As a first-time mother, I tend to overanalyze each potential baby-related merchandise that orbits my baby’s sphere. There isn’t a evaluate I can’t learn and no rabbit gap on an organization’s Instagram web page I can’t dive down. So, when it got here time to search for a cargo e-bike that was protected, simple to journey, and enjoyable, I used to be pleasantly stunned that the Rad Energy 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 evaluate. I used to be capable of give it a whirl on the Huge Island of Hawaii, the place I reside.
Rad Energy will not be new to the electrical bike area. Throughout the early days of the pandemic, the demand for e-bikes skyrocketed and Rad Energy turned 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 stay as much as the hype from early adopters. I ought to word that in my analysis, I used to be focused by an infinite variety of e-bike firms, however nothing from Rad Energy. Of the parents-slash-friends I talked to, 4 totally different households owned a Rad Wagon.
![](https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023/08/image1.jpeg)
Picture courtesy of Kirstina Motamedi / CleanTechnica
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 troublesome facet, so my associate assembled the bike for us. He mentioned the pre-attached strains for brakes and gears have been a time-saver, however you continue to wanted to make use of a number 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 whenever you flip the handlebars and it wanted to be tightened a number of occasions, utilizing a number of totally different Allen wrenches.
Attaching equipment like a baby’s bike seat, working boards, and caboose have been simple and didn’t require any particular instrument. Rad Energy has an extended record of equipment you should buy to package out your cargo e-bike any method you need.
The Journey Sum-Up
I selected their brightest coloration for the RadWagon — a blazing sizzling orange to maintain me and my baby properly seen on the highway. Whereas I’ll stay within the land of the Ironman World Championships, Kona will not be essentially the most bike-friendly metropolis in sunny Hawaii. But it surely matched our orange Thule Yepp bike seat, which actually fanned out my mother flare. And whereas I do contend that the colourful coloration would maintain us safer on the highway, 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 side I actually appreciated have been the bigger wheels that gave the bike a heftier, seaside cruiser vibe and in the end felt extra secure. I used to be comfy shifting my weight back and forth, and extra importantly, I felt sturdy even when my wiggle worm behind me within the baby seat would transfer to have a look at each animal we noticed throughout our first journey. It additionally transitions easily whenever 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 associate’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 alter 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 selection of my associate. In spite of everything, this was a household wagon, so we each needed to make certain it was a motorcycle that we like to have a look at, in addition to journey.
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Picture courtesy of Kirstina Motamedi | CleanTechnica
One other function that I didn’t even take into account 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 lots simpler to place my baby within the bike seat with out having to lean to 1 facet. The one factor I might change can be to place rubber pads on the underside to guard our storage ground and patio from the steel 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 spread 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 feel any father or mother can be comfortable to cruise on the tempo of a canine enjoying fetch.
There are 5 ranges of pedal help and a half-twist throttle, good for that much-need enhance to make it up a hill or in case you merely select to not pedal. The show display simply exhibits what stage of pedal help you’re in and the thumb-control ranges are conveniently positioned in your left deal with.
![](https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023/08/image4.jpeg)
Picture courtesy of Kirstina Motamedi | CleanTechnica
The RadWagon boasts a load capability of 350 kilos, simply hauling my toddler round city with out situation. On one event (for evaluate functions, in fact), my associate hopped on the again to see simply how a lot weight it might take (disclaimer: don’t do that at residence, people!). 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 residence with out some mompower.
General, the Rad Energy RadWagon 4 has been an important asset for our household to get round with out burning fuel, which was, in fact, another excuse we needed 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.
![](https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023/08/image5.jpeg)
Picture courtesy of Kirstina Motamedi | CleanTechnica
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
Complete payload capability: 350 lb (158 kg)
Rear rack capability: 120 lb (54 kg)
Bike weight: 76.7 lb (34.8 kg)
Try extra detailed specs right here.
By Kirstina Motamedi, CleanTechnica Visitor Author
RadPower equipped a RadWagon 4 to the writer of this text freed from cost for the aim of this evaluate.
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