In a normal bicycle shop it is very hard to actually sell an actual electric bike. There hasn't been anything fundamentally wrong with the product there just i

In a normal bicycle shop it is very hard to actually sell an actual electric bike. There hasn't been anything fundamentally wrong with the product there just isn't meaningful demand. It is not as if people see the bike, want one but cannot afford it. It is not as if people want the electric bike but find the product falls short of expectations. Only a few brands actually have electric bikes, e.g. Giant, and the general idea is pedal assist up to 15 mph because of legal reasons. The detachable battery pack of such 'conventional' electric bikes is practical for the typical customer as you can take the battery out and recharge it without running some power cord to the bike shed/street. This all-in-one wheel lacks that practical aspect so it will be another far-too-clever-idea that goes nowhere. Also, the iphone hookup is great in principle but, as per the Giant e-bikes, all you need is a simple switch between eco and power modes on the handlebar. Your legs can do all the other aspects of power management far more effectively than some bluetooth gizmo. I think that the key to winning people over to electric bikes is for cities like London and Paris to upgrade their fleets of hire bikes to be electric. People would have a go, see what fun electric bikes are, experience how safe they are due to the manoeuvrability that comes with that helpful bit of extra power, go home and think about getting one for their commute or leisure needs.