Can a Cargo ebike replace a second car?

In these tough economic conditions it is only right to look at areas where you can save money. With the average car costing around $10-15k per annum it is a huge expense for any household. So it is little wonder that people are now looking at how viable it is to get rid of an extra car and open themselves up to the possibility of owning cargo electric bike.

Are cargo ebikes too expensive?

There are a huge array of options when it comes to cargo ebikes and the choice is only going to increase as more companies see the huge market appeal cargo ebikes have. Currently for a cargo ebike you are looking at around $3-8k for the most popular models. There are other models up as high as $15k but these are the very top end and if on a budget there is no need to pay over $8k for a cargo ebike.

Eunorau offer one of the most cost effective cargo ebike entry level options at only $2699 incl GST for the Max Cargo or $2799 for the G30. This makes it very affordable and with Afterpay options you can be riding with very little upfront costs and start saving on car running costs straight away.

The upfront cost is a lot, but the running costs are very low when compared to a car so in the long run there are huge savings to be made. No registration is required, maintenance is very reasonable and insurance may also be able to be tied into home and contents policy (I do recommend you check with your insurer just to be safe).

What can your cargo ebike do?

With the right set up you can really do a lot with a cargo ebike. The most common trips include:

• Work commute
• School drop offs
• Grocery shopping
• Trips to park with kids
• Trips to swimming pool/beach
• Leisure rides
• Short errands

With up to 75% of car trips less than 15km and a majority of those trips even less than 10km using a cargo ebike is a great way to reduce unnecessary traffic on the roads. It is even true that many urban commutes are just as fast or if not faster on an ebike with the use of footpaths and cycleways making beating the traffic that much easier.

But don’t you still need a car?

One of the first things that you need to overcome is the habit of choosing to use your car instead of your ebike. If you can first start choosing your ebike as a default option, you are halfway there. For anybody living in the city you really don’t need that second car. There are plenty of options if it is a trip you can’t take by bike. An uber, cab, car-share, bus, rental. Any of these options would still save you money if your ebike is not an option on these rare occasions.

The key is a good setup.

To get the most out of your cargo ebike you need to set yourself up for success. This means understanding what you need from your bike and ensuring you have the necessary storage to enable you to use your ride regularly and for a variety of uses. Some great accessories include:

• Front basket/storage bag
• Rear seat basket/bag
• Child bike seats
• Rear seat cushions
• Panniers
• Rear trailer
• Monkey bars
• Good quality locks
• GPS tracking

What do other people say about cargo ebikes?

“There are three main ways in which this bike has changed my lifestyle so far. First, I can now pick up my children from school, play dates, and appointments, even if they don't have their own bicycles with them. In the past this has been a real issue because I'll want to ride to get them but cannot because there's no way to carry them home. The e-bike allows for spontaneous trips and last-minute pickup arrangements that, in the past, would've involved the car, so this is wonderful.

Secondly, I can go to the grocery store on a bike. I couldn't do this in the past because my family of five needs more food than I can fit into a backpack or regular bike panniers. But now, between the two rear baskets and front basket, I can carry a week's worth of groceries without an issue. This is a real game-changer.

Thirdly, I can use the bike to commute to my gym that's 5 miles (8 km) away. Some might say that's a short distance to ride on a conventional bike (and it usually is), but after an hour-long weightlifting and CrossFit session, the last thing I feel like doing is biking home; I'm often pressed for time, too. With the e-bike, though, it's no big deal. It takes me 18 minutes to get from door to door on the bike, and that's impressive considering that I usually give myself at least 10 minutes to go by car and likely 30-40 minutes to do it by regular bike.”

“We’re having a GREAT time on the cargo bike. My 17-month-old lil girl is rapidly becoming obsessed with bikes – most in part to her loving Dad and her getting out and about on it. Off to the shops, off to cafes, around the lake, looking at people out and about, seeing other bikes. I’ve even got my partner out now on her own bike and we’re a biking family! The bike creates a lot of interest and people stop me to ask about it.”

“The bike is used here on a daily basis. The kids love it. Our nanny has no driver’s license yet, so it’s an ideal combination....”

The improving infrastructure

One of the downsides of riding any type of bike is the aspect of danger. Whilst most drivers are safe there are always going to be the odd one that will chose to ignore you and cut in front. This is not always done due to being aggressive but sometimes just through miscalculating your speed. It is always important to ride cautiously especially when you have young children on the back. Improved infrastructure goes a long way to assisting in improving road safety by creating more bicycle lanes and cycleways.

In Australia we still have a ways to go to get to the level of some European countries but we are starting to improve in this area. Brisbane now has some great cycleways which make riding incredibly safe and incredibly fast. Shared bike ways still require some patience and defensive driving but the fact that ebikes and bikes are part of the roadmap for transport in the future means that things will only improve as the popularity increases.

Cycling Brisbane off-road bikeways map: Source: https://www.cyclingbrisbane.com.au/route-planner

The other benefits of riding a bike

One of the greatest things about riding a cargo ebike is the sheer joy that it brings to both the rider and passengers. Young children love the thrill of riding in the back or front of the bike and it is a truly great bonding experience between parent and child. The other benefit is it keeps you active and is great for wellbeing giving you a connection to your local area and nature.

Environmentally it is better than operating a vehicle and helps reduce some of the traffic congestion, and makes the school drop off and pick up a breeze (think no more trips around the block to find a car park)!

Financially as we mentioned it will save you on car registration, maintenance, petrol, and other running costs. To cost to charge an ebike is around 20-40c and free if you charge during the day with solar power! The upfront cost can quickly be saved in no time if you replace a second car and maintain your cargo ebike by regularly servicing and keeping in tip top running condition.

Some of the less well known benefits include plenty of admirers at school drop off, park or wherever you pull up to. You may be required to provide plenty of technical information so make sure you know your bike so you don’t have to deal with disappointed strangers who thought you were an ebike expert.

Final word

If you're curious about ebikes or on the fence, stop hesitating and try one! They will make your life better in so many ways. I always advocate trying before buying so don’t be afraid to test ride one or several before deciding on which one suits you best. Like any major purchase do your research and don’t be afraid to reach out to local ebike retailers who have a wealth of knowledge to assist you in buying.

Next Gen eRides offer test riding from Sydney and Brisbane so if you like the look of the Eunorau cargo ebike models feel free to contact us for more information.

Cargo ebikes are one of the fastest growing models in the world. It is an exciting time and it is likely that continual improvements will make riding even safer, easier, and hopefully more fun! Join the ebike revolution today and start saving and enjoying the new found freedom it brings to your life!