Originally Posted by
Duragrouch
BUT... I want to have a low enough gear to crank up hills loaded if need be.
If you need torque for a loaded bike on hills, then a mid motor may be better for you - hub motors can't supply as much torque. Some mid motors come with a 'normal' sized chain ring (around 40T) - you could probably switch to a smaller ring but you may not need to once you experience the uphill capability. High-torque mid motors (Bosch, for example) use a 20T ring with a 2.5x reduction gear - more torque but more friction if you ever have to pedal it without motor assist - and a faster burn rate on the battery.
'Court' at Electric Bike Review is a good source for info. on ebikes.
https://electricbikereview.com/