GoKawiilIt's all good to bike around in the sunshine when you're footloose and fancy-free, and your biggest worry is whether you're going to drop the bottle of iced tea you're holding in your left hand. But when you're late to school drop-off, have to get to the office, and need to pick up some milk on the way home, that's where finding the best electric cargo bike comes in. That's when you've committed to the car-free lifestyle. If this is you, congratulations! We're doing it together.
I first became interested in electric bikes when my spouse noticed how slowly I was biking around our neighborhood while towing two kids in a bike trailer on my analog bike. That's when I realized that I needed a motor. The only problem is that once you get used to carrying a bunch of stuff on your bike, it's always tempting to try to add more. Tying and strapping things on my bike became an obsession, until I ended up competing in a city-wide alleycat race to do it.
When you're on a cargo ebike, errands that might have been annoying or time-consuming in a car suddenly become fun adventures or exercise. You're also not paying for gas, and you're helping slash oil consumption. If I haven't convinced you, it's OK. I won't be upset if you choose to walk or ride an electric scooter to do your errands instead. Be sure to check out the rest of our outdoor buying guides, which include the Best Kids Bikes and the Best Electric Mountain Bikes.
Updated April 2026: I've overhauled this guide with new information on how to ride and choose an electric cargo bike, a new accessories section, and updated information about our picks. I added the Lectric XPedition2 and the JackRabbit MG Doble and deleted older picks. I also updated links and prices.
Best Overall
Courtesy of Specialized Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Specialized Globe Haul ST $2,700 Specialized
If you don't have any specific needs to address—that is, you don't have to take two kids to school, or you don't regularly haul mulch or gravel for your garden—the best all-purpose utility ebike is the Specialized Globe Haul ST. It's made by a major bike manufacturer, so you'll likely be able to access an authorized repair network wherever you are. (This is a lot harder than it should be, given that many ebikes have proprietary motors, components, and accessories that most bike shops can't handle.) Because Specialized makes bicycles for people who like to bike, the Globe Haul ST is comfortable to ride, the center of gravity is low to the ground, and the battery is IPX7-rated, so you don't have to worry about riding in the rain.