Urbaner, the French-made electric tricycle

If the cargo bicycle does not meet all expectations, especially in unpredictable weather, the tricycle option can be a relevant solution.

They are often seen in large cities, notably for professional use. Tricycles allow, with a compact footprint, to transport equipment or passengers, with greater safety.

Produced by a small company called HPR Solutions and based in Laval (Mayenne), the Urbaner model is an electric tricycle, which has the advantage of coming with a standard canopy to protect passengers from bad weather conditions, but also to better insulate against noise pollution, unfortunately too common in cities. According to its designers, the Urbaner is also intended to replace the second car for households, especially when it comes to taking children to school. It can carry 2 adults or 1 adult and two children, and even features a lockable 40-liter trunk, as well as a fold-down rear bench.

Large but compact

With a length of 2.35 meters and a width of 75 cm, the Urbaner is quite compact and can use bike lanes without issue. However, parking can be more challenging, so it’s important to plan ahead.

On the technical side, the Urbaner features a classic 250 W electric motor, with a fairly generous torque of 90 Nm. Its top speed is naturally limited to 25 km/h, and its mechanical gearbox includes four levels of electric assist.

A Modest Electric Range

The 635 Wh battery theoretically allows for a range of 50 km, which is fairly modest for professional use. The reason is likely the weight of 80 kg, which is quite high.

The Urbaner tricycle can be fitted, for an additional cost, with accessories such as a trailer hitch, a front stainless steel basket, a phone holder, and a GPS tracker. Note that turn signals are included as standard.

Available for purchase at a standard price (7,000 €) not including regional subsidies, it can also be rented for short or long-term use.

Read also: Decathlon Cargo R 500 E Review: our opinion on the low-cost cargo bike