You don’t need an SUV. You need a (much) cheaper electric cargo bike. Here’s why
America has an SUV problem. Or rather, just a big vehicle problem in general. The land of SUVs and pickup trucks has somehow been tricked into thinking you need a 4,000-pound vehicle to carry 20 pounds of groceries home from the supermarket.
But there’s a better way, and it’s called an electric cargo bike. It will save you money. It will save you time. It will make you more attractive. And it will make you happier. I all but guarantee it.
Now let’s be clear about something. When I say “You don’t need an SUV,” I’m speaking in general terms. It’s true – generally – for most people reading this article right now.
Sure, there are some of you that regularly transport seven people across vast distances on highway and interstates. But most of us don’t. It’s a simple numbers game. Most people in the US live in cities and urban centers. And that’s why you don’t need a massive SUV.
And even for those that do “need” an SUV for certain specific tasks, you don’t need it most of the time. I’d bet dollars to donuts that most people reading this right now who own an SUV do most of their trips in it with just one or two passengers.
For those that really need a car, you probably only need a small hatchback or sedan. But I’m going to make the case for why you probably don’t even need that, or at least not for most of your trips. Especially when you consider just how far electric cargo bikes have come.
Twenty years ago, a cargo bike was a nifty invention and fun to look at, but they cost a fortune and lord help you if you ever had to pedal one up a hill.
But electric bikes have come to the rescue. Electric motors now allow e-bike builders to make cargo bikes that are easier to pedal up hills (or that don’t require any pedaling at all in the case of throttle-enabled electric cargo bikes). Prices are also quickly dropping, meaning you can get a great cargo e-bike for a song. Instead of buying an expensive second car, you can probably get away with one car and one cargo e-bike.
There are two main styles of cargo e-bikes: front-loaders and longtails. (Technically there are also cargo e-trikes as well, but we’ll leave three-wheelers for another discussion soon.)
Front-loaders have a big cargo area in the front and are generally more expensive due to the funky frame and complicated steering linkage that front loaders require.
Longtails look more like a normal bike but have loooooong rear ends that are stretched to give more rack and seat space behind the rider.
Front-loaders are a bit more advanced and can take more time to get acclimated to, as the rider is much farther from the front wheel than they’re probably used to. If you’re new to cargo bikes, a longtail is probably a better place to start.
Both offer great cargo space, they just do it differently.
Can cargo e-bikes actually replace SUVs?
Okay, so cargo e-bikes sound neat and all. But c’mon, can they really replace cars and trucks?
Yes, for most people they can. And you might balk at that, but there’s a reason why I’m confidently correct here.
It’s true because most people don’t use their SUVs to explore to the Amazon. They use them to go buy the stuff they can’t find on Amazon.
Picking up groceries. Dropping off a kid or two at school. Driving to work. These are all normal, everyday tasks that for some reason people think requires heavy machinery. Which is as ridiculous as it is depressing. If you live in a city and you drive a massive car, then you’re probably in the wrong. Unless you’ve got several dozen 2×4’s hanging out the back of that truck or the entire starting lineup from little Jimmy’s T-ball team in your SUV, then you don’t need that massive vehicle.
I’ve actually used cargo e-bikes to carry construction material before, including bags of cement and dimensional lumber. It’s just not that hard.
And I’ve carried multiple passengers on them as well. Three people on a cargo e-bike is pretty standard, though it helps when one or two of those extra souls are also children.
A reddit commenter in a walkable cities advocacy group recently put it best. As the redditor explained, “Are there viable bikes that can replace the true power and utility of an SUV? Not even close. Are there bikes that can replace what 99% of drivers use their SUVs for 99% of the time? Absolutely.”
Now again, there are going to be those people who say, “But I need my truck, I use it for XYZ that a bike can’t do!”
And I get it. There are some big jobs out there. My sister runs a furniture refinishing business and regularly hauls dressers, desks, and other big things around town.
But then again, maybe you’re just still stuck in that “I need a car to do this” mentality. Did you know there are actually moving companies that work entirely by bicycle? They’ll move your apartment without getting trucks involved.
When there’s a will (and a cargo bike), there’s a way.
Cargo e-bikes save money
Not only can cargo e-bikes do most of what most people use their SUVs and trucks for, but they do it cheaper.
The hundreds of dollars per month that your truck or SUV burns in gasoline would equate to probably less than a dollar of electricity to power an electric cargo bike. If you do some serious mileage then you might be looking at as much as two dollars of electricity per month.
And don’t forget the hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of dollars you’ll save each month on parking, insurance, car payments, maintenance, and all the other costs associated with car ownership.
Even the purchase price is usually 10x less. If you go nuts with the best electric cargo bikes out there from the highest dollar manufacturers, you could be looking at expensive $8,000 e-bikes. But if you are more reasonable, there are great options in the $4,000 range and still very good options in the sub-$2,000 range.
