My son purchased a "Rad" for his wife as a Christmas present, and it's perfect for her. It's powerful enough for her to ride my 10 year old granddaughter on the back. These bikes, while not for everyone, aren't going away. The price was reasonable with $200 off when he purchased it. My only problem with rear hub systems is they are murder on my body when ridden over uneven terrain, a problem that wasn't evident with a front hub.

Not true when choices have been removed by profit maximizing corporations. City lot sizes and dimensions changed when trolley car lines were removed and cars took their place by default. I walked or bikes to school for 12 years but today it is often not safe for children or adults to walk or bicycle anywhere. The interstate highway system foolishly promoted by President Eisenhower made matters far worse. While Europe and Asia build light rail and high speed trains the U.S. government funded freeways which cut cities in half and forced people into cars. Even where I attended college a pork project that benefited only local contractors was done to build a 12 lane freeway through a town of 7,000 people. Students that walked or biked to campus were forced to buy cars which is not a trivial expensve for a student. I spent my last year in college as a homeless person as I could not afford both a car and to pay rent for an apartment.

It is also not appreciated that the "flight" to the suburbs were race based as white parents wanted to move to whites only enclaves and protect their children from exposure to children of color. This is still going on and why the big push for charter schools to continue with racial segregation that is so important to weaken workers in this country and keep them enslaved and living paycheck to paycheck. People have been deluded into thinking that they actually have a choice and live in a democracy.

What part of what I said is not true? can you specify?
The "flight" to the suburbs is the reason that most Americans are used to driving individual vehicles instead of using public transport, mass transit or bicycling.
Which are likely not widely available or safe in most suburbs, because most drivers think bicycles & motorcycles are just toys that don't belong on the roads.
Note that I specified 'most Americans' in my previous post, not you specifically as an outlier.
What you described in your personal experience does not reflect the majority of America.
I'm no stranger to sleeping in cars or being hungry enough to eat from garbage cans. .
Whatever racial divide that occurs in America is not delusion, it is designed maintain what always has been, since Columbus.

Production volume allows lower pricing..
$1800 USD for belt-drive, dual battery, 500w motor (for US market), this bike speaks utility for sure:
https://electrek.co/2022/01/02/chine...#disqus_thread
https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploa...esize=1536,768

This is what Rad Power Bikes should have done in the first place for the RadRunner:
Large battery capacity, cast wheels, 7-speed and low price point.
https://electrek.co/2022/01/24/new-f...-key-upgrades/
https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploa...844_1080x.jpeg

Another less-expensive option to cargo ebikes:
https://electrek.co/2022/02/04/eunor...r-replacement/
24" wheels & non-fat tires would be great for pavement riding with heavy loads.
Nearly $2700 when equipped with the largest battery capacity (31AH combined) configuration.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/23..._1800x1800.jpg

Some are good picks.. even for cargo ebikes:

Here are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in March 2022

https://electrek.co/2022/03/06/here-...y-price-level/

I've always wanted a Radrunner since it came out, but the lack of gears really prevented me from getting one, since the area that I ride involve some hills.
750w hub motor has plenty of acceleration from stop.
Suspension fork has some damping element, not sure if there is top-out bumper or hydraulic, but it is nice & smooth through its travel.
The Fiido T1 comes with a pretty large chainring, I guess they have this bike cruising at 20 mph with low cadence required from the rider.
I didn't have any problem removing the battery at all, the seatpost quick release clamp area is a little tight, but not so tight that it would prevent the battery to be removed.
Below is the lowest seat height for the T1, I'm 5'9", I could stand over the seat at the lowest seat height, but with shorter legged rider, there might be a problem finding a good fit.
Suspension seatpost is very long, about 550mm, I think it weighs over 5 lb., too. Likely the first place to lose weight from the T1.
I replaced the OEM front axle to a quick-release axle, just make it easier on myself to take front wheel on & off the bike.
I like the cast wheels, not much heavier than spoked wheels, but likely last longer without maintenance.
https://i.imgur.com/tIF1SBj.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8TzTqLb.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4GDcymx.jpg

You do not need any import license to bring products into the USA from China. You do need to work with a freight forwarding company that has US and China offices to manage the shipment and pay the fees involved.

