The E-Trike Market is Booming in the Suburbs

Last summer, 76-year-old Jim Cochrane and his son attended the Electrify Expo at Seattle's Husky Stadium to check it out. For those interested in electric vehicles, the event is similar to an auto show.

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Cochrane, who is local, checked out an electric microcar, which is a popular item for EV enthusiasts right now. Nevertheless, when he took the tiny vehicle for a test drive, he felt uneasy passing by larger vehicles. "This guy runs into me, and, you know, my life is done. " he said to me.

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A few weeks later, Cochrane came on an internet advertisement for an e-trike, an electric tricycle. His eyes glowed. Well, that's for me, I said.

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E-bikes are extremely popular in Seattle, and Cochrane loved the concept of using one to overcome the region's hills. He could feel more secure on the streets and have easier access to nearby bike trails with an e-trike.

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Cochrane's age group is full with people who share his way of thinking. Together with their two-wheeled cousins, e-trikes have seen an increase in exposure thanks to a number of new models being released by the top e-bike producers in the nation. They particularly appeal to older people; one of the many groups for senior e-trike aficionados on Facebook has more than 15,000 members. You'll find a ton of advertisements, brand evaluations, and stories with riders with gray hair if you Google the keyword. 

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This reveals a lot about the current US population. By 2030, all Boomers will be over 65, and by 2040, one in five Americans will find themselves in this age group. The Baby Boom generation's retirement has begun in earnest; up until recently, it was the largest in American history. Also, the majority of this generation prefers to age in place to moving to facilities for the elderly.

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Although not everyone will get their desire, the American suburbs, where the vast majority of Baby Boomers live, will shortly see a sharp increase in the number of older residents. 

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A mobility dilemma arises as more people who are unable to drive decide to remain in a community that was developed around them.

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E-trikes appear to give the same benefits as e-bikes, only bigger and more appropriate for older households living in suburban areas. Much has been written about how e-bikes can transform aging by keeping elderly riders with bad knees on the road. Are the suburbs prepared for them, though?

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Spike The Trike

In order to test-drive Rad Power Bikes' newest offering, the RadTrike, Mike Radenbaugh, the company's creator, and I met at the e-bike manufacturer's new Williamsburg, Brooklyn, showroom on the final night of November.

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The RadTrike is Rad Power's first offering in the three-wheeled segment, which now accounts for around a quarter of the cargo e-bike industry. Rad Power is the largest manufacturer of e-bikes in the US. The robust 82-pound machine has a 750-watt rechargeable battery, a step-through construction, a 415-pound capacity, and a fully padded seat with a backrest, all of which are intended to accommodate riders of various sizes and skills, as Radenbaugh reeled off the specifications.

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