E-bikes are easing the cargo bike load

While they’re still relatively thin on the ground here in the UK, Eurobike had a sizable selection of cargo bikes on show, a category for which the electric drive is particularly well suited, with some bikes capable of holding a thigh-shattering load of 200kg.

According to the team behind Eurobike, electric drives are being installed to increasing numbers of cargo bikes, including the Bullit model from the Danish cult brand Larry vs. Harry in an e-bike version with a powerful Bronx drive system. Meanwhile the Dutch cargo bike specialists at Urban Arrow use a Bosch system and the Loan Hybrid model from Riese und Müller, the Darmstadt manufacturer of folding bikes and e-bikes.

The Eurobike team is keen the push the cargo bikes sector, adding that a study financed by the EU revealed that around half of goods shipments made in European cities could also be carried out with cargo bikes.

Some companies are waking up to the possibilities faster than others – the German sustainable transport association VCD has launched an extensive information portal dedicated to cargo bikes, we’re told.