EN 17860 establishes a new benchmark for urban mobility, ensuring safer, more reliable, and truly sustainable CargoBikes across Europe
In recent years, the use of CargoBikes has grown exponentially across Europe, both for personal use and, increasingly, for professional applications. Cities, logistics operators and service companies are embracing these vehicles as a real alternative to vans, helping to reduce emissions and decongest urban areas.
Until now, CargoBikes had evolved in a fragmented landscape, with no shared definition or safety criteria. A common European standard was needed to:
With that goal, the new European standard EN 17860 was developed, the first dedicated technical framework for CargoBikes
The standard was developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN/TC 333/WG 9), involving experts from across Europe, manufacturers, asociations, testing laboratories and administrations, universities, and coordinated in Spain through the CTN-UNE 219 Committee on Sustainable Urban Vehicles.
Mothium has actively participated in both the European and Spanish committees, contributing its technical know-how and professional perspective as a manufacturer of heavy-duty CargoBikes.
The EN 17860 series is composed of seven parts, covering every type and use of CargoBike:
Each part of the standard sets out the specific design, safety and durability requirements for every CargoBike category, ensuring vehicles are tested under conditions that truly reflect their real use.
The validation process includes chassis fatigue tests, braking and stability trials, and long-term durability testing, including a roller test that replicates around five years of continuous operation.
Tests are adapted according to the type of use (private or professional), the maximum authorized mass, and the number of wheels. For professional CargoBikes, the procedures are considerably more demanding and exhaustive, acknowledging the high loads and intensive daily operation these vehicles are designed to withstand.
The EN 17860 standard will have a profound impact across the entire CargoBike ecosystem, from everyday users to large-scale manufacturers and fleet operators.
For users, it represents a decisive step forward in safety, reliability and trust. eCargobikes certified under EN 17860 have passed rigorous mechanical and electrical tests, ensuring consistent performance even under demanding conditions. This builds institutional confidence, as cities and public administrations can now rely on a recognized European framework when integrating CargoBikes into urban mobility strategies. Most importantly, the standard provides a foundation for scalable and truly sustainable mobility, where users can choose professional-grade Cargobikes that are both efficient and compliant.
For manufacturers, EN 17860 introduces a structured and transparent validation process. It aligns technical criteria across Europe, eliminating the patchwork of national regulations that has often slowed down market growth. This harmonized framework reduces administrative barriers and clarifies design, testing, and documentation requirements.
Those manufacturers already meeting the standard gain a clear competitive advantage, as compliance becomes a mark of quality and reliability recognized across the European market. In the long term, this framework will accelerate the professionalization and industrial maturity of the CargoBike sector, positioning it as a key enabler of the urban logistics transition.
At Mothium, we have already integrated the principles of EN 17860 into our design and product validation processes, ensuring that every CargoBike meets, and exceeds, the new European safety and reliability benchmarks. This commitment positions Mothium as a reference manufacturer in the application of the standard, demonstrating how regulatory excellence and innovation can go hand in hand to shape the future of professional urban mobility.
If you want to learn more about how Mothium designs and validates its vehicles under EN 17860, or explore partnership opportunities, get in touch with our team at info@mothium.com
