Does a bike that is new enough to be an e-bike have a freewheel and not a cassette? Has nothing to do with the question, but someone above asked. I can't imagine.

Oh, it's a cassette, like I assumed.
HG CASSETTE 7s | SHIMANO BIKE-US

To the OP - start in a higher (harder) gear by habit if you find you're getting up to speed faster than you can shift. That's what I do with my regular bikes if, for instance, I'm starting on an easy part of the road. Or just learn to shift quicker, like I think you've alrady recognized. Learn to predict which gear to start in before you start and/or when you'll need to shift quicker. All bicyclists learn this.