It wasn't a problem that needed solving, but it was a solution that rich people rediscovered. I guess two-stroke engines were beneath them?
That this bike is expensive has nothing in the slightest to do with it being electric.
Too much maintenance with mixing up oil and gas.
Why doens't an E-bike doesn't need annual inspection while something like
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A9loSoleX
does require annual inspection? Still looking for a real lightweight bike with an ICE. Speed wouldn't matter, 20MPH / 30km/h would sound reasonable.
Emission testing as a moped, which is inapplicable to e-bikes.
(Probably also some bureaucracy, but that's separate.)
> lightweight bike with an ICE
That's an oxymoron. You can, however, get lightweight and entirely stealthy e-bike.
That gives you much more for much less, saves you the terrible noise of a small ICE with improper exhaust dampening, saves you a lot of maintenance, and probably also saves you and those around you some lung cancer while we're at it.
Alternative interpretation: It wasn't a problem that you needed solving, but others may have had a different experience.
Cargo e-bikes are vary niche, but still have real advantages over two stroke engines.