Hi BobV,
Getting onto a regular bike and getting into better shape is a great idea, but for many folks a 40 mile ride is A LOT of training away... Your idea of getting onto an electric bike for a little help is right on track! I used an electric bike to replace my car for short commutes and eventually moved onto a mix of regular/ electric depending on the day. The great thing is when I need to look good and not sweat(here in Phoenix it gets HOT) I just jump on the electric bike and only pedal a little if at all- I arrive refreshed and sweat free. This is how I got into electric bikes and now I build them for HyBikes.
Look around and shop for your electric bike, the use of throttle and pedal assist is most desirable for most people-the trek only has pedal assist. With the throttle you can make the bike go, then pedal as much as you are able to help it.
Our Kinetic Mountain bike is great for keeping up with friends/family. You only work as hard as you want to.