For local, daily trips around town, an e-cargo bike provides the freedom your vehicle potentially promises, but often fails to deliver. If you’re tired of waiting in the car line at school pick up, or just want to spend more time riding and less time sitting in a car, an e-cargo bike can make it happen for you. The latest generation of e-cargo bikes are more customizable than previous iterations with many accessories to suit a rider's needs. Whether it involves picking up kids from school, furnishing a room from Ikea, or shopping a whole week's worth of groceries, there’s a bike in this roundup that gets it done.Even better, as e-bike technology has become more common, the bikes have gotten cheaper. While it’s always possible to spend more, riders can now get a perfectly serviceable e-cargo bike for around $2,000. Granted, that is by no means cheap, unless you compare it to the yearly cost of fueling, insuring, maintaining, and registering a car. Replacing a car, whether a second one or the only car in the household, is where an e-cargo bike shines.The Best Cargo BikesBest Overall: Specialized Globe Haul STBest Value: Aventon AboundBest Small-Wheel Cargo: REI Co-op Cycles Generation e1.2Best New E-Cargo Bike: Tern Quick Haul Long D9Best Cheap E-Cargo: Lectric Xpedition 2.0 StratusHow We Test Cargo BikesThese bikes are thoroughly put through their paces by the Bicycling editorial team. We don't just test them—we live with them. We haul groceries, drop kids off at school, and squeeze in as many rides as possible to see if these e-cargo bikes can truly replace our cars for daily life.Test Editor Dan Chabanov puts them through the ultimate car-replacement experiment on the streets of his hometown of Philadelphia, while Senior Reviews Editor Bobby Lea tests claims about power and range on his hilly, 10-mile school drop-off route. At our Easton, PA headquarters, the rest of the team gives these bikes a daily beating, using them to run errands around town (because let’s be honest—e-cargo bikes are just plain fun to ride).We also speak with the product managers behind the designs to understand their choices, and compared each model to its closest competitors to see how they stack up. Bottom line: we test these bikes like we’d use them in real life—because we actually did.PakYak E+Our Full Cargo Bike ReviewsAt $2,000, the Abound is Aventon’s priciest bike. But it’s also the second-most affordable bike on this list. The Abound looks fantastic and well-prepared for the designated assignment. The bike’s squat appearance and stout frame practically beg you to load it up with every possible parcel, payload, or accessory. Also included in the Abound’s base price are a sturdy rear rack, footboards for a passenger, a center-mount kickstand, and an SR Suntour suspension fork.The bike also comes equipped with a dropper seatpost. Commonly found on mountain bikes, this post allows the saddle to raise or lower when riding the bike (via a switch lever under the nose of the saddle). The dropper enables riders to get on or off the Abound when it has a full cargo load.If you’re considering the XPedition, it’s likely due to its very appealing price. At only $1,700 for the single-battery version or $2,000 for a dual-battery, it’s one of the cheapest on this list. It's a good option for folks seeking a deal on an e-cargo bike.“The XPedition’s capability surprised me", said Test Editor Dan Chabanov. "Combined with the Lectric XL panniers ($150) and the Essentials package ($120), I comfortably carried several days of groceries for a family of three or one adult passenger.”With a price like this, concessions have to be made somewhere, and the bike has a cheap feeling about it. Most of the XPedition’s parts are bottom-tier—with the notable exception of the brakes. We like the addition of the suspension fork, and brake lights and turn signals are a much-appreciated feature when sharing the road with vehicular traffic. The pedal-assist motor is powerful off the line, but it feels erratic at times. It’s adequate if you live somewhere very flat or don’t need to carry kids or an adult passenger, but we would not recommend maxing it out in a hilly area. Despite these faults, if you’re on a budget and looking to ditch the car for errands and trips around town, the XPedition is the cheapest e-cargo bike we recommend buying.Tern consistently produces some of the best electric cargo bikes. The brand practically invented the compact cargo bike category with its GSD, a bike that made it far more practical for urban and suburban riders to replace a car with an e-cargo bike. However, top-tier performance and versatility come at a price—the cheapest GSD starts at $4,500, while the most expensive model will set you back $5,900.Tern's Quick Haul Long is so enticing because it delivers the core functionality of the GSD at a more accessible $3,800 price, or only $2,500 for the shorter