Electric mountain bikes are heavier, longer and yet more capable than their acoustic siblings, and that has made choosing the right car rack much more complicated than it was in the days of short-travel analogue trail bikes. Higher system weights, longer wheelbases and wider handlebars all put extra demands on a towbar-mounted bike rack, especially when you are loading two or three full-power e-MTBs at once. Thule’s latest launch, the Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack, is aimed squarely at that reality.

The new Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack is a towbar-mounted car rack designed specifically with electric mountain bikes in mind. Available in two- and three-bike versions, with an adapter to add an extra bike position, the Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack combines a 30kg-per-bike weight rating with space for long, slack e-MTBs and a tilt mechanism intended to work well on vans, SUVs and camper conversions. Thule is pitching it as a high-capacity solution for riders who want to put a quiver of electric mountain bikes on the back of the vehicle and head for a long weekend in the hills. With e-MTB ownership growing fast and more riders travelling to bike parks and trail centres, the Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack lands as a premium option for anyone who wants a rack that is genuinely built around e-MTB use rather than simply rebadged as “e-bike ready”.

Built around the needs of electric mountain bikes

The Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack is an evolution of the existing VeloSpace platform, but this time the focus is firmly on e-MTB compatibility. The towbar bike rack is rated to carry bikes weighing up to 30kg each, with a total load capacity of 60kg. That puts it squarely in the territory required for modern full-power e-MTBs with long-travel suspension, large batteries and aggressive tyres.

Thule quotes compatibility with wheelbases up to 1,350mm, which will cover most current enduro and trail-focused electric mountain bikes, including long-travel mullets and size-specific frames. Wider spacing between the wheel trays is designed to reduce clashes between bars, levers and saddles when you are transporting multiple e-MTBs side by side. In practice, that should make the Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack easier to live with day to day, particularly for families or groups travelling with several modern electric mountain bikes at once.

New bike arms, safer frame contact and easier loading

A key part of the update is a revised bike-mounting system. The Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack uses individual arms with rotating heads and ratcheting straps that secure around the frame. By allowing the clamp head to rotate and the strap position to be adjusted, Thule aims to make it easier to grab hold of bulky e-MTB downtubes, integrated battery housings and complex suspension layouts that can be awkward to secure on older-style racks.

The contact points are designed to spread pressure across a larger area, which is important for carbon electric mountain bike frames and thin-walled aluminium tubes. With each position rated to 30kg, owners of heavier full-power e-MTBs should be able to load up without worrying about overstressing the bike rack. Riders mixing lighter SL-style e-MTBs with gravity-focused enduro bikes will also benefit from the extra headroom, especially when driving on rough roads and gravel access tracks where dynamic loads increase.

Towbar bike rack with tilt for vans, SUVs and camper conversions

For many UK riders using vans, SUVs or camper conversions as e-MTB shuttles, being able to open the rear doors with bikes loaded is essential. The Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack retains a foot-operated tilt mechanism that allows the entire rack and all the bikes to pivot away from the vehicle. On the three-bike version, riders can now choose between a 50-degree and a 70-degree tilt angle, improving clearance for compact vans and vehicles with large tailgates.

In practical terms, that means easier access to kit drawers, dogs, camping gear and spares in the boot area without unloading heavy electric mountain bikes every time you stop. For anyone touring with multiple e-MTBs, or using a van as a day-to-day base at trail centres, that tilt function is likely to be a major selling point of the Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack.

Versions, pricing and availability

The Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack will be available initially as a two-bike or three-bike towbar-mounted rack. An optional Bike Adapter allows owners to add a third or fourth bike respectively, giving some flexibility if your riding group grows. Recommended pricing is set at €829.95 for the two-bike version, €949.95 for the three-bike version and €199.95 for the adapter, putting the Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack at the premium end of the towbar-rack market. UK pricing and on-sale dates are still to be confirmed, but the rack is expected to roll out across key European markets from December 2025.

With electric mountain bikes continuing to grow in weight, travel and wheelbase, demand for robust, e-MTB-specific car racks is only going to increase. The Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack is Thule’s latest answer: a tow-mounted system with generous load ratings, long-wheelbase compatibility and practical tilt features aimed at riders who regularly travel with multiple e-MTBs. More details on the Thule VeloSpace 3 bike rack will be available on the Thule website as launch approaches, and we will be looking to get one on test on Electric MTB UK as soon as review samples are available.

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