What's black and yellow and has five smiley faces? The new Decathlon B'Twin F900E electric bike with four child-sized front riders. A new cargo bike has just been launched, offering a mini cargo van to the bike world.
The Twin F900E uses a front-loading setup instead of the more common long-tail design, which features a tub the size of a baby carrier built into the front. That large front bucket can fit three children strapped into its harness, and a fourth child can sit in the cargo area on the back of the bike.
The operator of the bike (for now hopefully a responsible adult) will get to control the Brose S Mag engine, which puts out a torque of 90 Nm. That torque is especially important on cargo bikes, which tend to be loaded down frequently. The Decathlon F900E can support up to 184 kg (405 lb) for cargo and passengers, so extra torque for maneuvering is always appreciated. And to keep all that weight stable, the bike features a double-wide kickstand.
Although front-loading bikes are certainly larger than most e-bikes, the F900E still has a small footprint and, of course, takes up much less road space than an SUV or van that would be used to transport four children.
Powering the engine is a 36V 17.5Ah battery with a capacity of 630 Wh. The battery is removable, allowing it to be charged on or off the bike. A full charge takes about four hours.
According to the company, the battery is enough between 40-80 km of distance (25-50 miles). Designed for the European market, the F900E does not have a throttle and thus operates only with pedal assistance, helping it achieve high efficiency as well as maximum range in a medium-sized battery pack.
A top speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph) also helps with efficiency, as the top speed found on North American bikes often results in lower mileage due to lower efficiency.
The family-sized cargo bike is available for £4,999 in the UK and €4,999 in the rest of Europe (roughly US $6,400 and $5,400, respectively). A rarity in the e-bike world, that price includes a bike that comes fully equipped, meaning riders get a rain cover and a side access door for the passenger compartment, instead of the retractable ones as an optional upgrade.
Free GPS tracking service using the bike's built-in GPS chip is included for one year. After that, the service costs an additional ~$2 per month.
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