AddMotor M-340 review: A fat-tire electric trike that can do burnouts?!
Electric trikes are a quickly growing segment of the e-bike market in the US, largely thanks to recent high-profile launches of popular new models. But the AddMotor M-340 electric trike has been around for years as a staple of the fat tire e-trike segment. It recently received some nice upgrades, so we decided to put the newest version of the e-trike to the test.
At a current sale price of $2,999, the AddMotor M-340 is positioned higher on the e-trike price spectrum. So does this fat tire three-wheeler have what it takes to command that price?
Take a look at my in-depth testing of the trike, including both asphalt and off-road riding, in my video review below.
Then don’t forget to keep reading for even more info on my experience testing out the trike!
AddMotor M-340 e-trike video review
AddMotor M-340 tech specs
- Motor: 750W front-geared hub motor
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h)
- Range: Up to 85 miles (137 km)
- Battery: 48V 20Ah (960 Wh)
- Max rider weight: 350 lb (158 kg)
- Rear rack max load: 100 lb (45 kg)
- Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes on 180 mm rotors (three total)
- Front tire: 24″x4″
- Rear tires: 20″x4″
- Price: $2,999
- Extras: LCD display, integrated head/tail/brake LED lighting with rear turn signals, bell, electric horn, half-twist throttle, included front and rear baskets, comfortable two-part saddle with adjustable back rest, wooden footrest
What makes it different?
We’ve tested several electric trikes recently, so let’s start with what makes the AddMotor M-340 different.
First of all, this is a fat tire trike. That means it comes with much wider tires than most e-bikes or e-trikes – four inches wide, to be exact.
The front is a 24-inch wheel that provides better obstacle climbing than smaller wheels, while the rear uses 20-inch wheels that sacrifice some marginal ride quality in exchange for a lower rear end.
To be honest, though, you don’t lose much ride quality with the smaller wheels since you’ve got a combination of fat tires with plenty of squishy air volume and also a front suspension fork to soak up the front bumps. In fact, this is one of the few e-trikes available in the US that actually comes with front suspension, marking another key differentiator.
The next major difference is the much higher-spec electrical components and performance.
For example, the battery is a massive 48V and 20Ah unit that offers way more capacity than you’ll probably ever need. They claim a range of 85 miles in the lowest pedal assist level, and I don’t doubt them. Pedal assist level 1 is super efficient, and that battery will probably last for weeks of leisurely riding in low-power mode, especially since most people just don’t get going too fast on trikes.
Even if you want to use the throttle and make use of that wooden platform for your feet instead of actually pedaling, you’re still going to probably get a solid 50 miles of range at reasonable speeds.
But for those that want to get a bit wild, there’s enough power here to do it. In fact, the motor is surprisingly torquey. They claim 80 Nm of torque, and I feel every one of those newton meters. On loose terrain like gravel, a twist of the wrist instantly sends rocks flying backward. It’s almost comical just how much power and torque this e-trike has. It’s totally unnecessary since most people aren’t getting a trike for its performance, but they went ahead and gave it to us anyway.
But is it stable?
Stability is the area where I’ll ding the AddMotor M-340 the most. Because of the larger wheels and generally taller design on the bike, the rider’s center of mass is higher. That makes the whole trike feel tippier than more stable trikes I’ve tried in the past.
As long as I lean into turns, I don’t feel like I’ll tip at most speeds. But if I try to do tight circles, I can easily get the outer wheel in the air.
I also felt a bit uneasy when riding on an incline since my taller center of gravity made me feel more like I would tip if riding sideways along a hill. That won’t be an issue on most roads — unless there’s some extreme crown to the road — but I did encounter it a few times when off-roading, so it’s something to keep in mind.
Pros and cons
The AddMotor M-340 has some downsides, but its upsides can’t be ignored. There’s so much power and range that it feels overbuilt, which could be a pro or a con depending on your needs.
I like that it has not only a big front and rear basket but that it also comes with a zippered bag for the rear basket to keep your stuff from flying out. It’d keep things dry in a drizzle too, though I’m sure it’s not rated for a downpour.
I also like that there are seven speeds to shift through since it lets you downshift to a lower gear for getting rolling or climbing a hill or upshift for when you’re going faster. But the derailleur hangs awfully low and just looks like it’s waiting to get damaged. I rode through lots of tall grass, and amazingly it was fine, but without a wheel next to it to protect it like most bikes, I do worry about its longevity.
