1.    How did you come up with the idea of developing a compact E-Cargo bike with the Packster 40?

As a family, we like to use the Load. We rarely use it to transport large-volume cargo though, but rather as a practical everyday bike for taking the children to leisure activities or shopping in the supermarket, for example. For such occasions my wife Heike wanted an even more handy and compact E-Cargo bike that offered enough space for everyday transport needs, while being just as agile and barely heavier than a normal E-Bike. So the idea was born to develop a crossover model between a normal E-Bike and a classic E-Cargo bike.

2.    Were there any particular challenges that had to be overcome?

One development challenge was to reduce the weight by 4 to 10 kg compared to the Packster 60, while preserving its outstanding functionality and stability. It was also an exciting challenge to keep the bike as compact as possible while integrating a sufficiently large front cargo space, which offers enough space for your daily shopping as well as allowing you to take a larger child along if necessary. But in the end I think we succeeded.

3.    What makes the Packster 40 so special and for whom is it the ideal bike?

Its compact design means the Packster 40 combines the practical handling of an E-Bike with the loading capacity of a cargo bike. This makes it the perfect bike for those who want to transport something in everyday life but don't want to forego the manoeuvrability of a classic E-Bike, or those who don't have a lot of space to park. At 2.23 metres, the Packster 40 is not much longer than a conventional E-Bike. Thanks to its light weight of less than 30 kg, if needed it is also easy to push or even lift, such as over steps to get into the backyard. The Packster 40’s variable setup options make it suitable for almost all transport tasks: whether it's taking your child to nursery, taking camping equipment to the lake, getting shopping home or just carrying your briefcase to the office.

4.    Unlike Riese & Müller's Load and larger Packster models, in the Packster 40 the child sits facing the rider. Why was this seating position chosen?

The advantage of this position is that the effective legroom and headroom the compact design offers is much greater this way round than if the child was facing the direction of travel. For this reason older children actually have even more space in the Packster 40 than in the Packster 60. In addition, a completely new communication situation is created between children and parents, since the child is directly facing its parent.

5.    You enjoy using the Packster 40 in your private life too. What do you personally like about this model? What do you use it for?

I personally ride the Packster 40 as an HS model, which offers assistance up to 45 km/h. It is very sporty, wonderfully agile and has a surprising amount of storage space for its length. The weather-protected rear luggage space is so practical that once you've got used to it, you won't want to do without its benefits any more. After all, nobody would want to drive a single-seater car without a boot on a daily basis. I also like the ingenious details such as the glove compartment integrated into the cargo space or the new child cover, which now effectively protects the child from the rain. In addition to our Load 75, which allows us to carry larger loads if need be, the Packster 40 is our ideal, compact everyday E-Bike for almost every occasion.