The T1 Pro E-Cargo Bike Shows Some Next-Level Thinking – CleanTechnica

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There are e-cargo bikes, and then there are e-cargo bikes… On the one hand, there are electric cargo bikes that include a little more room for carrying stuff in their design, but are otherwise pretty much like a bog-standard electric bicycle, sorta like the basic modern crossover design in automobiles, where it’s essentially a glorified station wagon rather than a true SUV.

On the other hand, there are e-cargo bikes that are designed to haul stuff regularly, and which feature a lot of space for cargo plus a low center of gravity, so they’re also stable and maneuverable when loaded, kind of like an SUV, but without all of the bells and whistles.

Then there are the big e-cargo trikes that are mostly for commercial use, which essentially act as a small truck or van. And this last category of cargo bikes tends to be where we’re seeing a lot more technology and innovation baked into the design right from the beginning, rather than throwing extra features onto a pretty traditional bicycle design just to enhance their appearance and increase their market appeal to certain audiences.

But a forthcoming consumer (“family”) e-cargo bike from Tarran looks to be as well-designed and thought-out as a modern automobile, which is next-level stuff, in part because getting people to replace most of their driving trips with a bicycle will likely require bike designs that integrate a great deal of features, from safety to convenience to useful to fun to security and beyond.

From the Tarran website:

We’ve imagined a cargo bike like this:

It thinks, watches the road, warns you in advance.
It carries all you need while zipping through sharp corners in the city.
It supports you, knowing when to hold you tight and when to let go.
And now, it’s here:

Family cargo bike,
made smarter.

As a cyclist, I know that the kind of bike I ride when I’m only transporting myself and some goods doesn’t need anywhere near the number of features that I want on a bike that I’m riding when transporting my children or pets or a really heavy or bulky load on a regular basis. Whereas a very simple e-cargo bike could be perfect for just me alone, a richly-featured e-cargo bike such as the Tarran T1 might be my first choice if I need the two-wheeled equivalent of the family minivan or station wagon.

For example, the T1 features an “intelligent” safety system that uses several cameras and a rear radar to detect nearby or approaching systems:

“Rear camera and radar constantly monitor approaching vehicles, alerts with handlebar vibration and video stream. Front-facing 180° camera allows advanced visibility of road conditions even when rider’s view is blocked. Smart lighting system offers high and low beam front lights, turning lights, automatic braking lights. Timely alerts enhance the sense of control, also significantly increasing safety in complex road conditions and nighttime riding.”

The T1 also has a stability system that uses automatically deployed “landing gear” to prevent tipping:

“Traditional cargo bikes are unstable at low speeds and prone to tipping. TARRAN T1 Pro solves this with its proprietary Dynamic Dualdrive™ landing gears, which automatically deploy when braking to a low speed, and retract when riding is stable.

“Each landing gear is controlled by a separate motor and features suspension, allowing adaptive support on uneven surfaces. These wheels can be manually lowered for easier pushing, and act as an e-kickstand when locked in position, offering balance support when waiting for a red light or parking, and making it easier to park when loaded.”

In addition to its tech features, the T1 also appears to be a very practical — and long range — hauler:

“With a 220kg maximum total weight capacity, T1 Pro can comfortably accommodate two children under 1.26 meters in the cargo box, or 3 Euroboxes, while the intelligent spacing compresses overall length to 2260mm, making it rather compact and maneuverable in its class. It comes standard with a 5-point safety harness childseat. With a rear MIK rack, you can install a seat for one extra taller kid or more cargo.

“Thanks to dual-battery design, with each one having a capacity of 708Wh, it offers a range up to 200km*. Batteries are concealed at the bottom of the cargo box, aiding in theft prevention, while also preventing exposure aging.”

Additional info about the Tarran T1 can be found at the company website, where it is currently in a pre-sale phase, with details on pricing and availability to be announced in the near future.