IN BRIEF
Tern has overhauled the HSD, its compact electric cargo bike and one of the best-selling cargo bikes on the market. This new generation moves to fifth-generation Bosch Smart System motors, with automatic gear shifting called Bosch eShift on the top-spec model. Total capacity rises to 190 kg, including 80 kg on the rear rack and 20 kg at the front, with a 545 Wh battery. In the United Kingdom, the range runs from £4,400 to £5,800 depending on motor and drivetrain; in the United States, Tern quotes a starting price of $4,999. The first bikes are expected at North American and European dealers this summer.
| Brand | Tern |
| Model | HSD (new generation) |
| Type | Compact electric cargo bike |
| Motor | Bosch Smart System, 5th generation; up to 90 Nm on the top-spec model (United Kingdom: P9i) |
| Battery | 545 Wh |
| Maximum gross vehicle weight | 190 kg |
| Rear rack load | 80 kg |
| Front rack load | 20 kg |
| Price (United Kingdom) | from £4,400 to £5,800 depending on the model |
| Price (United States) | from $4,999 |
| Availability | this summer, at North American and European dealers |
The HSD is one of the most recognisable electric cargo bikes on the market: compact, shorter than a conventional bike, yet able to carry one or two children on its extended rear rack. Tern has just given it a thorough overhaul, with a new frame and, above all, a change of motor system that moves it to Bosch.
The Tern HSD shifts gear on its own
The most visible change concerns the drivetrain on the top-spec model, which introduces Bosch’s eShift technology: the bike changes gear automatically to maintain the pedalling cadence chosen by the rider, with no manual input. Good news for a bike whose main job is carrying children, where a parent rarely has attention to spare for juggling shifters.
Every model uses the fifth-generation Bosch Smart System and a 545 Wh battery. The rear rack takes up to 80 kg and the front rack 20 kg, for a maximum gross vehicle weight raised to 190 kg — enough to carry two children and their kit without worrying about the limit.
A price that climbs with the options
In the United Kingdom, the range comes in several motor and drivetrain levels, from £4,400 for the entry version with a 5-speed Shimano Nexus hub, up to £5,800 for the model fitted with Bosch eShift and automatic shifting. In the United States, Tern quotes a four-model range starting at $4,999. The manufacturer is aiming for an arrival this summer at North American and European dealers; no official price in euros has been announced so far.
This remains a premium cargo bike, designed to replace a second car rather than to compete with an entry-level cargo bike.
