Tern’s NYC cargo eBike fleets exceed one million service miles

Tern says its cargo eBikes working in New York City’s delivery networks have now clocked more than one million miles in service.

The bikes operate through localised delivery hubs and microhubs in New York City, and when paired with Carla Cargo trailers and used by several logistics partners, they support more than 13 million deliveries each year. Many operate almost continuously, with typical shifts running up to 16 hours a day and stretching to 20 hours during peak periods.

The systems were first introduced on Manhattan streets in 2021 and are built to handle demanding urban conditions. Capable of carrying loads of more than 300 pounds, the bike-and-trailer setups routinely complete up to 360 deliveries in a single day, an average of around 22 per hour.

“New York’s delivery environment is unforgiving for cargo-bike fleets, with harsh weather, uneven roads and riders who push the equipment hard,” said Steve Boyd, General Manager of Tern Bicycles North America. “These bikes take a beating, and they show it, but they’re engineered to keep going, mile after mile.”

Tern’s cargo models use Bosch drive systems, with many batteries continuing to perform consistently well beyond their warranty period and after extensive mileage. The company notes that its bikes were equipped with UL 2849–certified Bosch motors and batteries long before New York introduced mandatory UL certification for eBikes. After years of fleet use and hundreds of thousands of charge cycles, Tern reports zero thermal incidents.

The bikes’ components are also chosen with long-term serviceability in mind, enabling quick maintenance using standard tools and readily available parts, an approach that helps minimise downtime for fleet operators.

“These are the same cargo bikes available to individual riders through our dealer network,” Boyd added. “Seeing them run 16 hours a day and rack up more than ten thousand miles a year is the kind of real-world validation that shows we designed and built them right.”

In terms of operating costs, Tern said the cargo-bike rigs deliver the same functional output as vans, with annual expenses up to 80% lower than van operations, taking into account major cost drivers including capital, energy, maintenance, insurance and curbside penalties.

Earlier this year, the company’s long established Vektron folding eBike was upgraded for a new generation, with a stronger motor, the Bosch Smart System and featuring a low-maintenance Gates belt drive option.