The three disc brakes are nice, but I would have loved to see hydraulic disc brakes on this model for a few reasons: They’d offer better stopping for a heavy bike designed for heavy loads; they’d have reduced maintenance which would be good for older riders that don’t want to be on their knees adjusting brake cables; and they’d help justify that nearly $3,000 price. I’m also surprised to see that AddMotor didn’t include a parking brake on the levers – one of the only advantages of mechanical disk brakes is that they’re better for implementing a parking brake.
The trike is also heavy. I don’t know how heavy since AddMotor doesn’t have the weight listed, and I don’t have a bathroom scale large enough for it. But the shipping weight said 145 pounds (65 kilograms), and so I bet the trike is nearing triple digits itself.
At least it does have a high-weight rating too, with a rider capacity of 350 pounds (160 kilograms) and another 100 pounds (45 kilograms) of cargo.
So there are certainly trade-offs here. It’s more expensive than many other trikes, and it’s not as stable. That might make it less ideal for older folks that have affordability and stability at the top of their priorities list. But the bike is also high powered, has an ultralong range, can handle off-roading just fine with those big tires and suspension, and is comfortable to boot. It even comes in a half dozen fun colors!
So while I can see many people passing up this trike for a more affordable option, the power lovers that have trails on their mind may prefer something with a bit more oomph, like the AddMotor M-340. I know I sure had fun on it!
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Velotric has continued to regularly update its popular e-bike models, with the latest launch today bringing us the Nomad 2. This fat tire adventure bike carries a host of new features and components, offering a powerful yet comfortable ride on both city streets and off-road trails.
The Velotric Nomad 2 sports a 750W nominally-rated motor with a true 90 Nm of torque. In other words, it’s designed to eat hills for breakfast and lay down some real power when riders need it most. And with both throttle-activated control and 15 levels of responsive pedal assist, that power can be dialed in to the right level for each rider’s own taste. And with a maximum speed of 28 mph, the bike is fast enough to keep up with traffic… when riders aren’t enjoying a relaxing trail ride.
Speaking of pedal assist, Velotric offers what they call SensorSwap, a feature in the pedal assist system that uses both a cadence sensor and a torque sensor and allows riders to select which sensor is being used at any time. The former allows riders to pedal easily while still getting impressive power output from the motor, while the latter offers more intuitive riding that provides a more natural feeling akin to pedaling a bike with extra powerful legs.
Torque sensors are often considered superior for their more refined experience, but cadense sensors are still praised by riders who don’t want to put in the extra effort required by torque sensors. With a torque sensor, the rider’s pedaling effort is multiplied, but a cadense sensor lets riders feel like they’re pedaling without needing to actually provide as much of their own ‘oomph’.
The Nomad 2’s design includes off-road features such as 26×4.0″ tires, a 100mm travel hydraulic suspension fork, and an included parallel linkage suspension seat post.
Combined with the powerful motor that offers 1,000 lb of towing capacity (plus 505 lb of payload), the 75 lb e-bike is built to handle just about anything, and that includes nearly any trail.
“Sometimes the road less traveled is the better one,” says Adam Zhang, the CEO of Velotric. “Nomad 2 speaks to those who love the journey, and the occasional detour! Whether you’re climbing trails, hauling heavy loads, or simply cruising, our latest bike gives you the freedom to ride further, faster, and more comfortably than ever before.”
And since off-road adventures often don’t have clear-cut end times, the bike offers 65 miles of maximum range thanks to the 48V and 14.7 Ah battery with 705 Wh of capacity. That battery is UL-listed and IPX7 waterproof, meaning you can dunk it in water. I’ve done exactly that with Velotric batteries before and they’ve survived for many more rides.
Rounding out the feature list includes a 3.5″ color display, Bluetooth connectivity, USB-C phone charger, 500 lumen headlight, tail light with turn signals, included rear rack with fenders, hydraulic disc brakes, an 8-speed Shimano transmission, and more.
The Velotric Nomad 2 is priced at $1,999 and went on sale today.
Riders can snag it in two sizes with four color options, and with a choice between a high-step and a step-through frame style.
