Before I start building my ebike, I'm reading everything I can find
on what is available. So far, I'm learning more about what not to
get ..

1. Front wheel hub motors can generate enough torque
to break the front forks. So that company only
recommends rear-wheel hub motors.
2. Most hub motors .. no matter what their "power
rating" don't have enough torque to pull more than
a 4% grade.
3. Only gear motors ... even low power ones .. can
generate enough torque to pull an 8% grade.
4. ( another group ) .. Gear motors weigh about 35
to 40 pounds. WHAT ???????????
5. Regenerative braking is a joke. To recharge a
battery using RB, you would have to coast downhill
for 20 hours. Ordinarily, RB can return about 3% of
your charge.
6. Hub motors are unsprung weight. They cause a
very uncomfortable ride. The emotor should go up
between the pedals, and drive the chain.
7. Battery ratings are for flat terrain at about 10 mph.
In real life, they get about half their rated milage per
charge.
8. The average finished ebike will weigh more than 60
pounds.
9. Some of the ebike "kits" require machining of your
bikes parts in order to fit. They also require calibration
of the hub motor sensors in order to get the motor to
rotate in the proper direction. These operations can
void your kit warranty.
10. An ebike can save you $20,000.00 over 3 years,
so it is worth the $14,000.00 they are asking for it.

Sounds to me like the ebike has a ways to go.

johns