Best e-bikes for hauling

The Mars 3.0 wins this list outright with a Genius Score of 93, the highest here, built on a strong mix of power, battery, and payload for its price. At $1,199, it's also the cheapest bike on this list, and its 750W motor still delivers 95 Nm of torque with a 20 mph throttle, enough to pull a loaded bike from a stop or up a hill without pedaling. It weighs 70 lb, so carrying it upstairs or hoisting it onto a car rack is a two-person job, and Heybike doesn't publish the battery's voltage or amp-hours, making charge times hard to compare against rivals.

The Tor Plus keeps the price low, $1,199.99, while still delivering genuine cargo capability, which is why it lands as our budget pick. Its 450-lb payload rating rivals dedicated cargo bikes, so a heavy load barely touches its limit, and 90 Nm of torque keeps hills manageable even loaded down. At 81 lb it's heavy for a fat-tire bike, needing two people to lift onto a rack, and its cadence sensor makes the assist feel less responsive to your pedaling than a torque-sensor setup, especially from a standstill.

The Quest earns its spot for range, its 960Wh battery supporting a claimed 50 to 80 miles, more than most cargo-capable bikes here can offer. Its mid-drive matches the highest torque on this list, 160 Nm, so climbing steep or loose ground loaded stays manageable, and a twist throttle backs up pedal assist to 28 mph. At 104.2 lb, it's heavy even by fat-tire standards, so plan on help loading it onto a rack, and its 28 mph Class 3 speed keeps it off bike paths and trails that cap or ban that class.

The Hero claims the most torque on this list, 160 Nm from its mid-drive, which is what gets it up steep grades without bogging down even fully loaded. An 864Wh battery backs a 60-mile range claim, enough for most riders to go several days between charges, and its 400-lb payload leaves room for a passenger or heavy gear. At $2,099 you're paying a premium, and some rivals match its range for less, so it's worth it mainly if you actually have the hills and loads to justify the torque.

The Summit 2 is the lightest bike on this list at 57 lb, which matters when you have to carry it upstairs or lift it onto a rack after a haul. It still brings 100 Nm of torque and 1,300W of peak power for loaded climbs, plus an 801.6Wh battery rated for up to 95 miles, so the light weight doesn't cost you range or pulling strength. The hub motor puts power down smoothly but can't gear down for the slowest, steepest grinds the way a mid-drive can, and at $2,099 you're paying for capability, not a bargain.

The Glider is the value pick, priced at $1,599 while still delivering strong hauling numbers for the money. It carries up to 440 lb of rider and cargo, with a 95 Nm motor to get that load moving and an 811Wh battery rated for up to 62 miles, so errand loops rarely run you low. At 89 lb before any cargo, it's heavy even for a cargo bike, which matters most if you don't have ground-level storage or a place to charge it without hauling it up steps.

The Basalt ST is the pick for anyone who wants a step-through frame without giving up hauling ability, the best-scoring step-through on this list. Its 90 Nm of torque and 4-inch fat tires dig into sand and gravel, and a 940Wh battery backs a claimed 80-mile range so you can wander well past the trailhead. Mokwheel doesn't publish suspension details, so how it handles rocky, root-covered ground is unclear, and its 28 mph Class 3 top speed may exceed limits on some paths and trails.

The Ranger 3.0 Pro is built to fold down for storage or a car trunk, the best-scoring folder on this list. A 720Wh battery backs a claimed 90 miles, and 80 Nm of torque from its 750W hub motor launches a loaded bike from a stop and up most city hills, with switchable classes to match local speed limits. At 75 lb it's heavy for a folder, so it still wants ground-level storage, and Heybike doesn't publish battery voltage or amp-hours, making charge times hard to pin down.

The ALPHA puts its motor at the cranks rather than the wheel, the best-scoring mid-drive on this list. Its 105 Nm of torque climbs steep hills and pulls heavy loads without straining, and a 680Wh battery rated for up to 60 miles covers most of a week's commuting, backed by hydraulic disc brakes for stopping a bike this heavy. Heybike's specs don't confirm a throttle, so if riding without pedaling matters to you, check before buying, and some rivals match its range for less.

The Basalt is built for trails and loose surfaces, the best-scoring option here for rough ground. A 940Wh battery backs a claimed 80-mile range, and 90 Nm of torque gives it the low-end pull to climb dirt and dig through soft sand, with a throttle for the steepest, tiredest stretches. No suspension is listed, so the fat tires are your only cushioning over rocks and ruts, and its 28 mph Class 3 pedal-assist top speed isn't welcome on every shared path, so check local rules.