Nope. An e-bike is merely restricted to 20 mph on flat ground when the only propulsion is the motor. Add in the human engine, and one can go much faster than 20 mph legally. In fact, this is what I would recommend for the OP. Sure, even at just better than 30 mph, achievable with the e-bikes currently on offer at either Wheelworks or Arriving by Bike in Eugene, it's a two-hour each way commute. However, that's two hours of riding versus one and one-half hours of lost time behind the wheel of a car. Four hours per day on the bike, even with electric assist, will keep/improve your fitness.

I spent a number of years commuting into Eugene from the opposite side. My commute was 45 miles inbound and 65 miles home (traffic conditions dictated taking the long way home). Did I follow my own advice and get an e-bike? No, I just rode my regular old pedal bike, but I sure was fit.

You could buy the battery/motor/wheel kit, build an e-tandem and bike-pool with your friend. You'd be the first non-married couple I've ever heard of to ride a tandem to work together. Considering my wife and I can cruise at 30 mph on the flats on our tandem without any motor, you would probably achieve some scary speeds if you did this. Maybe next year...

My understanding is that the electric motor must cut out past 20 mph, based on my interpretation of that law (and of the CPSC rule allowing 750 watt 20 mph e-bikes to be classified as bicycles).

That said, there's a hack to get around that law.

A pair of mercury switches such that on truly level ground, neither of them is activated. But, at the slightest deviation from level IN EITHER DIRECTION, the speed limiter is killed.

guess Im not that serious of a commuter...on a bike anyway, esp in winter. my hats off to you

Why not drive to a closer location and ride from there when you want to cyclecommute?

100km each way 5days a week is a huge time commitment.
So, maybe you could commute by bike one day a week, perhaps Friday, and car commute the rest of the week.
I dare say, the mileage you would do on that day is much greater than the mileage you are doing on the bike for the entire week now. So your fitness level does not decrease.
And it's only for a year.
Something to think about.

this seems like a good suggestion to me. ^^

update

decided the job was not worth the hassle. I will be working there for jan and feb and commute down there with a friend. During January and feb I will help get the job on task and train a replacement when they find one.

This is easily solved. I assume you're driving those 62 miles to work. So put a bike rack on the car, drive the bike to work, ride at lunch, and drive it home. Also if the job is in an area with nice riding, you can ride there after work, then drive home.

OR

If you want, you can drive to someplace short of work, finish by bike, then reverse the process at the end of the day.

IMO- it isn't about whether you're bike commuting, but about getting some riding in if you want.

I agree with this statement: "IMO- it isn't about whether you're bike commuting, but about getting some riding in if you want."

I know when I made the commitment to commute and did so daily, my fitness went up and I was really happy about the whole process. Being laid off work, and still looking for a job, commuting distance is an important factor to me. But if I find a job like you, that is too far for the daily commute, I would seriously consider driving to a good stopping point and ride the rest of the way. Then ride back to the car at the end of the day for the drive home. But you must consider that this could add another hour to the commute time if you take into consideration the shower/cleanup and changing before work. You could do this two or three days per week and keep up the weekend rides.
My next option would be to drive the whole distance with the bike and either ride during lunch, or do a ride after work. I actually don't like the lunch rides as I am too concerned about getting back in time and my thoughts are mostly on the afternoon work. Often a commute on the freeway gets better if you delay leaving by an hour or so. Thus if you did an hour ride after work, then drove home, you may miss some traffic, feel good about getting some time in on the bike, and have a clear mind for when you get home.
Just some thoughts, good luck.

I would never take a job with a company that wouldn't let me store my bike inside. If that's what they think about their employees the job will suck, think about it. They should be encouraging employees to commute. I don't know of any company that couldn't find a place in a ultility room, stockroom or even your office to store a bike overnight.

They don't sound very nice if they won't let you bring your bicycle into the workplace. I've never heard of that being a problem if there's no safe place outside. Bicycles don't take up much space.

update #3
well looks like Ill be back to local commutes soon. My "new" job is not working out. Employer is happy etc but there is just not enough work for me to be full time, I had them cought up in two weeks. so for now I ll be working Monday, tues wed or Monday wed Friday. I told them I would rather do 3 days straight. Ill still be car commuting with the guy that got me the job..on those days
So Ill stick it out till the weather is better and go back to finding something local so I can get back to my daily commutes...which I truly miss. As it is now, my days off I ride into town, to vist friends, go to the store, go to church. So IM back to riding my old commute2-3 days a week
but I must admit, when we had that last cold spell, I did dust off my car and when we had snow, used my 4x4 truck esp after hitting something sharp hidden in the snow and trashed a very low mile tire and tube on my bike.