I can do two days of commuting, about 18 miles, before having to worry about charging the battery. The guys at Electric Bicycles NW say that it can be topped off after each commute with no harm to the battery. Seattle's hills definitely reduce the optimal 30-mile range as advertised.

Today as a test I took my previous commuter, a much lighter Schwinn Probe 26-inch bike now with fenders, rack, old-school German generator, and 1.25" tires. I didn't use the generator, but rather the LED's on front and back. Anyway, with tire pressure set to the max I could feel every bump, and pedaling was easy. Easy, until I started the final uphill portion of the commute. At work my legs were more tired than when I rode the Gipeda, but it was a good ride.

Going home is where the difference was more noticeable. My home is at a higher elevation than my workplace. Back home I was pretty worn out, more so than with the electric-assist bike. It made it very clear that getting this new commuter was the right decision.