Electric bikes have made electrifying progress for those seeking an alternative to short commute vehicles, and for those who want a bit of an assist on short road trips over hilly terrain. Newer electric bicycles offer some really nice features for urban commuters and suburban fun seekers alike.
Think of electric bikes as sort of "environmentally friendly" or "green" mopeds. The older, traditional mopeds were noisy and spewed out a fair amount of pollution from their exhaust even when used sparingly. Today's electric bikes have developed better technology, with longer battery life, and even lighter overall weight. Some newer models of electric bikes claim significant improvements in range, certainly are much quieter than gas powered mopeds, and are made from alloys that permit them to weigh significantly less than the older mopeds.
If you're looking for an alternative to auto commuting, but aren't quite ready to switch over to full-on pedal power, one of the newer electric bicycles could be an option. (They may not yet be ready to depend on for that bicycle camping trip you're planning because of range and recharging issues -- but they're getting there!)
Some of the better, lighter models even come as electric folding bikes you could pop into your car trunk for a quick trip to a nearby park or scenic trip to nearby beaches or mountains.