At the beginning of the month, Carqon introduced the successor to its previous e-load bike. Like the first model, the newcomer called Cruise is primarily tailored to transporting children. So that none of us get confused, Carqon has consequently renamed its premiere bike from last year the Carqon Classic.
Ebike with a quarter “neck brace”
However, let’s concentrate on the new Carqon Cruise. It took the Dutch manufacturer just one year to fundamentally revise its interpretation of a contemporary children’s taxi on two wheels. The focus was almost exclusively on the box in which your offspring can sit. It has become flatter and lost its distinguishing feature, the door.
Instead, Carqon has opted for a body that is closed at the sides, so to speak. It is 17 centimetres lower than the Classic. Running to the rear in the last quarter, a moulding rises up and runs around the back of the box. It is reminiscent of a kind of protective collar. The rest of the side walls are not as high as before, so that smaller children can now look over the edge more easily. In the event of a side impact, the collar design should protect passengers from more serious injuries.
Swinging in instead of stepping in
As mentioned, the entrance to the Cruise has also been designed differently. Whereas in the Classic the children can open a door and enter comfortably, in the Cruise they reach for a smooth wall. Here, they enter with the support of a step built into the outer wall. Step in with one foot, swing the other leg skilfully over the edge of the box and land safely inside. Admittedly, this is more demanding for the smaller ones. On the other hand, comparable cargo bikes like the Ca Go FS 200 rely on the same principle. With a little practice, the children usually manage very well. The only problem could be the shoes. They should not be too high in the toe area. Otherwise the step will quickly become too narrow.
Go for easily mouldable foam
Carqon is also breaking new ground in terms of materials. Expanded polypropylene (EPP) replaces the previously used high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in the interior of the Cruise. The first is generally considered to be quite environmentally friendly because it is easily recyclable. Once again, there is a parallel with the manufacturers of the Ca Go FS 200, who use the same material for their transport box. In addition to the sustainability factor, the weight is also important. The Cruise weighs about ten kilograms less than the Classic. A large part of this is due to the choice of materials.
The rails mounted in the bottom of the box should also prove advantageous. You can attach various accessories from Carqon to them. The outside of the box, designed with dibonds, leaves a very high-quality, almost noble impression. When light hits the matt surface, it has a very soft effect and emphasises the flowing lines of the design.
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- Dibonds characterise the outer appearance of the Carqon Cruise.
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- The transport box offers enough space for two children.
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- Front headlights, suspension fork, wide tyres – the equipment is well thought out.
Proven technical framework
The basis of the cargo bike, on the other hand, is unchanged from the Carqon Classic. The same applies to the technical specifications. The aluminium frame rests on two wheels measuring 27.5 inches at the rear and 20 inches at the front. Together with the wide Super Moto-X tyres from Schwalbe, a suspension fork provides the necessary comfort during the ride. When it comes to the drivetrain, Carqon continues to rely on the proven Performance CX Cargoline mid-mounted motor from Bosch. You also have plenty of choice when it comes to your range requirements. Bosch batteries with 400 watt hours and 500 watt hours are available. Both variants can be ordered as DualBattery versions. Depending on the configuration you choose, you can cover between 40 kilometres and 140 kilometres with an unloaded Carqon Cruise.
You can drive your Carqon Cruise either with a Shimano derailleur with a single speed drive with ten sprockets or with the stepless automatic Enviolo hub gears. In this case, the hub is combined with a carbon belt from Gates.
Sales launch in autumn
In terms of colour, everything remains the same. The four already known variants for the frame are black and red, black and grey, all black and all white. New accessories have been announced for the rest of the year. These include a rain cover that only fits the Cruise. Otherwise, all accessories intended for the Classic can also be used on the Cruise.
The standard version of the Carqon Cruise will cost 4,899 Euros. This is somewhat lower than the price of the Classic. According to the manufacturer, the first deliveries are planned for September 2021. For the time being, however, this will probably only apply to bikes with the 400 watt-hour battery.
Transporting children is more or less the core competence of this e-cargo bike.
Carqon Cruise at a glance
- Frame: Aluminium
- Suspension fork: Suntour SF20-MOBIE
- Motor: Bosch Performance CX Cargoline 75 Nm
- Battery: Bosch PowerPack 400 or Bosch PowerPack 500, DualBattery optional
- Display: Bosch Intuvia for automatic gear shifting; Bosch Purion for derailleur gears
- Charging time: approx. 3.5 h with Bosch Fast Charger
- Drive – Option 1: Enviolo Stepless Gear Hub
- Drive – Option 2: Shimano Deore XT derailleur gears
- Brakes: Tektro Dorado
- Tyres: Schwalbe Super Moto-X
- Colours: Black + Red, Black + Grey, All Black, All White
- Dimensions box: 107 x 75 x 50 (L x W x H)
- Dimensions bike: 260 x 75 x 111 cm (L x W x H)
- Weight: approx. 50 kg
- Maximum permissible total weight: 225 kg
- Price: 4.899 Euro
Carqon Flatbed – The third of the e-cargo bike range
In total, the Carqon range now includes three different e-cargo bikes. In May 2021, the company presented its first innovation of the year. The Carqon Flatbed is a pure cargo bike with an open cargo area. This makes the version feel a little closer to many conceivable commercial uses. Depending on the requirements, it is of course equally suitable for private purposes. Suitcases, boxes, transport sacks, bags – all of these can be lashed to the flatbed with the appropriate straps.
Carqon Flatbed – Ebike of the category “high quality drudge”.
The cargo area measures 43 centimetres wide and 61 centimetres long. A maximum load of 75 kilograms can be transported on it. Low metal rails at the sides and large shoring walls at the front and rear ensure that the goods remain where they belong. In addition, the platform is covered with an anti-slip film in several places.
Dimensions of the cargo platform of the Carqon Flatbed
In contrast to the specials for transporting children, only one model of the Flatbed is currently offered with the stepless automatic hub gear from Enviolo and the belt drive. At 5,099 euros, the price is 200 euros higher than that of the Cruise.
Pictures: Carqon B.V.