Top 10 Lastenrad-Verleihe in Deutschland

Germany’s cargo bike rental ecosystem is thriving. Cities, startups, and logistics firms are increasingly adopting e-cargo bikes to reduce emissions, ease congestion, and improve mobility. These services serve a variety of users—families, commuters, businesses, and local governments—showcasing the versatility of e-cargo bikes. Not only do they replace short car trips, but they also contribute to shared mobility programs, sustainable logistics, and neighborhood initiatives. In this context, ten key brands stand out across the country. Without ranking them, this article profiles each brand’s model, services, and business use cases, offering insights for procurement teams, public authorities, and logistics planners evaluating cargo-bike partnerships for public programs or commercial operations.

1. Sigo – Station-Based E-Cargo Sharing

Based in Darmstadt, Sigo is a pioneer of station-based e-cargo sharing, using custom-built two-wheeled electric cargo box bikes docked at inductive charging hubs. Since its launch in 2020, Sigo has operated a B2B2C model, collaborating with housing associations, municipalities, and public transport entities. Users locate, unlock, ride, and return bikes via a mobile app. Charging happens seamlessly at the station, ensuring roughly 50–70 km per charge.

• Fleet & Tech: Custom bikes with app control and fast inductive charging.
• Use Cases: Ideal for public pilots, community sharing, and localized delivery.
• Flagship Project: Bavaria’s “Lastenrad” scheme—133 bikes across 55 towns, 95,000 km logged, and over half of trips replaced car journeys.

Sigo’s model demonstrates how robust infrastructure, automation, and partnerships can make e-cargo sharing a scalable urban solution. It removes range anxiety, minimizes maintenance, and lowers staffing needs. Procurement officers can view Sigo as a turnkey partner—offering reliable operations, climate-friendly outcomes, and infrastructure integration—all sensitive to community planning and fleet criteria. This scheme stands as a model for cities seeking to roll out mobility with minimum disruption and maximum public benefit.

2. Nextbike (Tier Mobility) – Shared Bike Network Cargo Integration

Nextbike, under Tier Mobility, enhances city bike-sharing through cargo integration. In German cities like Leipzig and Cologne, Nextbike added e-cargo bikes (e.g., Urban Arrow Cargo L), accessible via the same app and docking system . This strategy capitalizes on existing infrastructure and user habits—making cargo bikes a visibility-enhancing extension of popular bike-share systems.

• Pricing: ~€1 unlock, €0.05–0.10 per minute.
• Uses: Ideal for family errands, kid transport, or light urban logistics.
• Model: Urban Arrow Cargo L for stable riding and cargo capacity.

Integration reduces overhead: same billing, support, and station availability. It broadens fleet diversity with minimal investment and enables cities to monitor cargo bike usage through shared data. Riders gain familiarity without needing new apps or enrollments. However, small fleets may mean limited availability and demand-based reliability. Nighttime or weekend access can vary. Nonetheless, Nextbike’s approach shows how cities can embed cargo options quickly—not by building separate systems, but by upgrading existing ones. For logistics and procurement teams, this represents a low-risk, easily accessible cargo option within known frameworks.

3. Freie Lastenräder – Community-Driven Free Lending

Der Freie Lastenräder network—powered by NGOs and local clubs—now spans 179+ German cities (e.g., Berlin’s fLotte, Cologne’s Kasimir). A resident can book a cargo bike online, pick it up from a community location, and return it after use—free or donation-based.

• Fleet: Manual and electric box bikes, trikes; user-charged if electric.
• Use Cases: Errands, storage transport, family outings.
• Model: Democratic approach relying on volunteer hosts.

These schemes generate public goodwill, develop community cohesion, and build grassroots support for sustainable mobility. Limitations include non-commercial service hours, limited maintenance resources, and variability across locations. Yet, the social impact is significant: they model user responsibility, reduce car-dependency, and validate public cargo use. For planners and corporate CSR teams, these programs can complement paid services, pilot infrastructure expansion, or attract citizens to shared schemes. They also help test user behavior in low-cost, low-barrier environments.

