Household Cargo E-Bike: RadWagon 4 — CleanTechnica Examined

As a first-time mother, I tend to overanalyze each potential baby-related merchandise that orbits my youngster’s sphere. There isn’t a evaluation I cannot learn and no rabbit gap on an organization’s Instagram web page I cannot dive down. So, when it got here time to search for a cargo e-bike that was protected, straightforward to experience, and enjoyable, I used to be pleasantly shocked that the Rad Power RadWagon 4 delivered all of the bells and whistles for my household. Rad Energy was superior sufficient to supply the RadWagon freed from cost for the aim of this evaluation. I used to be capable of give it a whirl on the Large Island of Hawaii, the place I reside. 

Rad Energy just isn’t new to the electrical bike area. Through the early days of the pandemic, the demand for e-bikes skyrocketed and Rad Energy grew to become the biggest vendor of electrical bikes within the nation. Questions of safety and a recall over RadWagon’s tire alignment in 2022 landed the corporate in sizzling water, so I used to be skeptical if the improved RadWagon 4 would reside as much as the hype from early adopters. I ought to word that in my analysis, I used to be focused by an limitless variety of e-bike corporations, however nothing from Rad Energy. Of the parents-slash-friends I talked to, 4 completely different households owned a Rad Wagon.

Unboxing / Meeting

The corporate has movies of meeting directions, that are helpful for bike newbies. Rad Energy charges the meeting of this bike on the tough aspect, so my accomplice assembled the bike for us. He mentioned the pre-attached traces for brakes and gears had been a time-saver, however you continue to wanted to make use of loads of power to get some elements collectively. Whereas the adjustable bike stem makes it really feel prefer it’s customized match to every rider, it loosens simply if you flip the handlebars and it wanted to be tightened a number of instances, utilizing a couple of completely different Allen wrenches.

Attaching equipment like a baby’s bike seat, operating boards, and caboose had been straightforward and didn’t require any particular software. Rad Energy has a protracted listing of equipment you should purchase to equipment out your cargo e-bike any manner you need. 

The Journey Sum-Up

I selected their brightest coloration for the RadWagon — a blazing sizzling orange to maintain me and my baby effectively seen on the street. Whereas I could reside within the land of the Ironman World Championships, Kona just isn’t essentially the most bike-friendly metropolis in sunny Hawaii. However it matched our orange Thule Yepp bike seat, which actually fanned out my mother flare. And whereas I do contend that the colourful coloration would preserve us safer on the street, it was the opposite options of the bike that justified my determination of the RadWagon 4 as a wonderful cargo e-bike choice for my household. 

The primary facet I actually appreciated had been the bigger wheels that gave the bike a heftier, seaside cruiser vibe and in the end felt extra secure. I used to be snug shifting my weight back and forth, and extra importantly, I felt sturdy even when my wiggle worm behind me within the youngster seat would transfer to have a look at each animal we noticed throughout our first experience. It additionally transitions easily if you’re using from asphalt or concrete to grass.

The mid-step-through body and adjustable seat made going from my 5’2″ stature to my accomplice’s 5’10” top a breeze. Its full vary for riders is spectacular: heights of 5’1″ to six’4″. Some e-bikes I researched couldn’t regulate to my top in any respect, and those that did got here with a swoop strep-through body that was, whereas positive for me, not the primary alternative of my accomplice. In any case, this was a household wagon, so we each wished to make sure it was a motorcycle that we like to have a look at, in addition to experience.

One other characteristic that I didn’t even contemplate at first is the double-leg kickstand. The metal kickstand is extra for a moped than a bicycle, however on condition that the RadWagon is already pushing 100 kilos, it’s good to have a hearty kickstand to carry the factor up. It retains the bike’s middle of gravity upright and is a heck of quite a bit simpler to place my youngster within the bike seat with out having to lean to at least one aspect. The one factor I might change could be to place rubber pads on the underside to guard our storage flooring and patio from the metallic of the kickstands.

And now for the tech…

The RadWagon has a strong 750W geared hub motor that tops out at 20 mph, and a 672Wh battery, leading to a variety of 45+ miles per cost. I do know there are sooner e-bikes on the market, however let’s face it, I’m clearly not going for velocity. I believe any dad or mum could be completely happy to cruise on the tempo of a canine enjoying fetch.

There are 5 ranges of pedal help and a half-twist throttle, excellent for that much-need increase to make it up a hill or should you merely select to not pedal. The show display screen simply exhibits what stage of pedal help you’re in and the thumb-control ranges are conveniently situated in your left deal with.

The RadWagon boasts a load capability of 350 kilos, simply hauling my toddler round city with out subject. On one event (for evaluation functions, in fact), my accomplice hopped on the again to see simply how a lot weight it may take (disclaimer: don’t do this at house, of us!). It managed simply positive on flat terrain, however as soon as we reached the foot of our hill, the throttle wasn’t sufficient to get all of us again house with out some mompower.  

General, the Rad Power RadWagon 4 has been an important asset for our household to get round with out burning gasoline, which was, in fact, another excuse we wished to get an e-bike: much less driving! Much less Co2! We’re now tricked out as an e-bike household and couldn’t be extra proud.

Technical Specs

• 25-45+ miles per cost (estimate)
• 750W geared hub motor with 80 Nm of torque
• 48V, 14 Ah Lithium-Ion battery utilizing real Samsung 35E cells
• Customized Rad Energy Bikes 22″ x 3″ tires
• Built-in headlight and tail mild with brake mild performance
• Half twist throttle and clever 5 stage pedal help
• Full LCD show together with speedometer, wattmeter, and odometer
• 7-speed Shimano drivetrain
• 180 mm Tektro mechanical disc brakes
• Whole payload capability: 350 lb (158 kg)
• Rear rack capability: 120 lb (54 kg)
• Bike weight: 76.7 lb (34.8 kg)

Check out more detailed specs here.

By Kirstina Motamedi, CleanTechnica Visitor Author

RadPower provided a RadWagon 4 to the creator of this text freed from cost for the aim of this evaluation.

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