Motor Power Selection & Battery Configuration Guide for Electric Cargo Tricycles

This guide analyzes 800W–3000W mainstream motor powers from three core dimensions: load capacity, climbing performance, and application scenarios, and provides corresponding battery matching solutions to help electric cargo tricycle users select the optimal configuration accurately.

1. Core Performance Comparison Table of Motors with Different Powers

Motor Power	Rated Load Capacity	Maximum Climbing Capacity	Application Scenarios	Core Features
800W	300–500kg	8°–12°	Household short-distance haulage, community parcel delivery (e.g., couriers, groceries); flat urban-rural fringe roads	Low energy consumption, long range, low noise; insufficient power for heavy loads or climbing
1000W	500–700kg	12°–15°	Small store stocking, personal bulk cargo transportation; occasional light climbing (e.g., residential area ramps)	High cost-performance, balanced load and range; more powerful than 800W motors
1200W	700–900kg	15°–18°	Medium-small wholesale market distribution, township short-distance freight; regular slopes (e.g., rural dirt road inclines)	Preferred entry-level model for commercial use, balanced load and climbing capacity; suitable for high-frequency medium-load operations
1500W	900–1200kg	18°–22°	Urban cold chain distribution, small-batch building material transportation; hilly/mountainous roads with multiple slopes	Mainstream heavy-load model, strong power; effortless climbing, ideal for complex road conditions
1800W	1200–1500kg	22°–25°	Medium freight, building material/agricultural supply transportation; continuous climbing on steep slopes (e.g., mountain winding roads)	High-power commercial model, heavy-load resistant; slightly higher energy consumption, requires large-capacity battery matching
2000W	1500–1800kg	25°–28°	Heavy urban distribution, short-distance industrial raw material transfer; long steep slopes (e.g., warehouse ramps)	Outstanding heavy-load performance, powerful start; suitable for high-load continuous operations
2500W	1800–2200kg	28°–32°	Heavy freight, engineering machinery auxiliary transportation; extreme steep slopes (e.g., mining areas, mountain steep inclines)	Ultra-strong power, impact-resistant; suitable for off-pavement heavy-load climbing
3000W	2200–2800kg	32°–35°	Heavy industrial transportation, port/logistics park on-site transfer; dual working conditions of ultra-steep slopes + heavy loads	Industrial-grade power, top-tier performance; high energy consumption, requires high-voltage large-capacity battery

Notes

1. Load capacity and climbing performance are affected by road conditions, tires, and controller parameters; the values in the table are references under conventional configurations.
2. Climbing capacity refers to steady-speed climbing Instantaneous climbing can exceed the rated value by 3°–5°, but long-term operation may damage the motor.
3. Core Differences Analysis of Motors with Different Powers
4. Energy Consumption & Range

• Lower power means lower energy consumption: an 800W motor consumes about 8–10kWh per 100km, while a 3000W motor consumes as much as 20–25kWh per 100km.
• With the same battery capacity, range decreases by approximately 10%–15% for every 500W increase in motor power.

2. Starting & Operating Characteristics

• Low-power motors (800W–1200W): Smooth start, low noise, suitable for constant-speed driving on flat roads; prone to “motor stalling” (overload shutdown) under heavy loads.
• High-power motors (1500W–3000W): Large starting torque, effortless heavy-load start; slightly higher noise during no-load operation and higher energy consumption.

3. Durability & Maintenance

• Low-power motors: Simple structure, low failure rate, low maintenance cost; long-term heavy-load operation may cause overheating and coil burnout.
• High-power motors: Optimized heat dissipation design, strong overload resistance; complex structure and slightly higher maintenance cost.

III. Motor Selection Principles: Match on Demand, Avoid “Overpowered” or “Underpowered” Configurations

Core Selection Formula

Motor Power = (Rated Load × Road Condition Coefficient × Safety Redundancy) ÷ Speed Coefficient

• Road Condition Coefficient: Take 1.0 for flat roads; 1.3–1.5 for multi-slope roads; 1.5–2.0 for off-pavement roads.
• Safety Redundancy: Take 1.2–1.3 for long-term continuous operation; 1.0 for intermittent operation.
• Speed Coefficient: Take 1.0 for low speed (≤25km/h); 1.1 for medium speed (25–35km/h).

Scenario-Based Selection Recommendations

Usage Scenarios	Recommended Motor Power	Selection Rationale
Household/small store use, daily load ≤500kg, flat road conditions	800W–1000W	Low energy consumption, long range, meets daily needs, highest cost-performance
Urban-rural distribution, daily load 500–1000kg, occasional climbing	1200W–1500W	Balanced load and climbing capacity, not prone to overload during high-frequency operations
Mountain/hilly freight transportation, daily load 1000–1800kg, multiple steep slopes	1800W–2500W	High torque for steep slopes, heavy-load resistant, avoids frequent breakdowns
Heavy industrial transportation, daily load ≥2000kg, extreme working conditions	2500W–3000W	Industrial-grade power, meets dual demands of ultra-heavy loads + steep slopes

1. Motor & Battery Matching Solutions: Precise Voltage & Capacity Matching

Core Matching Principles

1. Voltage Matching: The rated voltage of the motor must be consistent with that of the battery (common specifications: 48V/60V/72V). Higher voltage ensures more stable motor output power and greater climbing torque.
2. Capacity Matching: Battery capacity must meet range requirements. Formula: Battery Capacity (Ah) = (Motor Power (W) × Running Time (h)) ÷ Voltage (V) ÷ Energy Efficiency Ratio (0.8–0.9)
3. Battery Type Adaptation: Lead-acid batteries are suitable for low-power, low-frequency use; lithium iron phosphate batteries are ideal for high-power, high-frequency heavy-load/climbing working conditions.

Power-Specific Motor & Battery Configuration Table (Dual Solutions: LiFePO₄/Lead-Acid Batteries)

Motor Power	Recommended Voltage	LiFePO₄ Battery Configuration (First Choice for Longevity & Heavy Loads)	Lead-Acid Battery Configuration (Economical Entry-Level Option)	Range Reference (Full Load)
800W	48V	48V30Ah	48V40Ah	50–60km
1000W	48V/60V	48V40Ah / 60V30Ah	48V50Ah / 60V40Ah	45–55km
1200W	60V	60V40Ah	60V50Ah	40–50km
1500W	60V/72V	60V50Ah / 72V40Ah	60V60Ah / 72V50Ah	35–45km
1800W	72V	72V50Ah	72V60Ah	30–40km
2000W	72V	72V60Ah	72V80Ah (Parallel connection required)	25–35km
2500W	72V	72V80Ah / 72V100Ah	Not recommended (heavy weight, short service life)	20–30km
3000W	72V/96V	72V100Ah / 96V80Ah	Not recommended	15–25km

Critical Reminders

1. For high-power motors (≥2000W), lithium iron phosphate batteries are preferred: they withstand high-current discharge, have long cycle life, and are not easily damaged during heavy-load climbing.
2. Larger battery capacity extends range, but vehicle load space should be taken into account.
3. A matching controller is mandatory: the controller’s current limit should be ≥1.2 times the motor’s rated current to avoid insufficient power output caused by low current limit.
4. Common Selection Mistakes to Avoid
5. Blindly Pursuing High Power: High-power motors have high energy consumption and high prices, which are a waste if daily load is light.
6. Overloading Low-Power Motors: Long-term “underpowered operation” leads to motor overheating, coil burnout, and significantly shortened service life.
7. Mismatched Battery Voltage/Capacity: Low-voltage batteries paired with high-power motors result in weak starting and climbing performance; small-capacity batteries paired with high-power motors cause severe range reduction.