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A Tesla store in New York City has been taken over by people protesting Elon Musk – disrupting the operations.
As we have reported over the last few weeks, there’s a growing movement called “Tesla Takedown,” under which grassroots protests are being organized at Tesla stores around the world.
There have been many more protests this weekend. Some of them had truly impressive turnouts.
For example, hundreds of people showed up to protest at Tesla’s Tuscon location (via Andy Flach):
These protests have been peaceful and legal, but there have been a few exceptions.
At Tesla’s Manhattan store in New York City today, some protestors managed to get inside the store and it started to cause problems.
Here’s a video (via Oliya Scootercaster ):
About 300 people showed up to the protests. Most of them stayed protesting peacefully outside, but a handful of people got in and Tesla employees had to close the stores as more tried to get in.
The police confirmed having arrested 9 people, but the charges are not clear as of now.
In videos of the aftermath, it looks like a few glass doors and windows were broken.
Similar protests have been reported in most major cities in the US and they are planned for the next few weeks.
Electrek’s Take
This is getting bigger and still gaining momentum. I’m honestly surprised by the response. I thought it would last weekend with a few dozen people at a few stores and that’s it.
But it looks like now thousands of people are getting active and it’s becoming a real problem for Tesla.
Enough to get the board to act and remove Elon Musk? I doubt it. Elon has done plenty of fireable offenses and they haven’t even blinked – because they are all in Elon’s pockets.
I think the stock price is the only thing that can really get things moving.
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Electrifying your commercial fleet is a tricky thing. Sure, you want to cut your fuel costs. You want to reduce your operating variables. Heck you you even want to help corporate meet their ESG goals – but where do you start? MAN Trucks is here to help fleet managers get answers.
As more and more heavy trucking fleets begin to deploy electric assets, they’re proving that operators’ range anxiety may be a myth on most routes. That’s true enough here in North America, and truer still in Europe where distances between cities are condensed and trucks like the Mercedes eActros and Renault E-Tech T semi roam.
MAN Trucks are also a popular choice in Europe, and their leadership – unlike most in the industry – have been especially vocal in their criticism of hydrogen, and have fully embraced battery-electric vehicles. As such, it’s no wonder that the company took to LinkedIn to announce its MAN electric commercial vehicles consultation team.
“It’s Full Power here with the MAN electric commercial vehicles consultation team,” writes Roger Turnbull, Head of EV Truck Consultation at MAN Truck. “After another busy week of meetings presenting to haulage and transport organizations of all sizes across the UK – you can feel the EV interest and enthusiasm growing.”
MAN Trucks’ consultation team helps commercial fleet operators in Europe and the UK fully understand the needs of their fleet, analyzes their fuel and maintenance costs, and helps them get a better understanding of what fleet assets are prime candidates for electrification, and what sort of charging solutions might work best for their operations – and that doesn’t always mean on-site charging.
With the capacity for onsite charging now becoming a reality for many plus proof that operators range anxiety maybe a myth on most routes, our industry is already stepping up a gear to find out more.
ROGER TURNBULL, MAN TRUCKS
Off-site charging solutions like those offered by Voltera and Zeem here in the US seem to be somewhat less common in Europe, but the electric trucking infrastructure as-a-whole seems to be a step or two ahead. That, combined with generally higher fuel costs compared to the US, make it a bit easier for fleets to electrify. And MAN will help them see that.
The best part? MAN’s consultation is free, and requires no obligation to buy. “Your MAN EV Consultation Team in the UK offer free information, advice and support,” offers Turnbull. “[Everything] from the basics to multi-vehicle using multiple site locations. Factually checked and honest.”
You can’t do much better than free, right?
Electrek’s Take
Fleet assessments and fleet asset audits are crucial steps on the path to successful fleet electrification. These comprehensive evaluations provide fleet operators with valuable insights into their current fleet operations, energy consumption patterns, and infrastructure needs. By carefully analyzing this data, fleet managers can make informed decisions about which vehicles to prioritize for electrification while minimizing the potential for “surprises” once the trucks are delivered and the funds are tied up.
If you’re a fleet manager reading this, you should get a fleet energy analysis set up soon – whether you’re planning to electrify or not.
SOURCE | PHOTOS: MAN Trucks.
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