New or used cargo bike: which option to electrify your Yuba?

Electrifying a new Yuba: combining subsidy and kit

The first story comes from Grenoble, where a cycling enthusiast took advantage oflocal grants to optimize his investment. He bought a new Yuba Kombi for €1,000, a price made possible by subsidies offered by the city. Grenoble Alpes Métropole and SMMAG offer subsidies for the purchase of cargo bikes of between €300 and €600, depending on your taxable income, enabling you to significantly reduce the cost of acquiring a non-electric cargo bike.

To this new bike, he added Syklo’s PowerTrail Z8 kit, sold for €1,150. This high-performance electrification kit transforms any bike into a powerful, legal electric-assist bike. The total cost of his project was therefore €2,150.

A few weeks after installation, his feedback is unequivocal: the motor’s power far exceeds his expectations. His neighbor, owner of an entry-level Decathlon electric cargo bike, struggles to keep up with him on hills. This difference can be explained by the technical characteristics of the PowerTrail Z8, which delivers 1,000W in Boost mode for 2 minutes, then 860W continuously, with a torque of 120 Nm, well above the nominal 250W of conventional motors.

Electrifying a used Yuba: maximum savings

The second, even more economical approach is to start with a second-hand bike. A Syklo customer found a Yuba on Leboncoin for 800€, which he negotiated down to 700€. The bike was in excellent condition.

Adding the PowerTrail Z8 kit at €1,150, his total investment comes to €1,850. A simple calculation shows the savings: compared to a new electric cargo bike priced between €2,500 and €6,000, his approachsaved himbetween €650 and €4,150, depending on the reference model.

The anecdote that accompanies this story speaks for itself: during a family outing, he compared his bike with his brother’s, bought new for €3,500. The result surprised everyone: his electrified Yuba climbed hills much better than his brother’s new model. This performance can be explained by the superior power of the Syklo kit, but also by the fact that the Yuba frame, designed to support heavy loads, offers an excellent base for electrification.

More precisely, analysis of the 56% of incidents whose origin could be identified reveals that more than three-quarters came from conversion kits, and not from production electric bikes.

The benefits of each approach

Starting with a new bike

Opting for a new cargo bike offers several advantages. Firstly, the manufacturer’s warranty offers peace of mind on the frame and mechanical components. Secondly, the bike’s perfect condition ensures that no wearing parts will require replacement in the short term.

Another major advantage is eligibility for public subsidies. In Grenoble, grants of up to €250 for an electric bike and up to €500 for an electrically-assisted cargo bike can significantly reduce the initial investment. What’s more, these subsidies are generally means-tested, making the purchase of a new bike particularly attractive for low-income households.

Starting with a used bike

The electrification of a used bike offers a number of additional advantages. Immediate savings are the first argument: used cargo bikes can be

The choice is also wider. On platforms like Leboncoin, you’ll find a wide variety of cargo bike models from different brands, allowing you to choose exactly the frame that suits your specific needs, whether it’s a longtail, a two-wheeler or a three-wheeler.

Finally, the ecological impact is real. Giving a second life to an existing bike is part of acircular economy approach. Rather than producing a new frame and new components, we reuse a bike that still has many years ahead of it.

The PowerTrail Z8 kit: the key to successful electrification

A philosophy in tune with today’s challenges

Beyond numbers and performance, the electrification of existing bikes carries a particular philosophy. In a world where over-consumption and programmed obsolescence are increasingly questioned, it makes sense to give new life to bikes that still have many years ahead of them.

This approach is part of the “repair” rather than “replace” movement, a strong trend that is gaining ground in all consumer sectors. It also democratizes access to electric cargo mobility, a mode of transport that is still relatively expensive, with prices ranging from €2,500 to €6,000 for new models.

Conclusion: a question of priorities

The two approaches presented in these testimonials each have their own legitimacy. Starting with a new bike offers the security of a warranty and access to public subsidies. Leaving with a second-hand bike maximizes savings and positive ecological impact.

In both cases, electrifying your bike with a high-performance motor like the PowerTrail Z8 gives you an electric cargo bike that outperforms many new models on the market, while keeping your budget in check. With a total investment of between €1,850 and €2,150, depending on the approach chosen, compared with a price ranging from €2,000 to €10,000 for a new electric cargo bike, electrification is an economically relevant solution.

So the real question is not so much whether to start with a new or used bike, but rather to determine which approach best suits your priorities: the peace of mind of new with warranty, or the maximum savings and ecological commitment of used. In any case, electrification offers a third way between buying a new electric bike and the muscle bike, a way that is gaining new adepts every day.