2023-10-22 09:00:00
Ecological, reliable and practical transport par excellence, the electric bike is an increasingly popular choice for daily travel. And for families, cargo bikes and electrically assisted longtails represent a particularly interesting choice. These two-wheelers (sometimes three-wheelers) allow you to transport children and heavy loads without any difficulty. But what are the differences between all types of cargo bikes? Which model corresponds to which needs? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each ?
Source : Decathlon
The cargo bike is a bicycle – electric or mechanical – capable of transporting loads. Very useful for traders, delivery people, etc., it is also a real alternative to the car for families, because, depending on the model, up to four children can be accommodated in it.
There are several types of cargo bikes, and here we will focus on electric vehicles:
the electric two-wheeler: a bicycle whose front is elongated and allows a box to be placed between the handlebars and the front wheel;
the electric scooter: a bike equipped with a larger body at the front, surrounded by two wheels;
the longtail, or recumbent bike: a bike whose rear rack is extended to accommodate child seats.
To be able to transport several passengers, electric cargo bikes have a more solid structure than traditional electric bikes, but also a more powerful motor to provide comfortable electric assistance. Result: these two (or three) wheels from the Netherlands have made a real place for themselves in French homes, particularly in the city, because they are easy and pleasant to handle.
Comfort and transport capabilities
Source : Trek
Le longtail is a bike whose structure is elongated at the rear, so it is a model that is taller than it is wide. Most brands offer longtail bikes between 185 and 200 cm, such as the Mustache Lundi 20. On this type of bike, the passengers (2 maximum) sit one behind the other, behind the driver. Several types of accessories exist for transporting children: seats, footrests, structural bars, etc. And of course various types of bags.
The cargo bike (bicycle or tricycle) can contain a large bin which will transport three, or even four children for certain models. These will be located at the front of the bike, which will allow them to have a view of the entire road, but which requires you to be even more vigilant when braking. Cargo storage capacity is also higher on these types of bikes because you can add panniers to the rider’s rear. In terms of dimensions, electric cargo ships have a larger size – particularly in width – which can make their use more difficult: it is impossible to sneak around town, and sometimes difficult to park.
An important point for the comfort of your little passengers: there are only a handful of rain protection systems on longtailswhile this accessory is much more common for the front bed of cargo bikes.
Read also
Decathlon Elops F900E: an electric cargo bike capable of transporting 3 children
Performance and handling
Source : Decathlon
Going from a “classic” bike to a cargo bike always requires a little time to adapt, obviously due to the unusual weight of the vehicle (often 40 kg empty), and its large volume. This is especially the case for scooters which, with their two front wheels, are very wide, and therefore impressive to handle at first. Electric longtails are relatively close to the traditional bicycle in handling.
On a recumbent bike, children sit at the same height as the driver, so the center of gravity is higher than on a cargo bike where the transport box is close to the ground. These two types of bikes remain very stable, especially if you get a double kickstand. But you should be careful around corners if you are driving an electric scooter, because if you approach them too quickly, a wheel may lift and you will lose stability.
Adaptability to daily use
Source: Évo
The cargo bike rides very well on the road, but given its width, you will not be able to use the cycle paths. No problem with the longtail, which has the same width as any other bike.
But the real question lies above all in storing your bike when not in use. If you have a garage or bike room, you’re fine. But if you have to take your cargo bike upstairs to store it, you’ll have to be brave, because it’s very heavy ! Since longtail bikes are less bulky than front-mounted bikes, you can easily enter an entrance hall with them, without even having to get off the children, which can be convenient, especially with the youngest.
How much does an electric cargo bike cost?
Of course, cargo bikes are much more expensive than other models, but if they really replace the car on a daily basis, they provide significant savings.
The electric cargo offer starts at €2,899, with the Decathlon Longtail R500 Elec, and goes up very quickly, especially if it is necessary to add options such as baby carriers, crutches or children’s cushions. On average, we hover around 4,000 euroswhether for a two-wheeler, a three-wheeler or an electric longtail.
This is an amount that few French people can afford. But on the one hand, the purchase of an electric cargo bike entitles you to aid of up to €2,000, and on the other hand, the price of insurance, electricity, servicing and maintenance are out of all proportion to those incurred by a thermal car.
Ultimately, whatever your needs, adopting an electric, cargo or longtail bike is a step towards a more sustainable and enjoyable mode of transportation. Reducing carbon emissions, reducing traffic jams and travel times, an active, environmentally friendly lifestyle shared with your children are undeniable benefits. So, whether you opt for the longtail electric bike for its versatility or the electric cargo bike for its exceptional transport capacity, the important thing is to embark on this new era of urban mobility.
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