However, to truly replace a car, an e-bike needs to be able to haul cargo and passengers.
That’s what theRad Power RadWagon 4attempts to do.
Almost everywhere I need to go in my daily life requires getting into my car.
And I’ve become increasingly annoyed at how cumbersome it is to get anywhere in a car.
Not to mention, Im pumping more fumes into the environment with every Target run.
The problem is most e-bikes are only good for one person and some light cargo.
Rad Power wants the RadWagon 4 to be that bike.
The product page boldly claims: The minivan has met its match.
Lets find out if thats true.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
The RadWagon 4 is an cargo e-bike perfect for picking up groceries or taking the kids to school.
It has a low center of gravity for a stable ride and is built like a tank.
The frame is thick, and there are plenty of support bars all over the body.
The RadWagon 4 is an cargo e-bike perfect for picking up groceries or taking the kids to school. It has a low center of gravity for a stable ride and is built like a tank.
This thing is a tank.
The build quality made me feel immediately comfortable about having my 5-year-old ride on the back.
Speaking of the shape, as youve probably noticed, the RadWagon 4 is not a typical bike.
The RadWagon 4 is an cargo e-bike perfect for picking up groceries or taking the kids to school. It has a low center of gravity for a stable ride and is built like a tank.
The RadWagon 4 doesnt have typical tires, either.
Rad Power has equipped the bike with custom 22-inch tires that are 3 inches wide.
The frame is designed to fit people from 51 to 64.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
Once you step over, the telescoping seatpost allows even giants like myself to find a comfortable sitting height.
you could feel it as the pedaler and maybe even more so as a passenger on the back.
One small gripe is the kickstand when folded up.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
Whenever you hit a bump, the kickstand swings down a bit and audibly rattles.
Id like it to be more securely in place (a problem thatpeople with 3D printers have solved).
All in all, this is a beast of a bike.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
Im very impressed with Rad Powers build quality and design.
RadWagon 4 Cargo & Passengers
Lets talk about what this bike is really designed forhaulin.
Rad Poweroffers a number of accessoriesthat will help you take advantage of those limits.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
Usually, that was my 5-year-old, which the bike barely noticed.
Just be extra, extra careful if you do this.
Hauling cargo is a piece of cake compared to hauling people.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
As mentioned, there are mounting points all over the bike.
Plus, Rad Power offers a full-ontrailerfor even more cargo capacity.
The RadWagons kickstand passed with flying colors in this regard.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
I never felt like I was carrying more than the bike could handleeven with two full-grown adults.
This means it has a throttle, pedal assist, and a max speed of 20MPH.
it’s possible for you to cruise without pedaling or get some help when youarepedaling.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
If youve never used a bike with pedal assist, its basically like having super strength.
When you start pedaling, the motor kicks in to help, and it stops when you stop.
There are five levels of pedal assist, controlled by buttons on the left handle.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
Level three was a sweet spot for me.
I felt like I was still really pedaling, but it required very little effort.
Level four and five are super helpful when going up hills and carrying a lot of weight.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
Using the throttle will drain the battery quicker than pedal assist, though, so I used it sparingly.
Sometimes, you just dont want to pedal.
Its nice to have that option.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
Speaking ofbattery, the RadWagon has a 672Wh battery powering the 750W direct drive hub motor.
Of course, the more weight you carry, the more youre taxing the battery.
In my testing, I was able to get around 25 miles on a charge.
That was almost exclusively with someone else on the back and using level three or four of pedal assist.
Its big and was easy to read in direct sunlight.
As mentioned, this is a heavy bike.
Dont get stranded without a charge.
Should You Buy the Rad Power RadWagon 4?
One thing I havent talked about yet is pricing.
Electric bikes are not cheap, and electric cargo bikes tend to be even more expensive.
The full price of theRadWagon 4is $1,999, but it regularly drops below that.
Thats an excellent price if you could snag it.
Youre most likely buying it to replace some of the trips you make with your car.
Of course, the utility of a bike like the RadWagon 4 depends on where you live.
A lot of the places I regularly visit live in a sort of purgatory zone.