Quick Haul D8. Tern offers a wide range of accessories so riders can customize this bike to their needs. The version I’m testing is outfitted with the Clubhouse rear rack, so my wife and I can ride our kids to school. And thanks to the one-size-fits-most frame, even my five-foot-tall sister-in-law can hop on and ride the Quick Haul when she visits.While the Quick Haul Long’s frame isn’t as sleek as the GSD and lacks a suspension fork, the bike still packs everything needed to be a true car replacement. Features include hydraulic disc brakes, a robust double kickstand, a built-in frame lock, trailer attachment points, and an impressive maximum weight limit of 419 pounds. Even when loaded with two kids and a trailer full of groceries, the Bosch Cargo Line motor—with 85 Nm of torque and up to 400 percemt pedal-assist support—promises to make a fully laden trip up the long climb back to our house possible without turning into a sweaty mess in the process.The Specialized Globe Haul ST packs 419 pounds of cargo capacity into a surprisingly compact frame. With powerful brakes, dialed geometry, and well-thought-out features, it’s ready to tackle commuting, grocery getting, neighborhood errands, or getting a kid to daycare. Without active suspension, the Haul relies on massive 3.5-inch tires for its ride comfort, which work well on all but the roughest roads. What seals the deal on the Haul is that it’s a blast to ride. This might not strike you as earth-shattering, but many e-cargo bikes just aren’t. What makes e-cargo bikes good often comes down to their utility, and the Haul ST has that in spades. But what it does well is simultaneously manage to be both practical and fun.The Generation e1.2 is the most affordable cargo-capable bike on our list. Even at $1,900, it manages to be impressively equipped with hydraulic disc brakes, front and rear lights, fenders, and front and rear racks as standard. While its total capacity is lower than that of the other bikes on this list, it can be perfect for riders making short trips like light errands and shopping. It’s also zippy and small enough to pull double duty as a commuter bike. The e1.2 is a good option for riders who don’t need to transport passengers or regularly carry heavy loads.At first glance, the Cannondale Cargowagon Neo and the Tern GSD are similar bikes. They both sell for $4,300. Both are long-tail cargo bikes with a Bosch mid-drive motor. And they both roll on 20-inch wheels. But what is interesting is the differences between these two bikes.The Cannondale is a Class 3 bike with pedal assist up to 28mph and uses the Bosch Performance Speed mid-drive motor. It’s more practically a 21-23 mph bike, as you need to work hard to hit the motor cut-off speed. The extra top speed also came with added acceleration from a stop thanks to the additional 10 Nm of torque the Cannondale (85 Nm) has over the Tern (75 Nm). That torque and speed are appreciated when sharing road space with vehicles.The Cargowagon Neo has a slight edge over the Tern for total carrying capacity, but it does not have a folding bar or a telescoping seatpost. Instead, it uses a handlebar-actuated dropper post and an adjustable stem on a conventional steer tube. Test Editor Dan Chabanov loves the dropper and wishes more cargo bikes came with that feature. The ride experience of the Cargowagen Neo is as dialed and pleasant as the Tern GSD, which is a big compliment to Cannondale. But the extra speed available from the motor, plus the more direct steering feel of the non-foldable handlebar, put the Cargowagen Neo at the top of the list for Chabanov, saying it was his favorite long-tail bike to ride. The Tern GSD S10 won Bicycling’s Gear of the Year award in 2018 for its car-replacing versatility and range. The current GSD S10 builds upon the original’s success with a Bosch Cargo Line motor, which provides more torque and features a walk-assist mode for easier off-the-bike maneuvering. There’s also a wide-range 1o speed cassette, which combines with the motor to tackle any hill. Like its predecessor, the GSD S10 holds two Bosch battery packs—buying both extends the range to a 155-mile maximum but adds $800 to the price.There’s something great about the clean design of the RemiDemi 9D that makes you want to take it everywhere. Customize it with accessories like a front rack, panniers, or even a child seat (it comes with a large rear rack). It’ll quickly become your go-to compact e-cargo bike for running errands, zipping around at the beach, and even commuting when the time comes (it gets up to 62 miles on one charge). You’ll encourage friends and family to “go ahead, take it for a spin” because you want to share the joy it brings. And with its low standover and stable balloon tires, it’s easy for almost anyone to ride. You might not notice at first, but you’ll come to appreciate its integrated lights and the fact that its wheelbase