Upsides of Electric Bikes

Electric bicycles are heavy, expensive, and often make for lazy people. They don't have to be this way. There are some easy solutions which would make them relevant again, and by relevant, I mean compared to proper scooters which cost less than $800 new or regular bicycles which are just as fast as an electric due to weighing less and being pedaled by someone reasonably fit (but only on the flat). As soon as you talk hills, things change.

So:

1. LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries don't wear out, can be discharged properly so they have a better useful capacity than Lithium Ion and only cost a bit more than Lithium Ion. No electric bike should sell without these. 
2. Lithium Phosphate batteries also means you need less battery weight, lowering it by half. 
3. Torque sensors make for good pedal assist, meaning when you pedal, the motor works. When you don't pedal, it doesn't move you. This is superior to current twist throttle controls.
4. Improve the efficiency, if possible, of regenerative braking, which is actually just engaging the electric power as a generator flowing into the battery. Loss to heat and overcharge danger can damage the battery, however ultracapacitors would fix this.
5. 110V AC plug in, standard computer cable port with a waterproof cover and a circuit breaker so a short won't kill the rider or melt the thing down. Charge at the office, charge at home, only need half the battery. This means a bike would only need 1/4th the weight of current Lithium Ion batteries.
6. Bike first, electric second. Keep the weight down below 45 lbs and a reasonable number of gears. Simplify redundant weight parts. Tires wide enough to provide grip on corners and reduce rate of flat tires. None of this skinny velodrome tires crap you see on racing bikes.
7. Cost equal to a Cheap Chinese Scooter, so $800.
8. Just enough suspension to protect the electronics from shaking damage and allow the battery-bike weight to roll over bumps instead of break itself. Soft enough tires and rubber battery mounts may be the easiest way, with simple mountain bike shock forks on the front. Many inexpensive bikes are already sold like this, so converting one might end up easiest.
9. Keep the batteries low, since they are heavy, so bike stays agile. For conversions, hang them horizontally under a rack so you still have usable cargo space.
10. Install batteries so they can be replaced. Use electronics to monitor them, including temperature and capacity, so you can tell which are starting to fail and which are okay.
11. Design electronics to survive water and static shocks and other annoyances of the real world.

If you do all the above, and wire the batteries to lights and signals it becomes a viable bit of transportation. Not perfect, but better than just a bicycle. Especially in hilly country like where I live.