> As an avid city cyclist I don't get the appeal of e-bikes as a mode of transport. > They're heavy and expensive and require more maintenance than regular bik

> As an avid city cyclist I don't get the appeal of e-bikes as a mode of transport. > They're heavy and expensive and require more maintenance than regular bikes. For many cities, riding at 35 km/h on average also sounds pretty dangerous. Most e-bikes with 250W engines are capped at 25 km/h so, essentially, for a fit cyclist they only help for uphill climbs and acceleration. But even 25 km/h is good because it means you can keep up with more traffic and thus ride on heaver trafficked roads. I agree that e-bikes aren't that amazing in good weather, but they are very practical in cold, snow, and rain. A 250W engine makes a huge difference when its snowing and you have a 12 km ride home.