Cargobike creates a craving for load!

Germany has 79 million bicycles, with 5 million sold in 2020 alone – an increase of 17%. One in three of these were pedelecs, which are powered by an electric motor. Among them are many cargo bikes, which insiders call cargobikes. Three companies joined forces to set up series production for the Ca Go Box: T. Michel Formenbau GmbH & Co. KG, Schumpeter GmbH and Kurtz GmbH as the market leader for particle foam processing machines.

Source: All images courtesy of Ca Go Bike GmbH

At the heart of the Ca Go Bike, which has been shaking up the cargo bike scene since its first appearance at Eurobike 2019 in Friedrichshafen, is the Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) transport box. Unlike established cargo bike manufacturers with conventional wooden board solutions, the Ca Go Bike relies on a modern safety cell including passenger protection, previously only known from the automotive world. In the realization of the innovative load donkey with a narrow track and lightweight frame, every little detail has been scrutinized for safety, quality and technology. The result is a cargo box that has been thought through down to the smallest detail, with a maximum permissible total weight of 70 kg, high everyday utility and relaxed, safe driving pleasure. Numerous awards for the Ca Go Bike – above all the German Design Award 2021 – prove that the concept is well received.

Thanks to adjustable headrests and seat belts, children from 9 months to 7 years sit comfortably and safely in the Ca Go Bike

Form and above all function: EPP transport box

The EPP transport box dampens external vibrations and comes with a sophisticated interior: design was used here to optimize riding performance, load distribution and passenger safety. The EPP-sheathed bar, which is firmly bolted to the frame, acts as side impact protection and ensures stability. The high shoulder line of the box, which nevertheless ensures good visibility, offers increased safety for children riding along.

In addition to cargo, the new e-bike also transports up to two young passengers – on shock-absorbing seats covered in weatherproof fabric complete with 5-point seat belts and adjustable headrests. “The Ca Go Bike is called the ‘Volvo of cargo bikes’ in the industry because it has significantly raised the safety standard for cargo bikes,” says Thorsten Michel, Managing Director of T. Michel Formenbau GmbH & Co. KG. If only freight is to be transported, the seats can simply be folded up to provide more storage space.

The Ca Go child seats were developed with the highest standards of safety and quality in mind. Height-adjustable headrests, 5-point harnesses and a high shoulder line give the little passengers the best possible protection

Turnkey series production
of the EPP box for OEM customer

For this ambitious project, a consortium of three companies was jointly at work, supplying everything from a single source, from the initial product idea to a 3D design study to turnkey series production handed over to the OEM customer Ca Go Bike. Schumpeter GmbH, as a Tier 1 supplier, developed the design and creation of the transport box plus assembly of the EPP box, Kurtz engineers contributed their know-how in terms of process analysis, and T. Michel was responsible for the tooling and a precisely fitting surface texture. Sampling was carried out in T. Michel´s Tec-Center on an automatic Kurtz T-LINE molding machine, which led to the release process including certification. The fabric selection and material mix for the folding seats, which are manufactured in series on a Kurtz THERMO FOAMER, also came together at T. Michel. Not only the Ca Go Bike, but also the production is designed for sustainability – with short cycle times, low energy consumption and the longest possible maintenance intervals. And because every component of the Ca Go Bike was scrutinized, it is not just the transport box that is of the finest quality – the drive with up to 85 Nm, the battery for a range of up to 125 km, the lighting, on-board computer, brakes, suspension, grips, saddle and gears are all of the same caliber. Whether it´s a family carriage or a load master for couriers or tradesmen with a permissible total weight of 225 kg, the Ca Go Bike is already an important contribution to the urban mobility of tomorrow!