He Pedego Cargo Electric Bike It is marketed as a powerful and sporty vehicle, aimed at parents who drive their children around town and anyone who needs to transport heavy equipment.
I spent the summer testing this electric cargo bike to find out if it could handle that mission. My take: It’s a stylish vehicle that can carry a lot of cargo in many shapes and sizes. But some technical issues, as well as its weight, might make some (including me) hesitate before shelling out $4,000. That said, Pedego’s five-year warranty with optional anti-theft protection might make it all worth it.
Pedego, a California-based company, has been around since 2009, so customers can benefit from a robust network of more than 200 stores nationwide. This can be especially valuable for newcomers to e-bikes who want to try before they buy or want a reliable service network—a problem that startups like VC Darling have struggled with. VanMooffaced with the need to follow a mainly direct-to-consumer model with custom-made parts.
Nuts and bolts
The price ranges from $3,995 to $4,295, which places it in the mid-high end of the market. Cargo Bike Price SpectrumThe one I tested had a 48V 14Ah battery, which brought the price up to $4,295 (though it's currently on sale for $4,195). However, riders can also opt for the 48V 9Ah battery for a cheaper price. Regardless of the battery size, customers may notice that it fits nicely in the bike's frame and can be removed for charging inside.
The Pedego cargo e-bike has a 750W rear hub motor and a peak torque of 85Nm. It comes with both throttle and pedal assist options, which is the ideal combination. I didn’t actually notice much of a difference between the pedal assist levels, but found it fairly easy to switch between them. While the throttle was powerful, it often didn’t take off right away if I was on a hill or had a passenger on the back.
The color LCD display has enough ambient light to be able to see the odometer and other information on the screen on a sunny day, and it has a handy USB-C charging port. The handlebar has a mounted headlight with high and low beam as well as a running light. At the rear is a radiant taillight with an active brake light and a running light.
Pedego Cargo Electric Bike: What I loved
There are a lot of things to love about Pedego’s Cargo e-bike, and that starts with the non-existent setup. Pedego sent me a fully assembled bike in a giant box. While taking apart all that packaging was a lesson in patience and persistence, it was preferable to putting the bike together myself.
I also love the look of the Pedego Cargo bike. A bit of wood (in the form of folding footpegs and an added front basket) goes a long way toward giving a vintage vibe to an otherwise plain-looking aluminum alloy frame. I've had a lot of people stop me on the street to ask about the bike, and one passerby even called it “sexy.” I tested the black model, but it's also available in white.
The Pedego Cargo Bike comes equipped with a rear seat for an additional rider, with a backrest and handlebars to hold on to. This seat can be replaced with various Pedego models. accessoriesYou can mount up to two child seats or an extended rear rack where you can secure baskets, pet carriers and cooler bags.
According to the company’s spec sheet, the bike can support 400 pounds total. And I put that weight limit to the test as best I could, riding on the back while my partner and friends drove it. And with those wide 20 x 4-inch tires, the Pedego Cargo Bike also handles itself very well off-road, in case you were wondering.
And it's fast. The bike reaches a top speed of 45 kilometres per hour, which allowed me to win a race against my teammate, who was riding the Rad Power. RadRunner 2.
The cargo bike also comes with a 11.5-liter waterproof storage compartment that sits just below the rider's saddle and can be accessed from the top or side.
Two support options (single side and double center leg) make parking easy.
Pedagogue Electric cargo bike: What I didn't like
The bike is 79.2 inches long, making it difficult to store and maneuver. It also weighs 106 pounds. without The passenger/cargo kits installed. I had to lift the bike up a step every time I wanted to ride it, and I found that exercise to be a bit challenging and cumbersome. Particularly when it fell over once and I had a hard time picking it up again. This bike would only really work for someone with a dedicated ground-level storage space, like a garage, or who doesn't have lower back issues. No one would want to carry it up even a flight of stairs.
While the bike was plenty sturdy to ride alone, when I put my 12 year old nephew on the back, the handlebars wobbled a bit, which is NOT what you want when a child you love is hanging on for dear life behind you.
The bike also has turn signals, but I found them of no use, not to mention a hindrance. They make a horrible beeping noise when turned on, so I had to stop using them immediately out of sheer annoyance. And with the somewhat dim lights on the back, it's not really clear to other road users that you're using a turn signal. I would have preferred a bell or horn, but that wasn't included on the standard Pedego Cargo e-bike.
The e-bike Pedego sent me also had very squeaky brakes, and that's not something you want to fix right after getting a brand new bike.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the Cargo bike kept shutting off mid-ride. It was never a battery life issue, because I kept it charged. I asked Pedego about this and they said the problem could be loose cables and recommended I tighten them all.
However, this could have been an anomaly, and with the warranty and plenty of brick-and-mortar stores to take the bike to, dealing with issues like that seems more surmountable than with other brands.
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