greens, one million cargo bikes are to be subsidized by the federal government in the next legislative period. A subsidy of 1,000 euros per unit could be paid, regardless of whether the two-wheeler is used commercially or privately. That would be a total of one billion euros invested in the promotion of transport bikes.

Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock backed the proposal, saying there should be no "absolute inequality" to the existing subsidy of 6,000 euros for electric cars and pointing to this connection to people without driver's licenses. Environment Minister Svenja Schulze of the SPD, however, is skeptical of the proposal, saying that the federal government already subsidizes cargo bikes for freelancers, companies and municipalities - which would do more for climate protection. Schulze also said that private individuals could also benefit from the existing premium (see info below). CDU Secretary General Paul Ziemia further fueled the heated debate by calling the Greens' idea "abstruse and unworldly" on Twitter.

The Green Party's proposal is not the only reason why cargo bikes are on everyone's lips. Although the sales figures of (motorized) cargo bikes are comparatively low, experts see the transport bike as an elementary part of the traffic turnaround. Whether as a means of transporting children, for shopping or commercially: cargo bikes, especially those with a motor, can replace the automobile in many cases. On top of that, they take up less space, do not cause noise and exhaust fumes, and are inexpensive compared to cars. Reason enough for BIKE BILD to take a look around the market and subject current models to a major test.

We have tested these e-cargo bikes

MANUFACTURER AND MODEL	CATEGORY	PRICE
Backfiets Cruiser Short Steps	Compact class	4.185
E-Muli	Compact Class	4.880
Urban Arrow Shorty	Compact Class	5,190 (buy tip)
E.Yoonit Family	Compact Class	5.360
Backfiets Classic Long Steps Shadow	Long John class	4.849 (buy tip)
E-Bullitt	Long John class	6.100
Achielle Ferre	Long-John-Class	4.979
Urban Arrow Family	Long-John class	5.490
Cago	SUV-Class	7.899
Carqon	SUV-Class	5.490 (buy tip)
Riese + Müller Load 75	SUV Class	7,499 (Buy Tip)
Riese + Müller Packster 70	SUV Class	7.099
Black Iron Horse Pony	Trike class	5.899
Butchers & Bicycles	Trike Class	6.599
Chike E-Kids	Trike Class	5.799 (buy tip)
Johansson Fiete (Dog)	Trike Class	3.799

Cargobikes are increasingly becoming part of the traffic flow in our cities. While sales figures are still low compared to the roughly 1.9 million conventional e-bikes sold in 2020 - the sales share of cargo bikes in the e-bike market was four percent in 2020, according to the Zweirad Industrieverband (ZIV) - the numbers within the bike category itself are skyrocketing. While 15,125 e-cargo bikes were sold in Germany in 2016, the figure was already 39200 in 2018 and as high as 78000 units in 2020.

A survey conducted by the lobbying association Cycling Industries Europe and the Internet platform Cargobike.jetzt, in which 38 European cargo bike manufacturers participated, also shows that Germany is the most important sales market for 16 of the participating brands surveyed. This is followed, by a wide margin with only four mentions, by Denmark. The forecast for growth in the cargo bike segment is also enormous, at well over 50 percent. Climate protection, air pollution control and a lack of space in major cities are additionally fuelling the issue - due to the insight and practical will to implement among families and tradespeople, and because of the need for politicians to finally demonstrate success in implementing climate targets and the transport turnaround.

It is no wonder that there are currently more than 100 purchase premium programs in Germany (www.cargobike.jetzt). The premiums offered by the federal government are mostly limited to commercial enterprises. Above all, however, individual municipalities are very active; they also want to promote cargo bikes for families in order to equalize traffic on their streets. In most cases, private buyers benefit with a subsidy of between 300 and 1,000 euros.

The variety of models is constantly growing, because the widely differentiated transport needs of buyers require appropriate solutions. "There is no such thing as the "eierlegende Wollmilchsau" among cargo bikes," explains René Reckschwardt, owner of Ahoi Velo Cargobikes in Hamburg (see interview). An e-cargo bike has to adapt to the life situation, which can always change. He himself advocates a brand- and concept-neutral approach when families, businesses or even individuals are interested in a cargo bike.

And so, especially on nice Saturdays, you see many cyclists riding different e-cargobikes through Hamburg's Schanzenpark: single-track bikes with a low, spartan transport box; SUV-like vehicles bursting with technology; tricycles whose entire axle is steered from the driver's stand; tricycles that lean into curves on the front axle using tilting technology or even daring models with the steering on the rear wheel. With this in mind, we decided not to pit all cargo bikes against each other in a direct comparison. Instead, we have divided 16 (!) models into the categories that are currently most in demand: compact, single-track bikes, then the so-called Long John class, which is equipped with a longer wheelbase; moreover, we have tested the SUV class - bikes that are equipped with all the technical refinements, and finally the trike class, i.e. three-wheelers, whereby there are strong technical differences even within this class.

Testing such a large number of models would not have been possible without the support of Ahoy Velo. This fact, however, also means that we tested bikes that were not necessarily available to us brand-new. For example, one or the other brake pad could already be more worn down than another. Most of the tested bikes are of course available in different configurations when purchased. We have therefore assessed exactly the cargo bike that was in front of us - and also name the price that is charged for exactly this bike. Furthermore, rain covers were available for all test participants. We removed these and did not mention them in the price. However, the rain cover of the Chike cargo bike was not removable; it is a fixed component of the child's cabin.

During extensive testing, we have made every effort to ensure that you, dear reader, have a comprehensive picture of the e-cargo bikes. If we have aroused your interest in a bike of this type, the advice of René Reckschwardt, cargo bike and sales professional, remains important: "You must test, test, test!

Each of our four test riders rode each of the 16 e-cargo bikes extensively on a selected test track with different surfaces, climbs and descents, and tight and wide curves. The test laps were completed sometimes without a load, sometimes with a sandbag weighing a good 30 kilograms. Sometimes - so that the riding impressions could be shared even better - the testers also had their colleagues chauffeur them through the Hamburg park. Sometimes we put the bikes under undue strain. For example, we climbed steep hills not only in a light gear, but also with a heavy gear ratio to see how the gears and engine work together. Some braking maneuvers may also have seemed exaggerated to passers-by on the test track. However, we were of the opinion that it is especially important for parents who want to transport their children to know the limits of the cargo bikes.

Clearly with e-support. Especially if you're transporting loads or want to go on excursions with children, you'll run out of breath too quickly without an electric motor. With e-cargo bikes, you can increase your radius of action enormously and go on more trips, even further away.

Five or six years ago, only freaks and pioneers came. Today, many families come who no longer want a second car or even a first car, because the cars just sit around most of the time anyway. There are also a lot of business people who come now.

There's no such thing as the "egg-laying lizard". The bikes differ greatly, and each has its own qualities. An e-cargo bike must fit the respective life situation. Today, you might need two child seats, a high railing and an averagely powerful motor because you live in the flat. Two years later, you have to transport boxes and need a more powerful motor, for example in a mountainous city like Stuttgart.

Test, test, test - and do so regardless of brand and concept!

Source: https://www.bike-bild.de/fahrrad/tests/16-e-cargobikes-und-e-lastenraeder-2021-im-test-1107781.html

HILD RADWELT OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF EXCELLENT CARGO BIKES, INCLUDING THE ALREADY MENTIONED URBAN ARROW SHORTY, CARQON AND CHICKE.


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