Heybike Hauler review: A 1,400W electric cargo bike for the family
There’s nothing worse than a weak cargo e-bike that struggles on hills and under heavy loads. That’s why Heybike ensured the deck was stacked in riders’ favor when they built the Heybike Hauler electric cargo bike. With a 1,400W peak-rated motor and 28 mph speeds, it sounded ready to rock n’ roll. And now that I’ve been testing one out for a while, here are my thoughts on the latest budget-oriented yet high-power family e-bike.
Want to see what it’s like to ride one of these e-bikes yourself? I’ve got a video review below. Or keep reading for the full written review.
Heybike Hauler Video Review
Heybike Hauler Tech Specs
- Motor: 750W continuous (1,400W peak) rear geared hub motor
- Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Range: Claimed up to 136 km (85 mi) with second battery
- Battery: 48V 18Ah (864Wh) battery in down tube and optional 48V 12.5Ah external battery for 1,464Wh total
- Brakes: FastAce hydraulic two-piston disc brakes on 180 mm rotors
- Max load: 200 kg (440 lb)
- Bike weight: 40-44 kg (88-97 lb) with single or double battery option
- Extras: LCD display, LED head & tail lights with turn signals, right-side thumb throttle, double (Y) kickstand, suspension fork, 3″ semi-fat tires, smartphone app connectivity, three color options (yellow, white, and blue), and included fenders & rear rack
Power and speed, whether you want it or not
As a Class 3-aspiring electric bike, the Heybike Hauler can reach speeds of up to 45 km/h (28 mph), though weirdly it can be done on both throttle and pedal assist. Normally, Class 3 e-bikes will have their throttles cut out at 20 mph, so this is a bit outside the scope of even a liberal interpretation of the three-class e-bike system. However, many people do like the ability to ride fast on throttle only, so I’m sure this will make a lot of people happy to hear.
The 1,400W motor also ensures riders are accelerating quickly and climbing hills like a champ, both of which are important to cargo e-bikes which can often be loaded down with extra weight.
Heybike claims a max load capacity of 440 lb (200 kg), which is a massive amount of weight and probably more than most people will ever need to carry. The bike itself is already between 88 to 97 lb (40-44 kg) depending on the variant, so we’re talking about some serious poundage here.
Two battery options for long-range riding
I love dual battery electric bikes, and even more than that, I love e-bikes that let you decide if you want that second battery.
The Heybike Hauler can come with either a single 864Wh battery, which is already a big pack, or you can get a second battery for a total of 1,464Wh of capacity.
That’s a ton of battery, and the company claims a range of up to 85 miles (136 km), though only in pedal assist. Even on throttle only, you’re likely going to get more than half of that, which is a lot of range for a big e-bike.
The Hauler comes loaded with several nice features, including foldup foot rails in the back and built-in side protectors so kids’ feet don’t wander into the rear wheel. I do wish the frame rails in the back were a little more exposed though so there were more options for lashing cargo down, but at least the guards look very nice and match the styling of the bike.
The paint is also weirdly high-end, especially for an e-bike that starts at a fairly budget price of just US $1,399. The blue paint looks like metal-flake automotive paint and is really eye-catching!
There are also other nice features, like a clearly visible LCD display, head light and tail light with turn signals (though I still wonder how effective such turn signals really are), a wide double kickstand for stable parking and child loading, a second side stand for quick parking on level ground, and punchy hydraulic disc brakes.
What isn’t as good?
There’s a lot to like here, but I’ve got my gripes as well. The front fork feels fairly cheap and just doesn’t offer the kind of quality suspension you get with even marginally better forks.
It’s not bad, but it’s not good either. It just is. It checks the box for a suspension fork and it means you won’t feel like your wrists are going to shatter after hopping a curb, but I have to wonder about longevity there.
Next, the bike doesn’t track very well without hands on the bars. That’s not going to be an issue to many people, but it is an indication that the geometry of the bike, namely the rake angle and trail of the front end, isn’t ideal. I can no-hands ride many of my other e-bikes for miles, but the Hauler wants to dip me off as soon as I release the bars.
Still some good value
This is definitely not the best cargo e-bike out there, but with an entry price of US $1,399, it was never trying to be. What the Hauler sets out to do is offer cargo-carrying abilities at a price that most families can more easily afford.
This is a solid entry in the market, provides some awesome high-speed throttle-only riding, and has some beautiful metal-flake paint options. There are other cargo e-bikes out there with wider market penetration that definitely give the hauler a run for its money, but the unique features of the Hauler like its folding running boards, smartphone app, and questionably-legal 28 mph throttle, could be the saving grace that keeps it competitive in the crowded market.
