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Electric cars hog a lot of attention, but if you want to join the 21st century's real green transportation revolution, start shopping for an e-bike. Pedal-assist e-bikes, which use a battery-powered motor to give you a boost as you pedal, are highly efficient, convenient to use, and way cheaper and less carbon-intensive than electric cars. All kinds of models have debuted in recent years, but a new entrant looks particularly exciting: The Cake Åik. It’s the Swedish brand’s first e-bike, and its name, which translates to “big and heavy load,” refers to what this sturdy workhorse does best—schlepping lots of stuff.
The Åik falls squarely within the cargo e-bike category, and it compares favorably to other popular models, like the Tern GSD. It’s powered by a 750Wh battery and a mid-drive motor that can deliver up to 1000W of peak power. One battery gives it about 74 miles of range, but you can boost that figure by adding up to two more battery packs to make the e-bike good for 223 miles of riding—well beyond the needs of most day-to-day riders.
The Åik is rated as a Class 2 e-bike, so it includes a handlebar-mounted throttle and tops out at 20 miles per hour. In many areas, that means you can ride it in bike lanes (but make sure you check your local e-bike rules first).
Cake’s signature modular aluminum frame design makes the Åik especially versatile. The bike will be compatible with a varied lineup of accessories, including racks, baskets, passenger seats, trailers, and more. That’ll help you take advantage of its serious cargo capability: Including batteries, it can carry up to 375 pounds. Hydraulic disk brakes and an internally geared, automatically shifting rear hub help you power up hills and safely come to a stop, even when fully loaded.
So park the pickup—the Åik is a strong candidate for your next daily driver. Starting at $6,470, the electric cargo bike will ship in May 2023.
Published 01-05-2023