Heck, you can even get close to $1,000 if you really try. Take for example the $999 Lectric XP 3.0. It’s not a cargo e-bike (but rather a fat-tire folding e-bike), though it turns into a cargo bike when you add the $110 cargo package. Or add the $74 passenger package to easily carry a second adult rider on the bike.
Other affordable e-bikes like the Rad Power Bikes RadRunner 2 (or RadRunner Plus shown in the video above) are purpose-built for carrying passengers and offer a comfortable way to bring a friend or loved one on back.
You can even fit two riders on the back of a RadRunner as long as they’re fairly small.
Why drive to dinner in a massive car when you and your wife could zip there on an e-bike built for two? Add a little excitement and adventure into date night!
Look, just think about it
Let’s get real: Most people could do most of their daily travel needs in a city on an e-bike. But because of the world we live in, that doesn’t mean that a car can be totally replaced all the time.
For some people, that means not owning a car and occasionally using a car sharing service for the once-in-a-while Ikea trip or other car-related journey. My wife and I did that for years. If we needed a car for a couple hours here and there, we rented a car for a couple hours. It was waiting on the street corner and that’s where we left it when we were done. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
For others that still use a car somewhat frequently, perhaps that means having one family car but getting an e-bike instead of a second car. And of course, that also means trying to use the e-bike for as many trips as possible.
If you live at the end of a 3-mile private driveway that connects to a 70 mph six-lane highway, then an e-bike probably can’t be your only vehicle. But you also don’t exist because that’s a silly made-up scenario that the anti-anti-car crowd tends to think is all too common.
In reality, of course there are people that an e-bike won’t work for and of course there are still some cases where a big vehicle may be necessary. But those people and those cases are much fewer and farther between than most will realize. Sometimes it just takes looking at the problem from another angle.
The cargo e-bike angle.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Tesla has confirmed that it is redesigning its door handles with electronic releases after people were left trapped inside its cars.
Earlier this week, we reported that the NHTSA had opened a new investigation into Tesla over children getting stuck inside cars after electronic door releases fail.
Tesla uses frameless doors with electronic door handles. The button to open the doors first causes the window to lower slightly, allowing the door to open. Then, it electronically unlatches, enabling the door to be swung open.
There’s also a manual latch, but it has been known to be somewhat hard to locate for people who didn’t read the owner’s manual, which is most people.
If there’s an electronic failure, especially after a crash, it can result in occupants having issues exiting the vehicle when they are in a state of panic.
Additionally, if a child is in the vehicle after a failure, it can be challenging for them to locate and use the manual release, which is what the NHTSA is now investigating.
Following the publicization of this long-standing issue this week, Tesla announced that it is redesigning its manual release.
Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s chief designer, said in an interview with Bloomberg that the automaker is going to combine the electronic and manual releases into one:
“The idea of combining the electronic one and the manual one together into one button, I think, makes a lot of sense. That’s something that we’re working on.”
The designer said that Tesla is already testing this in China.
It’s not a novel design. Toyota already has the same concept in some of its vehicles. The electronic button to release the door can also be pulled to activate the manual release, which works even if the car has no power.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Environment
Hyundai reveals new EVs, hybrids, a midsize pickup, ultra-luxury vehicles, and much more
Get ready to see a lot more Hyundai vehicles on the road. The South Korean auto giant just revealed its most ambitious growth plan ever, packed with advanced new EVs and hybrids across nearly all segments. Hyundai is also launching its first midsize pickup and an extended-range vehicle (EREV) that promises to deliver over 600 miles (960 km) of range.
Hyundai bets on new EVs, hybrids, EREVs, and trucks
During its first CEO Investor Day held outside of Korea, Hyundai unveiled “its most ambitious growth strategy” in company history.
Hyundai is promising to lead the industry’s shift to electrification with a slate of new vehicles set to launch across nearly every powertrain and segment imaginable.
“In an industry facing unprecedented transformation, Hyundai is uniquely positioned to win,” José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, said during the event held in New York on Thursday. Hyundai isn’t simply adapting, “We’re leading it,” Muñoz told attendees.
Hyundai plans to sell 5.55 million vehicles globally by 2030, including 3.3 million “electrified” vehicles, or about 60% of total sales.
With 18 new hybrids, including the first under its luxury Genesis brand, Hyundai expects “significant growth” in North America, Europe, and Korea.
Hyundai said the new vehicles, including EVs and hybrids, will be custom-tailored for buyers in its biggest markets.
Custom-tailored vehicles for the US, Europe, and China
In North America, Hyundai will launch its first midsize pickup by the end of the decade. Hyundai offers the Santa Cruz, which launched in 2021, but the company promises the new model is aimed at “the heart of the US market.”
Those in Europe will see the IONIQ 3, a smaller and more affordable little sibling to the IONIQ 5. It will feature a next-gen infotainment system, Hyundai said, specifically designed for drivers in Europe.
