Adult electric tricycles: features, brands, choices, uses

Adult tricycles are a popular transport in European countries, aimed at people with limited mobility: elderly people, parents with small children. Such bikes are quite different from both conventional mopeds and two-wheeled non-motorized counterparts. They are much easier to operate, safe, easy to store, there are even folding options for compact transportation in the trunk.

Electric bicycles do not create noise and harmful emissions into the atmosphere, they allow, after the end of the battery supply, to reach the destination on their own, using the pedals. Trikes have already conquered the countries of Asia and are rapidly conquering the world market. What are the pros and cons of electric 3-wheel bikes to consider when choosing this technique? Are trikes easy to manage, what are they? A detailed overview of electric bike models will help you to understand all the intricacies of the new technology.

The adult electric tricycle is an environmentally friendly form of urban transport that allows you to easily cover fairly long distances. All models are equipped with one or two wheel motors to move the bike and a battery to provide power. Many e-bikes only have 1 gear and cannot reverse..

The most common are gear-type wheel motors that work well on rough terrain, easily climbing a hill. Their minus is a low efficiency and a speed limit of 30 km / h can be considered as an advantage.

Such models are suitable for retirees, mothers with children. Direct drive gives more speed to the motor-wheel, but with it the energy consumption also increases, the battery is discharged faster, and the equipment itself weighs more due to the design features. The standard motor power of a 3-wheel e-bike is 250 watts - you can sit behind the wheel of such equipment, even without a driver's license.

What are the benefits of an electric tricycle?

• No need to register transport. You won't have to go to the traffic police, but you will need a license for some models.
• Ease of controls. The three-wheeled electric bike is much easier to master than the two-wheeled version.
• The ability to ride without a motor. If the battery has run out, you can reach your destination by pedaling.
• Increased lifting capacity. A trike with an electric motor can easily replace a scooter and other equipment, help transport crops from a summer cottage or go shopping at a supermarket.
• Environmental friendliness. An electric bike does not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere; it is an environmentally friendly transport.

There are also disadvantages. For example, many manufacturers list the total lifting capacity in their technical specifications, including the rider's weight. Not considering this factor, the owners allow overloading and simply break the frames. In addition, tricycles are less passable and require a larger turning radius, dedicated storage space and room to maneuver.

By the type of their design, all adult tricycles are as follows.

• With one front wheel. Classic models focused on high mobility and maneuverability. They can be produced in both cargo and passenger versions.
• With two front wheels. Not too maneuverable city e-bikes. Such models are most often used to transport children in a special cradle; an adult two-wheeled bicycle can be detached from the rest of the structure.
• Foldable. They have one significant plus - a transforming design. Otherwise, these models are noticeably worse than others, have a rigid rigid fork, and wear out faster.
• With a basket in the back. GRuzovaya variety of electric three-wheeled bicycles. It is convenient to transport goods in the luggage compartment.
• With carrycot or box for the baby in front. Special models that can be transformed into a stroller.

To choose your electric 3-wheel bike from the many options presented, be sure to consider the following points.

• Road surface type... The cheapest trike with an electric motor is great for the city, but it's useless off-road. For driving on country roads, there are off-road models, with a powerful motor and battery.
• Appointment. A three-wheeled electric bike for transporting children is very different from a cargo one, capable of transporting building materials or sacks of potatoes. It is worth considering these tasks from the very beginning.
• Who will ride... If the transport is purchased as a family one, it is worth giving preference to the universal model. If you do not plan to transfer it from hand to hand, you can select the parameters individually.
• Body position. Not all e-tricycles look the same. Sports models are now popular, in which the seat is very low, the driver himself is reclining. For an older person or a woman in a skirt, this may not be acceptable.
• Price. Budget models start at 35,000 rubles, the most expensive about 300,000 rubles.

Among the battery-powered 3-wheel bicycles, there are some very unusual models.

• Hybrid Rutrike 1500 60V 1000W. A Russian-made tricycle with a full body is the best option for a farm, private economy, boarding house or recreation center. Bulk materials can be transported in the spacious cargo hold.

• "Solntsekat Tourist". An exclusive development of domestic designers - a solar-powered electric bike. The model is equipped with a special transparent monocarbonate dome, which at the same time acts as a windshield. The design itself assumes a low seating position for the driver - he is in a reclining position, with outstretched legs. The set includes a 1000 W motor, a comfortable seat made of eco-leather, automatic transmission, the duration of the trip during the day is not limited, at night the power reserve is enough for 35 km.

The most typical examples of electric ride are cargo bikes with a large luggage compartment in the back. Among the most popular models, we note the following.

• Doonkan Trike 500w. An electric drive folding bike with three wheels and a fairly powerful 500 W motor. The equipment itself does not differ in large carrying capacity, but it has a very capacious battery, suspension fork, wheels with a diameter of 20 inches and 6 speeds. This model is produced by the world famous Shimano concern from Japan.

• E-motions Kangoo-ru 700W. The model is quite powerful, interesting for the presence of recuperation - recharging the battery when braking on descents and the function of reversing. The front-wheel drive of a direct type provides good power and driving speed, the range is sufficient for 60 km. The front wheel is 24 inches in diameter, the rear is 20 inches.

• IZH-Bike Fermer. A budget model of domestic production, equipped with a low-power 250 W motor, does not require the rights to drive electric motor vehicles. The low speed of 25 km / h is compensated by the large power reserve - up to 45 km. Includes 2 baskets for loads.

Sometimes a tricycle can become a real family transport. This is how it can be said about Tagaelectro - models of a tricycle that can be easily transformed into a stroller or a tricycle for two. The electric motor has a low power - 250 W, accelerates to only 25 km / h, but the power reserve is enough for 60 km of trips in parks.

The model is unusual in that, when used as a bicycle, it has 2 wheels in front and rear-wheel drive. The baby unit is located in front of the adult, control is possible both from the pedals, and in combined mode. The total carrying capacity of the model is 125 kg, in the baby unit there is a full-fledged child seat with a weather hood and seat belts.

In the next video, you will find an overview of a powerful electric tricycle with a 500W electric wheel.