First Impressions of Our Electric Trike: The Island Trek Trial

 ​Well, our weirdly named farm-hand, the SDLanch IRET13 Electric Tricycle, is officially in service! Our very first day with the trike was a real baptism by fire, and I’ve already got a mountain of insights to share. ​While this little electric dump-bed is destined to spend its life happily motoring back and forth along one specific narrow path on Vashon Island, we had a major challenge just getting it there: a long trek across the full length of Vashon Island. This trip quickly revealed the trike's strengths and, well, its limits. ​Power vs. Physics: Handling the hills ​I imagine the trike was primarily designed for flat, dense urban areas or factory floors. In that environment, it would be a champion. It handles a heavy load with impressive stability, and on a flat straightaway, I estimate it could hit its maximum speed of around 30 mph using its three-speed transmission. ​

However, Vashon Island is a landscape carved by centuries of receding glaciers, which means two things: beautiful views and relentless, steep hills. ​When faced with a significant incline, the trike's performance drops dramatically. On some of our steepest climbs, our speed bottomed out at a slow-and-steady 5mph, and the dash started flashing warning lights! ​In all fairness, this might not be an issue for the majority of riders. If your property or operating environment is even moderately flat, the trike will likely perform flawlessly. But if you have serious elevation changes, be prepared for a slow crawl. ​

A Loaded Test Drive and Local Celebrity Status ​

To make the trip even more challenging, we put the trike through its paces right away. We took turns riding and following in the car to ensure we made it to our destination safely. Along the way, my wife couldn't resist stopping at a local free pile to add a shop vac and a set of beach chairs to the trike's already loaded bed of tools and lumber. It was quite the sight, but the sturdy dump bed handled the extra weight without complaint. ​The entire journey turned us into minor local celebrities. Neighbors came out to their driveways to admire our bright blue workhorse, and we answered as many questions as we could, despite being brand-new drivers ourselves. ​Ultimately, the trike made it home, and we were thrilled. Its narrow 33" width is perfect for navigating our paths, and we know we’ve found the right tool for the job. ​We are truly looking forward to many years of quietly hauling goods—and maybe even people—along its new, permanent route. We’ll be sharing more updates once we settle into its regular routine! ​

Do you have any experience using a light-duty electric vehicle on a farm or property? Share your thoughts below!