I have been importing products from China on a regular basis for the past 12 years. Last year the ocean freight companies, which have a virtual monopoly, increase rates by more than 400%. A shipment that was costing $900 in 2020 is now costing use more than $4,000. Even without the Trump tax on imports from China the ocean freight costs now in place are a killer. Delivery times are now in the months so ordering the bikes tomorrow and you might have them for Christmas.

Retailers are indicating for many Shimano parts that they do not expect to have them in stock until December of 2022. And the dollar has continued to fall and so the Yen is 9% higher versus the U.S. dollar than it was last fall. Same is true for the Taiwan dollar (which will affect the price of Giant and Specialized and other bikes and bike components) and the Chinese Yuan which is up 11% over the U.S. dollar in the past year.

Thanks; great information. I don't deal with China (even though having many things from there since it seems easier, more cost effective and more feasible to deal with US suppliers even if they just repackage.

No doubt shipping ebikes in containers are costing more these days, along with the time frame of container processing from China through US ports.
Luckily, I bought my cargo ebike in OCT/NOV 2020, just before the pandemic, delivery was made in FEB 2021.
US dependency of cheap goods from China is not going to change significantly in the near future.
Decades of importing cheap goods from China is finally come to reveal the issues.
Unless US is willing to restart its manufacturing might, ignore the consequences of environmental impact of mass manufacturing and pay fair living labor wages;
even then, the prices for goods are still going to be far more expensive than Chinese import.
You can say that you don't deal with China, but plenty of things in your household still are made in China, depended on Chinese manufactured parts or raw materials;
even if they have a "Made in the USA" label.
Personally, I buy what's available at less costly prices that suits my purpose; regardless where it is made, or where it is from.
These ebikes really are not that complicated, electronically & mechanically, and the parameters that I use these ebikes are not extremely demanding.
Even when issues occur, I can usually fix thing myself or not have to depend on US suppliers to get stuff working again.
The wonderful thing about the internet: you can learn how to fix just about anything yourself; with proper tools & spare parts.

Europeans already love electric cargo bikes, and now Americans are embracing these low-cost car alternatives

https://electrek.co/2022/04/21/europ...-alternatives/

PAS 80 mile range.. with 2.5 batteries.. looks heavy..
https://electrek.co/2022/05/07/fucar...or-long-range/
https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploa...e-gemini-x.jpg
https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploa..._1800x1800.jpg

Bike riders in most European cites find much safer streets and it is by design. In the USA the auto is king and on public streets taxpayer subsidized vehicle parking is everywhere. Bicyclists are squeezed into narrow bike lanes and have to deal with car mirrors and people opening their car doors with looking. In many cities in Europe there are streets in shopping districts where motorized vehicles are not allowed during business hours and so the streets are in use by pedestrians and bicyclists.

Over my lifetime the streets in the USA have become much morel dangerous with drivers going past at high speeds and often focused on their hamburger, cup of coffee, or hand held cell phone than the road ahead. A bicyclist is considered to be a nuisance with no right to be on the streets.

When I do ride on city streets I find it safest during the night as their are far fewer motorists and less exhaust to inhale and it is usually cooler.

As a bicyclist for over 30 years in the USA, I agree that bicycles (& motorcycles) are mostly considered as toys in the USA, most motorists feel that they don't belong on public roads.

I've worked as a bicycle messenger in Seattle & SF, CA, have had my fair share of close calls, door prizes; I'm used to commuting on my bicycle in NYC metro since 2013.
Filtering through between car mirrors in traffic is no particular concerning, but at night when visibility is low is when I become more careful.

Generally, I prefer a small folding bike for riding in the city traffic; smaller bike = smaller target to get hit, also lower speed (below 20 mph).
With the cargo ebike, motorists tend to give me more room to maneuver in traffic, important thing is to make yourself seen in traffic;
by being visible with lights & color you wear, or by the way you ride.

Just make sure you always have an way out to avoid impact, even if it means to jump the curb or ride at the opposite side of the road. It's kept me alive & accident free for decades.

https://electrek.co/2022/06/03/usps-...ric-mail-bike/
The USPS is already testing mail delivery by electric bike with these neat little US-built mail bikes.

Far better than carrying a huge bag of mail on your shoulder.

https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploa...usps-miami.jpg

Exciting new offerings from REI:

https://electrek.co/2022/06/10/rei-c...eration-e-1-2/

https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-con...1-2-header.jpg

what do you think of that pricing?

