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Got an e-bike already but want to carry more with it? Bike trailers are a superb resource and a natural fit with the extra power offered by e-bikes. If you have ever tried cycling with a regular (ie non-electric) bike and a very heavy trailer load up a steep hill you will know this is a task for only the very fit, especially if it is something you want to do on a regular basis.

Some e-bikers might have safety concerns about towing a trailer or think it adds an extra layer of difficulty or unnecessary complication to using your e-bike but that really shouldn’t be the case if you bear in mind a few basic tips. The main complication lies in making sure your particular e-bike will take the hitching system of the particular trailer you want. Once you’re over this stage you should find a good trailer transforms just what you can carry on your e-bike.

Let’s go ahead and dive into all there is to know about finding a good cargo trailer for e-bikes. But if you’re trying to put the cart before the (electric) horse, you can also take a look at our picks for the best electric bike if you need to.

eCargo Bikes VS Trailers

eCargo bikes are undeniably great but may not be for everyone; you may simply not have the space or the means to manoeuvre and store what can be quite lengthy and heavy vehicles. And it remains pretty hard to find a budget e-cargo bike so a budget e-bike and budget trailer remains one of the most economical and greenest cargo carrying solutions out there.

Qualities Of Well-Desgined Bike Trailers

Construction Quality

The strength and weight of the materials used in construction are the biggest clues. The very cheapest designs such as the HBS pictured above use a plastic box as part of the construction. Whilst this keeps things light, simple and cheap, it may bring some compromises as in this design, where you are relying on the main plastic box itself to act as the mounting point for wheels and towbar.
[Read more…] about Cargo Trailers for eBikes – The Complete Guide

Why Are Battery Warranties Important on eBikes?

E-bike batteries are perhaps the most expensive ‘consumable’ on an e-bike and, despite the fact that today’s e-bike batteries are a world away in performance and quality from those around in the early days of the industry, they are complicated items that can occasionally fail. Even barring the unlikely event of total failure, a battery-specific warranty can be important in determining if a decline in battery capacity over a number of months and years falls within the acceptable, or actually triggers the warranty.

The good news is that as e-bike battery technology has developed and the terms of the warranties from most major e-bike battery manufacturers have become more generous and more specific as they have realized they can put their trust in the vast majority of batteries to perform well.

Of course, the flip side of this is that you should look after your battery in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations in order not to void the warranty. Check out our brief five-point advice at the end of this article on how to get the most range and life from your e-bike battery.

The Legal Stuff – First Port of Call?

It is worth quoting the United States’ Federal Trade Commission on the importance of warranties in the US:

‘When you make a major purchase, the manufacturer or seller makes an important promise to stand behind the product. It’s called a warranty. Federal law requires that warranties be available for you to read before you buy even when you’re shopping by catalog or on the Internet. Coverage varies, so you can compare the extent of warranty coverage just as you compare the style, price, and other characteristics of products.’
[Read more…] about Electric Bike Battery Brands and Their Warranties