is about 6 inches shorter than that of a typical cargo bike. This both helps to save space in storage and also makes the 10D that much easier to maneuver. The Fetch+ 4 is Trek’s take on the classic Dutch bakfiet and is designed to replace the minivan for families with as many as four kids. It sells with two child seats included, but you can add different accessories to make passengers more comfortable. These include a full cover for the basket to keep everyone out of the wind and rain. Trek uses Bosch’s latest BES3 system with a Bosch Cargo Drive motor, which delivers its power via a Gates Carbon belt drive that ensures virtually maintenance-free running.A sturdy and dependable way to transport cargo or small humans around town, the Momentum PakYak E+ electric bike lets you enjoy the bicycle ride instead of the frustrations of car traffic and congestion for those short and medium-length trips. The PakYak E+ is a one-size-fits-most midtail cargo e-bike. It has a front basket, rear rack, a heavy-duty kickstand, and lighting. Momentum offers several options to customize your PakYak based on your intended cargo. A class 3 e-bike, the PakYak E+ has 28mph of power assist via five power levels. Paired with a five-speed Shimano Nexus internal gear hub, the bike helps you haul kids or cargo efficiently, comfortably, and without breaking a sweat. What to Consider in a Cargo BikeCargo Bike LayoutsDomestic and international cargo bike popularity has exploded in the past decade, says Xtracycles founder and longtail cargo bike pioneer Ross Evans. There are generally three main styles of cargo bikes: long tail, front loader, and the bakfiet (a Dutch term that translates to 'box bike').There are also trike varieties for riders needing to transport heavy loads or more than two children. The longtail cargo bike is the most agile and lightweight, and it transports cargo or passengers on an extended tail section behind the rider. A front loader places its payload in front of the rider, generally on a low-slung platform adaptable to suit many needs. Last is the bakfiet-style bike with a large basket (typically in front of the rider) for carrying cargo or transporting multiple passengers.The Tern GSD is a classic compact long tail cargo bike. A bakfiet style bike has a large front basket or platform for cargo and passengers. To Electrify or Not?To make sense of the recent cargo bike boom, look to e-bikes. “Electricity and cargo bikes go together like PB&J,” Evans says. Schlepping hundreds of pounds on a bike is great if you’re looking for a workout. But e-cargo bikes like the Tern GSD and Benno Boost E use pedal-assist electric motors and can deliver more than 50 miles of range to make cargo bikes more accessible to riders who want the convenience of a car in a bike-sized package.The tech comes at a price, however. E-cargo bikes tend to be pricier than their non-electric counterparts, but unless you live somewhere completely flat (and even if you do), we think an e-cargo bike is still the way to go. The vastly improved usability, carrying capacity, and range of e-cargo bikes save you money in the long run by being a more effective car substitute (versus non-assist bikes that requires more effort to ride).Accessorize to Fit Your NeedsOnce you’ve purchased a cargo bike, you’ll want the right accessories to maximize its utility. Start on the manufacturer’s website: Brands like Tern and Benno sell panniers, racks, and child seats to match their cargo bikes. Alternatively, if your style is more “dump it and go,” bakfiets like the Riese & Müller Load 60 use a single spacious box—typically upfront—that’ll fit all your stuff (there are still seat belts for your kids). The best way to figure out which style or bike you prefer is by getting out for a test ride.Approach an e-cargo bike and accessory purchase the same way you would if you were buying a car. Try and test as many options as possible. Prioritize your most common cargo needs. While it can be fun to think in aspirational terms, getting a bike suited to your daily needs will mean that you use it more often.Why You Should Trust UsHere at Bicycling, we've been testing bikes, accessories, and more since 1961—much longer than anyone else in the business. Recommendations are based on the extensive work of our test team: Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy, Senior Test Editor Matt Phillips, Test Editor Dan Chabonov, and Maintenance Editor Gabe Ortiz. Together, we have more than 60 years of ride-testing experience and insight that is brought to every recommendation made. Even when we don’t acquire gear strictly for work, we’re still giving it all a thorough test. We’re cyclists, too, and we depend on quality gear—and that’s why it’s easiest for us to simply let you know what has worked best for us, no matter what you may discover elsewhere.
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