$1500 & $1900, it's REI pricing for sure, I think it's a good value.
Compare to Lectric XP 2.0 at $1000, REI bikes are a bit expensive, but Lectric doesn't have retail stores that may offer support.
If you're handy with working on bikes, that may not matter.

cat0020, are you back to driving now? You said in an earlier post that you couldn't carry all the food you needed on your current cargo bikes.
Maybe it's time to sell a couple and get a cargo trike?

Nah, trikes are too wide for me to filter through traffic.
If I’m wide as a car, I just as well drive (be in a cage).

It’s very difficult to predict how much volume of food to order during pandemic,
kids get sick, test positive, then we need to go remote and cancel food order.
I can usually manage if the food is not so easily perishable,
but the shelters they rarely get donation of fresh fruits or sandwiches.
When I get large amount of leftovers of fruit, the cargo get heavy.

Private sector is going electric for deliveries, too.

https://electrek.co/2022/07/04/amazo...an-deliveries/

https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-con...ike-header.jpg

WOW. Im from Sri Lanka, Which is 3rd world **** hole. Almost every one ride Scooters here. we borrow Gas from other countries, and now people on terrorist mode bue to fule crises, but u giys has nailed it. no wonder we people are still in ****,
Cheers everyone. im gonna post these pics on local pages, coz people here are lazy as snails,

I was born in a 3rd world country, I grew up sharing a squatting toilet & outhouses with no running water.
Bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles out number cars about 10 to 1 where I grew up.
My older sister carried me (7 y-o) and my other sister (13 y-o) on her moped in traffic since she was 17. My father used the same moped carried my whole family.
I started to learn French & English since I was 8, because my mom was a teacher and hosted foreigners to live in our family home.
I got to see pictures & learn about things from different parts of the world when my mom had foreign students come to stay with us and I wanted to see the world for myself.
She knew since we were little kids how important it is to have foreigners in our lives, to be exposed to different things that what we are used to.
We didn't have everything we wanted growing up, but we managed to get by with what we have and make do with what we can.
And I somewhat stick with train of thought when it comes to bicycles these days; it's not how fancy your bike is, but how much you get to use it.

Upcoming legislation, I hope it passes:

New York’s proposed e-bike rebate could slash electric bike and scooter prices by 50%

https://electrek.co/2022/08/31/new-york-e-bike-rebate/

If this passes I'm getting another electric scooter instead, since the LIRR trains are so packed with people using scooters that bringing a folding bike onboard has become a hassle. The NIU KQi3 Max will be my new ride,...
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2542ff754d.jpg
It's not an ebike, but it's going to have to suffice. I prefer to pedal, but space issues when commuting are becoming a huge problem (The train car I had to use contained about 10+ electric scooters yesterday. That's a problem and a half - LoL!).
​​​​​​https://shop.niu.com/products/niu-kq...ter-for-adults

Just be careful on those things, I've seen too many riders (of push e-scooters) eat pavement on my commute.
I think once you start to get used to the speed on those, you can easily miss judge the obstacles or hazards on the road.
Combined with small diameter wheels, very little suspension, doesn't seem to take much to stop these scooters and flip the rider onto the pavement.
I know the faster (40+ mph) ones have larger/wider tires and decent suspensions, I've seen those get taken onto subways, too.
They seem to be more dangerous than motorcycles to me.

I've been riding these things for a few years now, BEFORE they became popular and legal. I'm quite comfortable riding them, and understand the safety issues associated with them. I also know I have a better view of the road on them, and they're actually a bit more manuverable than most bikes/bikers. The problems arise when people become either overconfident, or are completely oblivious to the face that you need to learn to ride defensively, and cars won't stop or get out of the way for you. It's the nOOb that usually gets injured or killed. Or, like I said, the overconfident. I always expect the worst, so I've avoided many a situation.

Seems like a fair review of the Fiido T1:

NBD from AliEx, 750w rear hub motor with cast wheels, 5 PAS modes, 45 km/h capable, two 48V 22Ah batteries, large aluminum tail basket (not pictured).
https://i.imgur.com/4wEOGea.jpg
Took it out for a few miles after fitting a longer stem, thinking about switching to narrower handlebars to better filter through traffic.
Bench seat is nice & long, but a bit too wide for comfortable pedaling action.
That rear shock is more or less a ride height adjustment, not much travel.
Hydraulic brakes are nice, especially for a bike that's nearly 100 lb.
Rear brake light is activated by the brake levers.
https://i.imgur.com/Wi3xvvw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/uNCewj1.jpg