Compared to more expensive and higher-quality cargo e-bikes, it has something to offer to anyone shopping on a tighter budget and who can’t afford a $3,000+ cargo e-bike.
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The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Cumberland Forest Limited Partnership are turning former Appalachian coal mines into clean energy hubs. They just announced new agreements with Sun Tribe Development and ENGIE to build 14 solar farms and three battery storage systems across 360 acres in Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
This marks the second round of clean energy projects launched under TNC’s Cumberland Forest Project.
These projects aren’t just about clean energy – they’re about proving that clean energy can be developed on former Appalachian coal mines in a way that benefits the environment and local communities. The solar and storage hubs are expected to bring in more local tax revenue, create short-term construction jobs, and establish a community fund to support additional local initiatives.
Brad Kreps, TNC Clinch Valley director, said, “Developing projects on former coal mines – and in a way that engages with people in the local area so that communities can benefit – takes ingenuity, skill, and determination. Ultimately, we selected Sun Tribe and ENGIE, two experienced developers that have a great interest in bringing this vision to life.”
Once online, these projects will generate around 49 megawatts (MW) of solar energy and 320 MW of battery storage – enough to power 6,638 Appalachian homes annually.
Sun Tribe’s projects will be in Virginia and Tennessee. It’s planning one 5 MW solar project and three utility-scale battery storage systems ranging from 80 MW to 150 MW. These storage projects will improve grid reliability and help cut costs for utility customers by reducing the need for future grid upgrades.
“Locating solar and battery storage on former mine lands makes perfect sense to us,” said Danny Van Clief, CEO of Sun Tribe Development. “These sites and the communities they rest within have powered our country for more than a century – all we have to do is reimagine them for today’s energy technology.”
ENGIE, meanwhile, is developing 13 community-scale solar projects across Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky that will take advantage of Inflation Reduction Act incentives to help keep costs down. They’ll range in size from 1 MW to 6 MW, bringing clean energy access to more local communities.
“ENGIE is thrilled to collaborate on the development of these projects with The Nature Conservancy,” says Kristen Fornes, ENGIE head of distributed solar and storage. “These initiatives not only contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but also generate employment opportunities, rejuvenate local communities, and enhance access to clean energy in areas where it is most needed.”
This latest announcement builds on previous first-round work by TNC, Sun Tribe, and Dominion Energy to bring renewable energy to Appalachia. Since 2021, Sun Tribe and Dominion Energy have been working on plans to generate 140 MW of renewable energy across eight sites in the Cumberland Forest. The first project, Wildcats Solar, is a 10 MW array planned for Wise County, Virginia. Expected to start construction by 2026, it’s projected to generate $800,000 in tax revenue for the community over its lifetime. Additional projects from the first round are set to be online by 2029.
Read more: Renewables provided 90% of new US capacity in 2024 – FERC
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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The US State Department’s procurement forecast for the 2025 budget includes an item called “Armored Teslas” worth $400 million.
But worry not; it was approved under the Biden Administration, so Elon Musk’s DOGE will undoubtedly eliminate this waste. Right?
Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are currently examining a large amount of US government spending.
It’s unclear if he got to the US State Department’s procurement forecast because there are a few interesting lines that would give auditors second thoughts.
The most interesting one is “Armored Tesla (Production Units)”, which is worth $400 million. Strangely, the item is listed under the NAICS code “311999 – All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing.”
The program has a target for delivery in Q4 through the next 5 years.
There are several other similar and strange budgeted items that are linked to the wrong categories:
You have “ARMORED SEDAN” under “Soft Drink Manufacturing,” “ARMORED BMW X5/X7” under “Bottled Water Manufacturing,” and finally, ARMORED EV (NOT SEDAN) under “Ice Manufacturing.”
However, all these other armored vehicle-related items are budgeted at a fraction of the $400 million for Tesla vehicles ($50 million, $40 million, and $40 million, respectively).
The State Department procurement forecast website mentions that the list was last updated in December – before Trump entered office.
Electrek has contacted the State Department for a comment, and we will update you if we get an answer.
Tesla has claimed that its Cybertruck is “armored” and “bulletproof”, but its armored capacity is quite limited. It can likely deflect low-velocity bullets if they hit the doors, but that’s about it.
Other companies have been planning to modify the Cybertruck with higher levels of armor, like the partnership between Unplugged Performance and Archimedes Defense – pictured above.
Electrek’s Take
I am not against armored electric vehicles. If you need armored vehicles, you might as well make them electric.
However, this is certainly weird. Why does the State Department need $530 million worth of armored vehicles? And why is it listed under a bunch of unrelated categories that don’t make sense?
Sounds like a job for DOGE? However, Elon will need to recuse himself from that one, I guess.
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