Best Electric Tricycles, 2023
*Electric Bike Report aims to help consumers find the right electric bike for their needs. When you buy a product we recommend, we may earn a commission.
Just like its two-wheel siblings, e-trikes feature a host of nifty components that can really customize your ride. Unlike two-wheel e-bikes, though, e-trikes have three wheels that offer riders greater stability at lower speeds, making e-trikes the top choice for seniors or other adults who have special mobility needs. E-trikes shine brightly in this regard, opening a world of new transportation opportunities its riders may not have had otherwise.
E-trikes have specific capabilities and limitations related to speed, handling and range. Keep this in mind as you compare the different trike models, and how the trike meets your needs. For example, an electric trike that’s lighter and sits lower may be more important to you than a trike with longer range, or greater cargo-carrying capacity. Ask yourself, what makes an e-trike the best for you?
Maybe your primary need isn’t riding related, such as having a trike that’s easy to transport in a vehicle and/or is easy to store at your house. Or maybe you need a trike with a narrow enough width to fit through your doorway.
As you read our selections for 2023’s best electric tricycles you might get more ideas and have more questions. No worries, we’ve included links in our best electric trikes page that will take you to our in-depth reviews on each one for more information.
*Editor’s Note: Updated on Nov 15th, 2023 with new content for picks of the best electric tricycles
Our Picks For The Best Electric Trikes for 2023
- Best Affordable Electric Tricycle: Lectric XP Trike | Check Best Price
- Best Value Electric Tricycle: Rad Power Bikes RadTrike | Check Best Price
- Best Mid-Drive Electric Tricycle: Evelo Compass | Check Best Price
Lectric XP Trike
Best Affordable Electric Tricycle
If you’re looking for a trike on a limited budget, the Lectric XP Trike has some great features and offers great value for the money. Actually, it’s just plain great, and happens to be available on the cheap!
As a well-known leader in the electric bike world, Lectric eBike’s new XP Trike rewrote the rules on how to make an e-trike more affordable. The XP Trike is priced around $1500, making this the most affordable option of our best e-trikes list.
Building the drivetrain for a trike can be the most expensive part of production. Lectric crafted a unique and cost-effective design with a 500W hub motor mounted on the frame, behind the pedal crank, that drives a short chain connected to the differential. The differential slows down the inside wheel on turns so the rider doesn’t spin out of control, creating a balanced center of gravity when you ride. It’s clever as it provides a better feel than a front-hub motor setup, but is far less costly than mid-drive motor configurations.
The Lectric XP Trike fits riders who are 5’4” to 6’1”. And on top of that. The XP Trike comes with the folding frame feature Lectric is known for, reducing its size to 38.5″L x 30.5″W x 30″H when folded. The 415 lbs maximum weight capacity on the Trike means it can carry a rider weighing up to 325 lbs, 35 lbs max in the front basket, and 75 lbs in the rear basket. Adding the three maximum amounts gives you 435 lbs, meaning you cannot do the maximum limit for the rider and both baskets at the same time.
Providing additional safety for new riders and folks who have been away from bikes for a while, the XP Trike has a default mode that limits the trike to a 5 mph top speed while you get the hang of riding the trike. You can easily switch out of the mode by going into settings. We like the emphasis on safety to help ease riders into electrified trikes especially since they perform best at more mild speeds anyway.
Mobility doesn’t have to be expensive. The XP Trike is a dependable e-trike that’ll help more people enjoy riding which is why it leads off our list of the best electric tricycle.
- With current price around $1500, this is one of the most affordable quality e-trikes on the market.
- Stable ride and good handling thanks to the 2-wheel drive differential
- Smooth power output comes from the uniquely designed placement of the 500W hub motor between the pedal crank and differential.
- Folding frame makes it easier to load into a car or SUV and transport, and store in smaller spots.
- Leg extension for taller rides will be on the short side. Not a big deal with motor help anyway though..
Rad Power Bikes RadTrike
Best Value Electric Tricycle
Fewer names are bigger in the electrified bike world than Rad Power Bikes. They were able to take a lot of experience into their first Trike design, and it hits a lot of high notes.
Rad designed the RadTrike using smaller 18-inch wheels and a simplified powerband that uses a front wheel hub motor. Riders can appreciate the ease of stepping on and off this low-sitting bike, along with its easy-to-maneuver, light frame.
The 750 watt front-hub motor generates up to 85 Nm of torque, making it powerful enough to carry heavy loads and climb steep hills. The weight capacity is 325 lbs for the rider, rear basket up to 60 lbs, and front basket 30 lbs, with total payload capacity not to exceed 415 lbs.
Handling the RadTrike is also made nice since it’s rear wheel base is as long as you can go while still sitting through a door frame, and the smaller tire size keeps center of gravity low for better balance. It’s easy to hop on and off the RadTrike too, and the fold-down handlebar makes it easier to transport and store when not in use.
Powering the motor is the 10 Ah (480 Wh) battery that gave us a range of 58 miles on our test ride. Stopping power comes from a simplified brake system, using a mechanical front disc brake, with 180mm rotor, and a rear coaster brake. Also making the RadTrike simple to operate is the single-speed drivetrain.
