E-bikes and e-mobility in general are on the rise, both worldwide and across the United States. U.S. sales of electric bicycles reached nearly $1.8 billion in 2024, according to PeopleForBikes survey data. If you expand that to include e-scooters and other devices, the number is surely even higher. Even Rivian is jumping in on the action with Also, its confusingly-named micromobility subsidiary.
As more dense cities and surrounding suburbs develop cycling infrastructure in efforts to relieve congestion and improve road safety, the push toward car alternatives for urban and local transportation makes sense. Cars and their ancillary expenses have ballooned in price, with nearly one in five new car buyers having a $1,000 monthly car payment before fuel or insurance. With 25% tariffs on imported cars and parts set to take effect April 2, it doesn’t look like things will get more affordable anytime soon. That e-bike as a second-car replacement is starting to look attractive for many families.
Photo by: Maddox Kay/InsideEVs
All that is to say: InsideEVs is about covering the future of how we’ll get around, and that increasingly means not just cars. That’s why we plan to apply our rigorous testing methodology and no-holds-barred honesty to the world of electric mobility—to help you figure out which products are worth your time, and which are fly-by-night junk.
We’re starting with this: The Riese & Müller Load4 75 Rohloff HS, borrowed from Propel Bikes. That’s a mouthful, so let’s unpack. Riese & Müller is a 32-year-old German bicycle company that has been making high-end e-bikes since 2009. Load4 is the fourth generation of its front-loader cargo bike line, and 75(cm) refers to the length of the cargo basket. Rohloff is another German company, known for its 14-speed internally-geared bicycle hubs that use a belt drive instead of a chain and require minimal maintenance. Finally, HS means high speed, because this pedal-assisted baby can hit 28 miles per hour and has a Turbo e-assist mode.
Photo by: Maddox Kay/InsideEVs
Photo by: Maddox Kay/InsideEVs
Photo by: Maddox Kay/InsideEVs
It’s not cheap—$14,419 as-tested, to be exact. I’ll admit that dollar figure gives me pause, and this represents the very top, lifestyle end of the cargo e-bike market rather than an affordable entry point. But with full suspension and 1.45 kWh of batteries providing around 80 miles of real-world range, it’s a go-anywhere adventure machine with car-like levels of cargo-carrying ability. Given its used-car-like price, that’s important.
(Full disclosure: The team at e-bike dealer Propel Bikes lent me the Load4 for a few days for this review.)
Photo by: Maddox Kay/InsideEVs
I’ll be putting this cargo bike through a ringer this week: Costco and garden center trips, a 20-mile round-trip commute across boroughs and a school drop-off “bike bus.” I’ll report back here, but in the meantime, what do you want to know about the Load4 75?
As for first impressions, this thing is extremely comfortable and stable, loaded or unloaded. I had some fears that piloting five feet of cargo box ahead of the handlebars would feel unwieldy, but I quickly got used to the bike’s dimensions and cornering prowess. The suspension system also makes for a cushy ride over New York’s potholes and cobblestones. The only situation where it feels long and bulky is navigating my apartment building’s narrow hallway.
What would you like to see from InsideEVs’ e-bike and micromobility reviews? Drop us a line and let us know.
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Source: Maddox Kay/InsideEVs
