If there is one type of bike that could take away market share from small cars, it is the cargo bike. Nevertheless, the twin carriers, capable of carrying heavy and bulky loads, are also bulky. It is therefore difficult to consider the purchase of such a machine when the bicycle parking lot is not capable of accommodating an electric bicycle regularly exceeding 2.20 m, or even when such parking is simply not available. .
The Germans at Avnson recently unveiled a prototype electric cargo bike capable of folding. The Urbanox, such is its name, therefore takes on the features of a fairly classic electric bicycle. It incorporates a loading area placed at the front offering more than 60 cm in length. The manufacturer does not communicate on the carrying capacity of its cargo bike, it is difficult to know whether or not it makes a concession on this point because of its particularity. Indeed, the folding point, located in the center of the aluminum frame, creates a potential weakness.
On the other hand, this flexibility allows the Urbanox to go from 2.30 m to 1.42 m in length. The folding of the cargo bike can be operated in two ways, one privileging the final height, while the other maximizes the length. Without becoming as compact as folding bikes like Bromptons, the Avnson Urbanox makes itself easier to store and move around. In its demonstrations, the manufacturer even presents its machine folded, stored in the trunk of a Fiat 500 with the rear seats folded down.
The Urbanox’s electric assistance is provided by Shimano and its EP801 motor which develops 85 Nm of torque. The transmission with the hub gears Nexus 5 operates through a belt. A 504 Wh battery, placed on the seat tube, supplies the energy to the assembly. The cargo bike is mounted on 20-inch wheels shod with Schwalbe Pick Up tires designed specifically for bikes that carry heavy loads.
For the moment, the Urbanox is in the prototype state, and Avnson does not yet communicate a price for his toy. The release date of the German two-cargo cargo bike is also not known at the moment.