Hehe... "how long does it take you to get in from reading"...
Forgive one from the colonies (Canada, eh?) from having to look that up. Looks like Giggle Maps (sp?) puts "downtown" Reading, Berkshire to London (downtown) using an old pedal-only antique/retro/vintage/etc bicycle as about 46 miles...
ACK! ... Seen somewhere:
EAPCs – Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles
The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles – EAPC – (Amendment) Regulations 2015 states that electric bikes that have powered assistance to a maximum of 25 km/h (15.5 mph) using a motor of no more than 250 Watts (maximum continuous rated power output) are considered bicycles and known as EAPCs, or electrically assisted pedal cycles.
American cousins get to play w/one whole HORSE (about 750 watts)... North of the border Canadians are more Pony-Powered at "only" 500 watts of power (note our laws "restrict" to 500 watts CONTINUOUS... with no mention yet re any PEAKS, or their DURATION <wink wink>).
BUT EVen at "only" 500 watts of power, in urban travels (mostly for shorter distances like maybe 10 miles... about, or less) on "congested" streets filled w/"bumper-to-bumper" "stop-and-go" vehicles, one "ebiker" (moi) has NO problem "beating" and passing hundreds of other vehicles daily.
EVen "beating" with stuff like usually getting the "best parking spot" right outside the door of where I'm going - while other vehicle operators ("drivers") are spending X amount of time circling around just looking for ANYWHERE they can leave their vehicles within staggering distances from their destination (used to be called "walking")...
ONE "nice" thing about electric traction (electric motors)... about FULL torque at ZERO rpm. Just gently squeeze that little "GO button"... and yer "burning rubber". <grin>
Anyway. Again, some may wonder about "very high power". (No arguments here re HUB motor placement, however manufacturers do seem to be leaning more for mid-drive locations...)
And no disagreements that "high power" can get one out of any "problems" quicker... BUT might get one IN to any "problem" scenarios as well. <wink>
In summary... I would def. be looking for a switch/etc to "de-power stuff" for day-to-day drudgery.