Hi,
I'm based in Auckland in New Zealand and thinking of buying an electric bike. Originally I read a great book about the development of GM's electric car, the EV1, and wanted to build an electric car. However the cost was too much (see the website
Gav's New Zealand Electric Vehicle Conversion for another NZer who is doing this) and I settled for the idea of an electric assisted bicycle as I have always owned bicycles (currently a Brompton and a Dutch roadster, just sold the Raleigh Sports).
Hence I've been using this forum and website to find out all about buying and running an electric bike. It's great information as electric bikes in NZ are very rare beasts and our local bike shops are totally unaware - there is just not the demand there is in England, the USA and Europe.
Cheers
Paul