My reply will be completely useless. I live in WA in a Truck and sometimes a message / trip to the grocery store is a bit too far to do on foot. But the hassle of moving the truck... I used to have a bike bike when I was in Darwin and I just gave that up.
Perhaps I get a bit more confident operating the truck, I just fitted a reversing camera. BIG Difference there... or perhaps I just should put some svelte on these magnificent hiking legs of mine and my back pack...
Just read your post and I hope the following helps others when considering getting an e-bike.
I'm currently investigating in purchasing an e-bike. Unfortunately things are not so simple as due to the options that are available. I'm looking at getting a fat cargo bike. In my investigations I have found:
Fat - due to tyre width (usually 4" tyres) - this allows the bike to go virtually anywhere - road, dirt, sand etc. If you are just riding on hard surfaces then a normal bike tyre would probably be OK.
Cargo - to carry additional things like groceries etc (I will be getting a motorhome so I need a way to do a 'quick run to the shops').
How much weight the bike can carry - most only allow 120kg max. The cargo bike allows you to carry extra weight (30-80kgs depending upon the bike). They also have the option of kiddie seats at the back.
Most e-bikes come with hydraulic brakes due to speed and weight - without hydraulic brakes these things are difficult to stop. Some have front only, rear-only or both sets of brakes.
There is also the actual weight of the bike itself - this ranges from 26kg to over 31kg. Consider how you are loading/unloading the bike. I'm getting an electric bike rack so this wont be a problem for me but if you need to lift the bike at any height or into a narrow opening...... Foldable or no they still have the same weight - space is the only difference.
Most e-bikes seem to give about a 30km distance between charges. This also depends upon how much you are actually peddling, size of the battery, how much charge the battery had before the outing.
There are 2 frame types - standard (previously men's bike) and step-through (previously women's bike). If you have knee, hip, leg problems then a step-through would be more practical.
Starting off - again the e-bikes are different. The pushbike you press down on a pedal and once moving you get yourself seated. However e-bikes you need to be positioned on the bike then accelerate and let the bike come to you. Apparently this takes a bit of practice.
Gears - most have 5 or 7 gears - I haven't got this far in my investigations as yet to determine which is best.
The cheapest bikes (sub $1,600) are usually shipped direct from China and therefore little or no support.
The ability to take the battery with you. This is the most expensive part of the bike and it is what thieves target.
I'm still investigating bike chains, helmets, helmet mounted cameras etc.
We have had several friends mount e bikes or ordinary bikes on the rear of motorhomes or caravans.
All the bikes have been ruined by dirt, water and grit quite quickly. Covers had little long term benefit. In one case they fatigued the mountings and they fell off. Since they were already wrecked, they happily claimed them on insurance, but did not replace them.
One had a sealed compartment inside the vehicle. Those bikes were OK.
Cheers,
Peter
