Well, I don't need an E-Assist bike, but I got one because I am starting to use my bike as transportation... Thus it works out better, less sweat, more speed, so it is a viable alternative to my car... Hills, yea, hills are another reason I love my E-Assist bike... There is a difference when you are talking E-assist or E-Bike the way one uses it, maybe even a huge difference... and why one has one, or the other, Just like why one has a regular bike or an "E-Bike" I think/believe...