The reviewer also listed this as biggest downside to these bikes, so I assume the reviewer did contact VanMoof to ask about it, and did not get a satisfactory a

The reviewer also listed this as biggest downside to these bikes, so I assume the reviewer did contact VanMoof to ask about it, and did not get a satisfactory answer. Most e-bikes have a removable battery pack which you can then lug upstairs; a lot more convenient than dragging the entire bike up there. VanMoof is a dutch company, where bikes are popular even out in the sticks (where garages are common). There are also bike charging stations, but they certainly aren't standard in the bigger cities, which does make it a bizarre choice to make the pack non-removable. Note that a battery pack, if it is removable, needs a locking system and a bunch of extra material in order to allow the battery pack to not be (easily) stolen and for the system to survive the wear and tear of having it removed so often. Presumably by making the pack non-removable except for servicing, it saves weight and volume. That makes it impractical for many places, unfortunately :(