Let’s face it, electric trikes are way more expensive than they should be. Two-wheeled electric bikes are expensive already and when you add a third-wheel into the mix: it’s going to get expensive.
There are many reasons why electric trikes tend to be more expensive. They’re heavier, they have bigger parts which means more powerful batteries and motors. All of this tends to drive the price higher.
That being said, the high price tag is fully justified. You can do a lot more with a three-wheeled electric trike than a two-wheeler. Some people even ditch their cars entirely in favor of electric trikes.
So if you’re working with a tight budget, but you need a high-quality electric trike, there is a solution. You can go for a fat-tire electric trike with the bare essentials and work your way from there.
Let’s talk about the benefits of taking this kind of approach and how you can find a budget-friendly high-value electric trike. We’ll also explore Addmotor’s top recommendation, the Addmotor LANDTAN M-300, which is the best example of this.
How to Find Electric Trikes That Offer The Best Value
Finding a budget-friendly electric trike with high-end specs is not so straightforward. You can’t judge most electric trikes on the market purely by price. Most cheaply-priced electric trikes will be of lower quality and won’t give the performance you’re expecting.
Meanwhile, going for higher-priced but inexpensive-looking electric trikes is another trap entirely. They simply might be low-quality electric trikes that are overpriced to make them look premium.
So you shouldn’t use price as an indicator when finding a high-value but budget-friendly electric trike. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to avoid electric trikes that are priced under $1,500 and not go above $2,500.
Ideally, around $2,000 is the sweet spot. So make sure your budget can handle an electric trike that fits this price tag first. Otherwise, you’ll be spending way more on repairs, shipping and other hidden fees.
So in terms of specs, here are some other things you need to look for that will give you a better idea:
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- Motor Power: Generally, go for electric trikes that have a continuous power rating of 500W-750W. The “continuous” part is important as most brands will highlight their “peak” power rating as 500W or 750W. Be sure you can make this distinction or contact their sales team to get exact specs.
- Battery: The battery is the most expensive part of an electric trike. So manufacturers will try to cut back on it so they can keep the price down. Generally, you’ll have to pick one with a capacity lower than 20Ah and an effective range of 40-60 miles on PAS Level 1.
- Cargo Capacity: This is where most manufacturers will actually cut back on to reduce the price tag. Most high-value fat tire electric trikes won’t have any cargo racks or storage containers. They definitely won’t support trailers and attachments like kid’s seats and pannier bags. So if storage is important for you, be sure to check these options first.
- Suspension: Don’t expect budget-friendly electric trikes with full rear suspension. That said, don’t go for fully rigid electric trikes either. So be sure to pick one with a basic suspension system, this means a front fork suspension.
- Ergonomic Features: Things like adjustable backrests, footrests, and high-quality grips can be expensive. So you won’t have these features on an electric trike that’s supposed to be budget-friendly.
- Safety Features: Safety is a must so avoid fat tire electric trikes that compromise on certain features. Always look for trikes with UL-certified batteries. You also want to ensure the trike has things like a rear-differential, mechanical disc brakes, parking brake and other essential safety components.
- Fat Tires: Fat tires aren’t always necessary but they improve off-roading capabilities and trike stability. Be sure to pick an electric trike with fat tires if you hope to carry heavy cargo or ride outside the city.
Why Fat Tires Are an Important Spec?
Fat tires are important because they help the user in many ways. For starters, they improve the overall stability of an electric tricycle.
This is because the fat tires provide more surface area that’s in contact with the ground. This reduces pressure on the tires and helps spread out the weight of the trike more evenly.
What does this mean for you? Well, it’s a crucial safety aspect where the fat tires help minimize the chances of the electric tricycle from flipping over. This is important, especially when the trike is rolling at higher speeds and you need to make sharp turns.
But apart from that, fat tires also provide benefits like:
- Improved Traction: The extra surface area also helps your tires get a strong grip on different surfaces without sinking in. This means you can easily ride through mud, sand, snow and loose gravel without getting stuck.
