Unless you're disabled, why do people want an electric bicycle? I figured most people cycle because they love cycling and the exercise of it. Including hills. Is this product meant to attract more automobilist?
Also, there's a few bicycles these days with two childseats, so that's a lot of weight to cart around.
A bit of info here: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2008/08/17/travel/electric-...
Electric assist is fairly common in the Netherlands (I have family there), where a pretty big percentage of the population uses bikes as the basic mode of transport. It's really sensible to have the option to ride somewhere without it being a workout.