Ok, I rode a Giant "Hybrid" electric bike about 3 weeks ago, and was impressed! Now, I'll grant you, I only rode it around the bike shop lot, but it had a short, but reasonably steep hill behind the building. I intentionally approached the hill VERY slowly, so I could test it climbing. As soon as I started pedaling, I could feel it pulling me, effortlessly, up the hill.
They call it a "hybrid". I'd call it "electric assist." Whatever you call it, you MUST pedal. It is supposed to somehow, "sense" how much power you are delivering, and adjust it's assist power. It seemed to work well. You can turn it on or off, easily, with a switch on the handlebars.
It was a "comfort bike" design. It comes with a rack, with 2 sealed battery packs, one on each side, that easily snap in or out of the holder. It also comes with small panniers that fit on, outboard of the battery packs. It also comes with mudguards and kickstand.
You use these 2 batteries individually. When the bar-mounted indicator lights indicate that one battery is low, you flip a switch, and it transfers to the other battery. They claim a 70 mile range. Recharge time is supposed to be about 4 hours.
Now, WHY, are we, as cyclists, concerned about what others think? Non-cyclists are already laughing at us! ;-) On this side of the pond, you need a thick skin to ride a bike! I have no need for an electric bike (at THIS time), but if you need one to get you out of a car, by all means, get one! I thought it was pretty cool! I like my bikes, but I certainly wouldn't want to race one of those electric bikes up a hill!