I couldn't find the thread about folding electric bikes, so here is my post:

I was at the Sea Otter Classic today and test rode an electric-assist folding bike that was a blast to ride and could easily be folded and transported over short distance when needed - the best of three worlds! You could pedal with a 6-speed Shimano internal gears, have electric assist if desired, and fold it for transport in a personal motor vehicle or on mass transit in under 15 seconds. The electric assist was from a robust hub motor powered from re-chargeable (and removable) Li-Ion battery. The whole bike weighed under 49 pounds, including battery! You could fold it in under 15 seconds when necessary. The battery was easily removable for recharging and, because it was Li-Ion, could be recharged many times without losing bike and yet maintain a near-full charge even months between usage. The best part was the whole thing was selling for $1500.00 (the Li-Ion battery alone would cost $400.00). I am not a salesperson or shill for this product. I was simply impressed by its value for those who might bike-commute over long distances and/or hilly terrain. This is the manufacturer' s website:
http://www.ecobike-usa.com/vatavio.html

Based on the geometry it looks like it would be a comfortable ride.

I have yet to see an electric bike that doesn't look like an afterthought.

I had a bike (not electric) with a fold just like that one. It could rarely stand up when folded. You had to fiddle with positioning the petals to get it to stand up. If you picked it up and set it down again, you had to repeat. Folding it and having it stand up folded took a couple of minutes.

This the first electric folder I've ever seen let alone test ride, so I've nothing to compare it to. It's no beauty to look at but it does fold relatively quickly in a manner very similar to my Fly By/Dahon, though it does not stand up easily unless care is taken with the pedal position. The ride seems comfortable and the handling assuredly stable (of course, low center of gravity anchored by the 8-1/2 pound battery!). I only rode it perhaps a hundred meters so these are impressions, not a definitive review. The cartridge-style Li-Ion battery is handy to remove for recharge and could conceivably lend itself to power other devices. The bike weighs less without the battery but the hub motor and sturdy construction means its still a hefty folder.

An electric folder is not intended to compete with a Brompton, Tikit, Swift or any other folder. It is not as elegant, compact, lightweight or easily folded. It instead offers the convenience of electric-assist to those interested having that feature combined with a relatively compact, transportable bike form.