4. CYCLE.eco – Commercial Subscription Leasing

CYCLE.eco (formerly GetHenry) leases e-cargo bikes to gig workers, SMEs, and businesses on monthly all-inclusive contracts (€159–199), covering maintenance and insurance . Active in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, and beyond, they use models like Urban Arrow and Radkutsche long-tails—rugged and built for heavy use.

• Fleet: High-end long-tail models with Bosch drive systems.
• Subscription: One monthly fee includes service, insurance, and parts.
• Use Cases: Food delivery, courier logistics, B2B last-mile transport.

Businesses avoid large upfront costs and can scale fleets flexibly. Predictable operating expenses help budget logistics. Maintenance support boosts uptime and reduces disruptions. Procurement can monitor usage, costs, and ROI. Availability may fluctuate during high demand, and monthly leasing may exceed ownership costs with heavy use. Still, CYCLE.eco offers a near turn-key fleet solution—ideal for fleets without bike maintenance teams or capital focus.

5. ListNRide – Private & Shop Rental Aggregator

ListNRide operates as a platform connecting private owners and small rental shops, offering around 80–90 cargo bikes across Germany. It lists e-cargo models like Bakfiets and Babboe, rented hourly or daily—appealing for families, tourists, or one-off projects.

• Fleet Size: Active listings in major and mid-sized towns.
• Use Cases: Short-term family holidays, events, testing.
• Examples: Bakfiets for moving boxes or children.

ListNRide offers flexibility—no long-term contracts or system commitments. Quality varies, but it is ideal for procurement pilots, tourism partners, and social services offering ad-hoc cargo bike access. Price may be higher for single rentals. Operators gain visibility and booking infrastructure through the platform, without investing in their own web portal. It’s a valuable entry point for testing demand or supplying pop-up logistics.

6. Urban Arrow (via Dealers) – Leasing & Fleet Sales

Urban Arrow bikes—like the Cargo L Performance Und Flatbed L—are the hardware backbone for many B2B fleets and logistics subscriptions . Dealers across Germany offer leasing and full-service fleet management, supporting fleet rollout, maintenance, and upgrades.

• Models: Cargo L with box, Flatbed L for heavy duty.
• Use Cases: Delivery, rental companies, public fleets.
• Support: Dealer service packages and manufacturer warranties.

Though Urban Arrow doesn’t rent directly, they enable rental providers and fleet operators with premium cargo bikes. The performance is well suited to business needs, navigating city roads and handling payloads. Leasing helps avoid ownership risk and inventory investment. Cities benefit too, as these bikes integrate with public programs or fleet conversions. Procurement agents evaluating hardware options will recognize Urban Arrow’s standard-setting reputation and extensive dealer support.

7. Donkey Republic – Pilot Cargo Implementation

Donkey Republic added cargo models into its dockless rental app in Berlin and selected cities . These bikes, equipped with child seats and cargo boxes, are integrated seamlessly with standard bike offerings in-app—no special signup or deposit needed.

• App-Based Unlocking: Familiar experience for riders.
• Use Cases: Family outings, school drop-offs, light shopping.
• Benefit: Casual adoption without commitment.

Donkey’s approach lowers entry barriers, letting families try cargo bikes effortlessly. App integration allows straightforward billing and location tracking. However, it features small-scale fleets, uncertain availability, and limited service support compared to station-based rentals. It suits tourism and micro-mobility pilots, ideal for procurement managers in cities wanting to introduce cargo bikes into existing shared mobility stacks.

8. Call a Bike (DB) – Pilot Cargo for Data Insights

Call a Bike, operated by Deutsche Bahn, occasionally runs cargo bike trials in partnership with cities like Frankfurt. These bikes integrate with existing infrastructure and are embedded into research projects exploring user behavior and trip patterns.

• Features: Child seats, rear boxes, app integration.
• Use Cases: Urban and transit-linked mobility testing.
• Goal: Data collection for policymaking.

