https://ebiketips.road.cc/content/advice/features/video-can-a-1500-e-cargo-bike-replace-a-car-5737

[Raboa]

Video: Can a £1,500 e-cargo bike replace a car?

Chinese budget brand Engwe recently released a longtail e-cargo bike, the LE20, which is currently available at the rather eye-catching price of £1,449. Now clearly this is not a top-end e-bike, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a handy vehicle that could perhaps replace a car for some...

ebiketips.road.cc

 

[matthewslack]

Only the basic unaccessorized, single battery, slow charger version at that price. Add the second battery and one of the optional 'useful as a cargo bike' options, and the fast charger, and it is close to £2K.

Disadvantages of unspecified brakes (Tern has 4 piston, thick pad Maguras, ideal for the task), 7 speed gears! (wide range 10 speed on the Tern), and an unknown motor (Bosch CargoLine CX on the Tern).

Unless it is good enough to bring the joy of the Tern, I suspect these may be bought and consigned to a dark corner as a failed half-measure after not much use.

If it does bring the joy, then with a few upgrades it might just do. I would still have a lingering doubt about that motor, unless under the covers it turned out to be a known unit.

 

[saneagle]

Only the basic unaccessorized, single battery, slow charger version at that price. Add the second battery and one of the optional 'useful as a cargo bike' options, and the fast charger, and it is close to £2K.

Disadvantages of unspecified brakes (Tern has 4 piston, thick pad Maguras, ideal for the task), 7 speed gears! (wide range 10 speed on the Tern), and an unknown motor (Bosch CargoLine CX on the Tern).

Unless it is good enough to bring the joy of the Tern, I suspect these may be bought and consigned to a dark corner as a failed half-measure after not much use.

If it does bring the joy, then with a few upgrades it might just do. I would still have a lingering doubt about that motor, unless under the covers it turned out to be a known unit.

It uses the Ananda motor. Ananda don't sell spare parts, so if the controller or LCD pack up, you're stuffed: however those motors do run pretty well with an external controller if you can find a way to bodge a pedal sensor.

Brakes and gears are no issue, they're pretty easy and cheap to upgrade if you don't like them. Chinese are now doing 4-pot ones with cut-off switches for £45. Personally, I'd rather stick with the cheap gears because expensive ones are going to wear out and get damaged fast on a cargo bike.

 

[matthewslack]

That's better than unspecified, then. Might even be good!

The non-ebike users I have seen get 'converted' have to be blown away by their first 30 seconds of riding, or they are lost for ever. The Tern does that, not sure this will.

 

[Raboa]

Buy a Tern without a motor and add your own, I use a hub powered self conversion kit cheap mountain bike with a Tortec expedition rack.