Best cargo e-bikes under $2,000

The Cyrusher Glider tops this list with a Genius Score of 87, backed by the highest torque and biggest battery of any bike here. Its 95 Nm motor pulls a loaded frame away from a stop and up moderate hills, while the 811Wh battery is rated for up to 62 miles between charges, and a 440-pound payload leaves room for a passenger and gear at once. The trade-off is an 89-pound frame, heavy enough that you'll want to store and charge it at ground level rather than up a flight of stairs.

Sixty-five pounds makes the RadRunner the lightest bike on this list, which matters most when you're lifting it onto a rack or over a curb rather than rolling it down a flat driveway. It's also the cheapest bike here at $1,499, and its throttle takes the strain out of getting a loaded bike moving from a standstill, backed by a 320-pound payload for a passenger or a real grocery haul. A single gear and shorter range mean it's suited to short, mostly flat loops rather than long errand runs or steep climbs.

Hilly routes are where the Aventon Abound LR proves its worth, with 80 Nm of torque, well above the median on this list, getting a loaded frame moving from a dead stop and keeping it moving on a grade. Its 733Wh battery is large for a 20-inch-wheel bike, so the claimed 60-mile range holds up better than most, and its 440-pound total limit ties for the highest payload here. It weighs 88 pounds, heavy enough to need two people for a rack or a step, and that 440-pound figure covers rider and cargo together, not cargo on top of you.

At $1,699, the Velotric Go 1 holds a 79 Genius Score, making it one of the better values on this list without the real weaknesses of the cheaper options. A 440-pound total load limit ties for the highest payload here, and a throttle paired with four-piston hydraulic disc brakes means you can pull away from a stop and stop again with confidence even fully loaded. The 500-watt motor is the weak point on a steep, fully loaded climb, so expect it to slow noticeably as the grade increases.

Value, not any single standout spec, is what puts the RadWagon on this list at $1,799. It carries up to 350 pounds on an extended rear deck and pairs that with a 720Wh battery, enough capacity to string together school runs, grocery trips, and a park visit before recharging. Its 65 Nm of torque is about average for the class, so a long, steep, fully loaded climb pushes the motor near its limit, and the 22-inch by 3-inch tires are an unusual size that makes replacements harder to track down.