- Cushions Impacts: The thick tires also do most of the work when absorbing impacts and vibrations. So if you’re going over potholes or bumps, the fat tires will take the brunt of the damage. It will ensure you have a comfortable ride and that your suspension system doesn’t have to work overtime.
- Better Payload Capacity: The fat tires are also important when you’re carrying heavy cargo. The fat tires have more room to compress, allowing you to load up heavier and larger pieces of cargo.
- Improves Safety: The improved traction also reduces the chances of skidding and sliding. This can be crucial when you’re riding through wet and slick roads and surfaces.
The Best Value Fat Tire Electric Trike of 2024
Fat tire electric tricycles are expensive, there’s no way around that. However, you can always find some fat tire e-trikes which take out all the unnecessary features and focus on providing the best amount of value possible.
This is where Addmotor comes in with their latest LANDTAN M-300 Trike. This fat tire electric trike is designed for the budget-conscious individual who needs a sturdy fat-tire electric tricycle but without all the fluff and filler that comes with other premium electric trikes.
Best Features of the LANDTAN M-300 E-Trike
So if you’re looking for an affordably-priced fat tire electric tricycle that covers the basics, the LANDTAN M-300 Trike should be right up your alley. It’s priced under $2,000 and comes with the essentials you would find in any $3,000+ premium electric trike.
Motor Performance
The best fat tire electric trike of 2024 doesn’t compromise on power. This is why the Addmotor LANDTAN M-300 has a 750W rear-mounted motor with 1,400W of peak power and 90 Nm of torque. It also has enough torque to easily pull you through slippery sand, stubborn rocks, and shuffling snow.
The rear-mounted motor is a hub-motor-style machine hooked up to the rear differential. The differential provides equal power to the LANDTAN M-300’s rear wheels.
However, it also allows the wheels to rotate independently, preventing wheel slip and improving handling performance.
Battery Specs
Unfortunately, Addmotor had to compromise on the battery pack to keep the price down. That said, they didn’t cheap out in any way. This newer battery still packs a punch and provides an effective range of over 65 miles.
Here, Addmotor has gone for a new battery pack that slides in under the rear cargo rack of the LANDTAN M-300 Trike. It has a slightly lower capacity, coming in at 48V/15Ah.
Even so, the cells are of the same quality as Addmotor’s other battery packs. These include the same Samsung cell batteries which are rated for 1500 charge cycles and highly efficient power delivery.
All good things aside though, there are some things you need to be mindful of. Since this is a newer battery version, it doesn’t have a UL2271 safety certification yet. Also, Addmotor hasn’t gotten into selling the battery separately, at least on their website.
So be sure to contact Addmotor’s sales team to see if you can purchase a spare battery that fits the LANDTAN.
Suspension
The LANDTAN doesn’t have a fancy rear suspension. That said, it does come with a front fork which is pretty decent for most everyday situations.
This front fork is an Addshox-branded suspension system. It has features like rebound adjust and lockout for better control and customization.
Meanwhile, the 4-inch fat tires do most of the heavy lifting when absorbing impacts. These thick and wide tires help cushion the ride. This helps reduce strain on the trike frame and the rider.
Also, it’s worth mentioning the new saddle design. Unlike the regular saddle with a backrest, Addmotor has gone for a support saddle with a hollow design. This saddle also includes a dual-spring mechanism which does help reduce impacts and vibrations.
Also, the hollow saddle provides more breathability. It acts as a crumble zone to make space for impacts.
Wrapping Up
Finding a no-nonsense electric trike with fat tires is no easy feat. The market is filled with cheaply made products or overpriced ones with unnecessary features.
So when looking for an affordably-priced electric trike, you’re normally stuck between a rock and a hard place. You’ll have to spend more than $1,000 and go for an e-trike that has the specs that don’t compromise safety and performance.
Thankfully, Addmotor has stepped up to the plate with their latest LANDTAN fat tire electric trike. This electric tricycle has taken out all the unnecessary features and focused on providing the best value for money, one that’s possible with a set of fat tires.
So be sure to check out the LANDTAN M-300. It’s a solid option for anybody who wants to do some offroading or cargo carrying but doesn’t want to spend a fortune on features they’ll never use.