Call a Bike pilots help authorities evaluate demand, travel patterns, and trip substitution without major investment. They showcase cargo’s role in multimodal urban transit systems. The downside is availability is limited to pilot namespaces, not general public. However, procurement officers and planning agencies can use outcomes to justify larger investments or system scaling.

9. Frachtfreunde – NGO Logistics Fleet

Frachtfreunde is a nonprofit that donates fleet cargo bikes to NGOs and social enterprises, enabling low-cost sustainable logistics. Bikes—often heavy-duty trikes—are loaned long-term for nonprofit missions, event logistics, or community programs.

• Fleet: Electric cargo trikes, load rated 120+ kg.
• Use Cases: Community outreach, charity events, relief logistics.
• Funding: Crowdsourced donations and grants.

This model extends cargo bikes to underfunded sectors without commercial constraints. Challenges include funding maintenance and ensuring accountability. Nonetheless, it reflects how bikes can be a grassroots logistics solution. Municipalities can partner with NGOs like Frachtfreunde to enhance community capabilities and fulfill sustainability goals, while fleets demonstrate real-life ability to support civic missions.

10. Velogista – Bike-Based Courier Service

Velogista, a Berlin-based courier company, operates contract logistics using electric cargo trikes . With weatherproof cargo pods and 250 kg+ load capacity, their model supports companies requiring agile, eco-friendly deliveries without owning a fleet.

• Service: B2B contract delivery with scheduled pickups.
• Fleet: Custom-built cargo trikes with GPS, modular bins.
• Target Clients: Retailers, offices, event supply chains.

Velogista eliminates fleet management and emissions burden, allowing clients to redeploy internal resources. They offer reliability and measurable sustainability benefits. Challenges include rider turnover and weather variability. Still, they represent a wholly outsourced, carbon-free delivery model, relevant for corporate logistics planners and sustainability officers.

Conclusion: Strategic Insights for Stakeholders

Germany’s expansive cargo bike landscape offers tailored solutions across public and commercial use. Among ten brands:

• Sigo offers robust station-based sharing with automatic charging.
• Nextbike Und Call a Bike integrate cargo into city networks.
• Freie Lastenräder Und Frachtfreunde bring grassroots and nonprofit access.
• CYCLE.eco, Velogista, Und Urban Arrow leasing meet business logistics needs.
• ListNRide Und Donkey Republic support consumer pilots and tourism entry.

For procurement, policy, or logistics managers, key considerations include:

• Infrastructure readiness­—station vs. dockless systems.
• Service level needs—short-term access, subscriptions, or logistics support.
• Maintenance models—full-service leasing differs from community-run programs.

Each model offers scalable, sustainable mobility aligned with regulations and sustainability mandates. As interest in emissions reduction grows, cargo bikes have matured from boutique services to mainstream urban transport. German services blend technology, civic engagement, and commercial thinking—offering a roadmap for other countries looking to embed cargo bikes into their mobility ecosystems.

Quellen:

1. Sigo – Station-based charging and B2B2C sharing model sigo.green
2. Bavaria “Lastenrad” Project – Deployment results and usage data sigo.green/news/lastenrad-bavaria
3. Nextbike (Tier Mobility) – Cargo integration and app-based sharing nextbike.de
4. Freie Lastenräder (Frachtfreunde) – Community-driven free lending network lastenrad.frachtfreunde.de
5. CYCLE.eco (formerly GetHenry) – Subscription plan details & fleet coverage cycle.eco
6. ListNRide – Aggregator platform with cargo bike listings listnride.com
7. Urban Arrow – Usage in leasing programs via German dealers urbanarrow.com
8. Donkey Republic – Pilot cargo bike deployments donkey.bike
9. Call a Bike by Deutsche Bahn – Cargo bike research pilots callabike.de
10. Frachtfreunde – NGO logistics and cargo bike donations frachtfreunde.de
11. Velogista – Cargo trike courier service model velogista.de