Hyundai announced plans to introduce its first extended range electric vehicle (EREV). Set to arrive in 2027, Hyundai said the new EREV will deliver an “EV-like driving experience with more than 600 miles (960 km) of range” that will use an added gas-powered engine to extend range.
Unlike traditional EREVs, however, Hyundai will use in-house batteries, which it promises will deliver “full EV power performance with less than half the battery capacity.”
In China, Hyundai will take on BYD and other automakers, leading the shift to EVs, with its new Elexio electric SUV. The Elexio SUV is Hyundai’s first locally produced electric vehicle using tech and software from Chinese leaders.
Wait, there’s even more
We will also see seven new high-performance “N” models added to the lineup by 2030. Hyundai aims to sell 100,000 N-branded vehicles by the end of the decade. The new IONIQ 6 N “will introduce a new paradigm for high-performance EVs,” the company said, with advanced new features and tech.
The luxury Genesis brand is celebrating its 10th anniversary with big growth plans over the next few years, including new EREVs, hybrids, and a flagship SUV.
The flagship Genesis electric SUV is expected to launch as the GV90, which we’ve seen out in public testing with ultra-luxury features, including coach doors.
Hyundai announced plans to ramp up production at its Metaplant America (HMGMA) EV plant in Georgia. With a new $2.7 billion investment, the company is creating 3,000 more jobs in Georgia. By 2028, Hyundai plans to build 500,000 hybrid and EV models at the facility annually.
By 2030, Hyundai expects over 80% of vehicles sold in the US will be made domestically. Its supply chain sourcing in the US will also increase from 60% to 80%.
Globally, Hyundai plans to add 1.2 million units to its production capacity by the end of the decade, including in the US, South Korea, and India.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Back in August of 2024, I wrote about buying an electric chainsaw for the first time. It was a Father’s Day present for my dad, who has several acres of property to manage and is reaching the point where even his dad strength isn’t enough to hand saw all day. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the current state of electric chainsaws, but I was excited to put the new machine to work. Fast forward a full year, and I’ve got an update: we’ve abused the heck out of it – and it’s still going strong!
Over the past 12 months, this Ego Power+ 18-inch 56-volt electric chainsaw has seen more wood than a mom-and-pop lumber mill. I’ve cut through your standard backyard trees, gnarly old branches, telephone poles, construction lumber, and plenty of 2x4s.
We’ve basically started treating it like a general-purpose tool. If anything is fiber-based and currently of a size that is larger than it should be, the standard response is “go grab the chainsaw…”.
And not just on nice sunny days either – this saw’s been dragged through rain, dust, and mud. And more than once it’s been used in situations that absolutely should have killed it: fully underwater.
At my parents’ place, a good-sized tree had fallen into their lake after the last big storm and needed to be cleared out. We had been putting it off due to the size of the thing, but the water level was rising, and soon it was going to be swamped. One of the most recent times I went over to visit my parents, my dad and I decided it was time to finally tackle the job. Unfortunately, by then the water had risen to the point where the tree trunk was already half-submerged, creating a navigational hazard for all the weird little electric boats I’ve dropped in that lake.
We started by trying to just cut the exposed portion, and I figured we’d then put a long line on the UTV and see if we couldn’t just break the rest of it free. But that’s where my dad’s more hours on the saw than mine played a key role: knowing he could keep pushing it. My dad waded in with the chainsaw and absolutely went to town. He had that thing so deep in the water, cutting through the massive trunk that if it had been a gas-powered chainsaw, it would have literally needed a snorkel to keep running.
And yet, it worked. Not just worked – it powered through. We pulled it out, dried it off, and then it was on to the next job.
The battery life has stayed impressive, the power is still solid, and the chain hasn’t even needed a replacement yet (though I should probably give it a sharpening one of these days). I’ve lost count of how many logs this thing has ripped through, and it’s never let me down.
There is one minor downside worth mentioning: the chain tensioner has gotten a bit stiff. It used to adjust nice and easy, but now it takes a little more effort to tighten. It still works, but you’ve got to put a bit of muscle into it. That’s literally the only wear-and-tear issue I’ve noticed after a full year of borderline tool abuse.
I expected an electric chainsaw to be a convenient, eco-friendly option for light-duty work. What I didn’t expect was a rugged, waterproof (apparently), do-it-all beast that could handle nearly anything I threw at it.
So here’s the one-year verdict: I bought an electric chainsaw, I used it for everything I possibly could (and some things I probably shouldn’t have), and it still works like a champ. If you’re wondering whether an electric chainsaw can hold up over time – this one has more than proven itself.
And if I ever buy a second one, I’ll try to keep it out of the pond. No promises, though.
Author’s note: On reading through this again to proofread, it almost sounds like an ad, but I promise it’s not (those have big “Sponsored” labels on them and I generally steer clear of those). This is just a chainsaw I bought for my dad and we’ve been thrilled with it one year later.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment12 months agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024