Keeping safety in mind, Rad caps the top speed at 14 mph for its e-trike. And you get good peace of mind knowing that RadTrike’s engineering meets the safety certification guidelines with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Rad offers three different kits so you can get the rack/basket combo that fits your hauling needs.
It’s not quite as affordable as the XP Trike, but it’s a little more solid and refined feeling, and still less expensive than most electric trikes on the market today which might make it the best value electric trike.
Check Best Price | Read Full Review | Watch Our Video Review
- Stable, affordable e-trike for those who can’t ride on two wheels. While not as affordable as the XP Trike, it’s still one of the lower-priced, quality electric trikes on the market.
- The comfort of the trike exceeded our expectations from the adjustable height of the backrest, the front & back adjusting seat, and the BMX-style highrise handlebars with soft grips.
- The RadTrike feels very stable when traveling at speed thanks to the low center of gravity in the design. If you keep your MPH low on corners (which you should on any trike) it takes turns well too.
- The RadTrike fits through a normal door! And with a folding down handlebar and removable seat post, the trike is much more portable and stashable than most trike designs since it can fit in most SUVs or vans (and possibly sedans since the RadTrike can be split into two pieces).
- The RadTrike’s display clearly shows your PAS level and the 10-bar battery indicator, but we wish there was something on the trike for a MPH readout (we recommend a phone mount in the meantime).
Evelo Compass
Best Mid-Drive Electric Tricycle
E-trike aficionados looking for more bells and whistles will want to consider the Evelo Compass electric trike. Active riders looking for a trike they can pedal more, might also appreciate the e-trike’s Bafang 500W mid-drive motor, which has a throttle, and 5-level PAS.
Giving this trike better traction and stability comes from the dual wheel differential. The differential enables each rear wheel to travel at different speeds from one another, based on whether the bike is turning and taking curves. This increases rider safety because the differential prevents the wheels from spinning out of control.
Paired with a 10.4 Ah battery that can take you up to 40 miles on a single charge, there’s an option for a dual battery, doubling your range to 80 miles. Stopping power is provided by the Tektro mechanical front and rear disc brakes, with 180mm rotors.
The total weight capacity is 415 lbs, and this trike can carry a rider who is up to 350 lbs. Rolling on 24-inch wheels, this trike sits a little higher than the others, which means bigger and taller riders might prefer the Compass over other e-trikes.
The Compass comes with a 4-year warranty, meaning Evelo has a lot of confidence in the e-bikes they build. They can ship the e-trike directly to you, needing only basic assembly. Evelo has a 4-minute video that shows how easy the assembly is.
Check Best Price | Read Full Review | Watch Our Video Review
- Stable ride with its 2-wheel drive differential.
- Good acceleration, hill climb power, and hauling capability with the 500W mid-drive motor, generating up to 105 Nm of torque.
- Accommodates riders from 4’10” – 6’4” with easy adjustment of saddle rail and handlebar stem.
- Easy to get on and off thanks to the 13.8-inch standover height.
- Carries riders up to 350 lbs, and total capacity of 415 lbs. .
- The rear fenders are kinda flimsy.
How We Picked Our List Of The Best Electric Tricycles
- Safety: First and foremost, we want to recommend trikes that have a good reputation for being safe. Many riders choose a trike because they have special needs, tied to an injury, disability or age. That means these riders might be more at risk riding a trike that isn’t as safe as the other trikes available.
- Performance: The trikes we recommend feature power plants and drivetrains that can meet rider needs, while also giving them fun experiences. We’ve considered factors like powerful motors that can accelerate, cruise and carry cargo; batteries that enable the trike to travel at least 40 miles; drivetrains that can handle weight and work well within the trike design; brakes that stop quickly and safely; and suspension and other operation components that give the rider comfortable and an enjoyable experience.
- Quality Build: We are selecting trikes that we have tested and we know are designed and built well. That means we have confirmed the quality of the bike, that they feature quality components, and that they were designed and built by expert e-bike builders.
- Easy Operation: Trikes can seem difficult to operate from someone who has never ridden one. For riders who have mobility issues, this can make it even harder for them to trust riding an e-trike, let alone riding one all together. We picked bikes that are among the easiest for anyone to ride.
Bottom line: If Two Wheels Won’t Do, Then Try Three
Try sticking to low power when you ride your new trike for the first time. The technique for riding a trike is different from riding a bike. Riders who are transitioning from a bike to a trike might feel like they are learning to ride all over again. That’s okay because they need to discover the difference between the two in order to become a better trike rider, and you’ll likely pick it up very quickly.
Consider best safety practices including wearing a helmet and high-visibility clothing when you ride. We recommend you to check local regulations and guidelines regarding the use of e-trikes, as they may vary depending on your jurisdiction. Always remember, trikes are not meant to go fast, nor ridden abruptly – take your time and enjoy the ride!
If you decide to purchase one of these trikes, please use the links for pricing found throughout the article. It supports our work here at the Electric Bike Report, and enables us to continue testing and reporting the latest updates on electric trikes and bikes.
Have a bike that you think would be a good contender for our best electric trikes page? Let us know in the comment section below. At the very least, we always want to know what our readers are riding.