October 21, 2020 - Urban Arrow, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is a company with the inspiration to design and build the e-cargo bikes of the future.
We were stoked to test their Family e-cargo bike model with the help of Bike Bike, their dealer in Calgary, who concurred that interest in this segment of the market is growing rapidly.
The Urban Arrow Family is an e-cargo bike designed to take you and your precious cargo wherever you need to be. Equipped with a strong and reliable Bosch e-drive power system, you can choose between a Performance Line 350-watt motor with 65 Nm of torque, or a Performance CX 350-watt motor that offers 75 Nm of torque. Next year the Bosch Cargo Line system, with similar features and 85 Nm of torque, will replace the CX, and the Performance Line will sport the Bosch Gen 3 motor.
The system pairs with either a 400Wh 36v lithium-ion battery with an 80km range, or a 500Wh battery with a 100km range on a single charge.
Topping out at 32 kph of assistance, the Bosch e-drive integrates seamlessly with a Nuvinci Nfinity 330 step-less internal gear rear hub and shifters, for smooth pedaling around town and on to your next adventure. The Shimano Zee hydraulic disc brakes ensure reliable stopping power.
As I navigated the twists and turns of the local bike path, it felt like I was driving a landspeeder during a classic Star Wars escape scene. My young daughters loaded in the front shared screams of joy as we bobbed and weaved down our twisty bike path.
Everyone around waved and smiled – you can’t go unnoticed in this classy looking e-cargo bike. It was a fun ride for the whole family, parents and kids included.
Equipped with Eco, Touring, Sport, and Turbo modes, you choose how quickly you get up to speed while managing the battery life. Keep in mind that battery life will depend on how much you like Turbo, the load you’re carrying, and the terrain.
The on-board screen provides a reliable estimation of distance remaining, regardless of assist-mode. It was fun to replicate the exhilaration of acceleration off the line using Turbo mode out of the driveway and after each stoplight, and then dial the assist back to conserve battery power.
For our test, I used the Urban Arrow Family e-cargo bike at every opportunity. Dropping off the kids at school, picking up groceries, long commutes to pick up last minute camping supplies, and of course a run to the beer store.
Not once did I come close to using up my battery supply. Every mundane trip to run errands instantly became an opportunity for adventure on the e-cargo bike. One school morning I was swarmed by a bunch of Dads peppering me with questions. “Where did you get that bike? How fast does it go? How much does it cost?”
Weighing in at 51 kilos with a total payload of 200 kgs (bike + rider + load), the Urban Arrow Family doesn’t claim to be the lightest e-cargo bike out there, but the lightweight aluminum chassis coupled with an impact-resistant EPS foam cargo box, makes its weight quite manageable.
Once I got the hang of it, the e-cargo bike was easy to manoeuvre around the garage and up and down the driveway. Of course noone wants to lose battery power half way up a hill, so it’s good practice to keep the battery charged up to full capacity for your daily adventures. A charger comes with the unit and it plugs into a standard outlet making recharging a breeze.
The incredible range of accessories available allows for customization to meet any family’s needs – even during winter. The box cover neatly covers your bike when it’s not being used to protect it from rain and debris, while the rain cover keeps everything nice and dry during bike rides on rainy days.
With the optional poncho, you’ll have no more excuses to take the car. Connect it to the rain cover with the Velcro strip to stay dry at all times. There is even an optional attachment for car seats to take the youngest of passengers along for a ride. The car can be left at home while you zip through the city effortlessly, or enjoy a trip to the woods or the beach.
The Urban Arrow e-cargo bike can easily replace your car, or second vehicle – hands down. When you do the math, the annual cost of car ownership in Canada including depreciation, averages between $8,600 and $13,000. You can quickly see how the Urban Arrow Family, or any e-cargo bike, is a lot more manageable. With studded tires and some Canadian grit, e-cargo bikes can used in all four seasons.
The Urban Arrow Family e-cargo bike delivers a practical, versatile and fun mobility solution while opening up new ways to discover the city you live in. You can choose to go by bike nearly 100% of the time and e-cargo bike users confirm that they feel closer to nature and their community.
Urban Arrow aims to be the frontrunner in urban mobility with a bold design philosophy to produce e-cargo bikes that are reliable, easy to handle in traffic, and attractive, for personal or commercial use.
Zero emissions and no sweat. One ride, and as Urban Arrow claims, you’ll be hooked.
The SRP for the Urban Arrow Family e-cargo bike starts at $7,499 in Canada and $4,999 US in the USA. For more information visit here.
