I don't know anything about electric bikes, but my aunt has a retro-styled bike where you sit up-right because the handles are arched quite high -- so you don't lean forward at all.

 I bought a retro style bike a few years ago from Canadian Tire.  It is better, than other bikes, but it is still painful. I will check in another  bike store and see if there are other retro bikes which do not require me to lean on the handles bars.

When i bought my last one I picked Canadian Tire due to it's lower prices. However since I want it to replace my car, I can afford better stores.

My experience with bikes, which is *extremely* limited, is that once you can afford something at a bike store, the quality is miles ahead of what you get in a store like Canadian Tire.  I hope you can find something that works for you!!!

I too would suggest a recubent-they even have recumbent exercise bikes at many gyms-a way to try before you buy. You sit upright-like in an easy chair and pedal with feet at hip height.. You steer with hand in front of you-no weight on them.

I rode an electric bike on the long weekend. It had 2 settings-one that boosted your speed-it really felt like I was whizzing along-and one that charged the battery-it felt 4 times harder than a regular bike.

They're pretty kewl. Here's another place that sells them: http://daymak.com/

I also think this vehicle is pretty kewl. It's called the Twike:

Electric bikes are a traffic hazard. They are overrunning our city like locusts. Lousy for winter, though.

    I've test road a few different types of electric bikes or what people consider bikes.   There's basically two major styles one that are are pedal assisted bikes and ones that work more and look like scooters.  Some of these have pedals and some don't.   They both fall into the classification of Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs)

The main reason the e-scooters get put into the same category as the bikes is that regulations about their use are the same in Provinces that do have regulations concerning their use.   In Ontario last time I checked an LEV that attains a max of about 30 kms and hour is considered a bike so you don't need a license or insurance like you would with electric scooters or motorbikes that go faster.   You just have to follow whatever helmet regulations there are.

If hand position is a problem you might what to check out the e-scooters as an option.  Prices are comparable to many electric pedal bikes.   There are also a couple of models I've seen that look more like scooters in terms of how you sit on them but do have pedals.  

http://www.e-ride.ca/   This site shows and explains some of the differences.  Also there's a alot of info on google if you search e-bike or LEV. 

When I was looking the as a transportation option I found several thing to take into consideration.    With many pedal electric bikes they have a charge and the actual pedaling provides some recharge on route depending on how much you do it but it's not that much compared to an electric charge.  They're a great for power assisting on long commutes and if the routes are hilly.  They are quite popular for people that aren't in the best of shape or have other physical limitations.   They apparently becoming quite popular with the older crowd.    Beyond that it's still pretty much like riding a regular bike except that they are heavier.  The cheaper ones tend to be heavier then the more expensive ones so if you have to lift and move the bike around a lot that might be an issue to consider.     They come with different battery capacity.    The bigger the charge and therefore the farther they go the more money you'll pay. 

 This is the same with the scooter types.   Different models will go different distances so you need to calculate how far you need to travel there and back and get one that matches it or take into consideration the options for recharging it whereever you are going.   One thing that is cool about them is the solar option for recharging if you can't get to a plug.  As they are becoming more popular I've seen more mini cell options being developed for this sort of thing. 

Another thing that's a consideration is the transportation of stuff.  On a regular looking bike you can use things like paniers and other saddle bags.  Some e-scooter models do come with some storage built in and some don't.  Just like different car models.   You can however get small trailers that can be towed behind either type.    This was a big consideration for me because one of the things I would like to use one of these for is running errands.   For what I would need it for I would need a trailer so would have to make sure I get an LEV that has some towing capacity and the right sort of hookups. 

As been suggested check out the different stores that sell these things and test them out.  I've been to several stores in my area and all of them are really good about helping people test ride.  You don't really get that option at places like Canadian Tire. 

It's great that you're looking at it as a car replacement in terms of money put out.   When you start exploring these things more intensely you likely will find that the more expensive ones are better in terms of weight,  pedalling effort, longivity of charge etc etc but when you take into consideration the cost of a car and running a car (gas insurance etc) they're are very cheap relatively.     Also make sure you consider the cost of battery replacement and ease of repair and it's costs.  Just like a car different set-ups have different potential future costs and I found some are easy then others to fix if something does happen.  

Hmm anything else..... oh yes, weather.    Different styles of these bikes offer different options for dealing with weather.   This totally depends on personal preference.   For example I've seen recumbent bikes that basically are closed right in.   Some scooter styles have different funky add-on for protection and some have small windshields for added protection.   With a regular looking bike of course you'll have the same issues as with any bike. 

Anyways that's all I can think of right now.  Hope it helps. 

 Thanks Jadespring, your post  answered many of the questions I had, and gave me what I needed to know to ask the right questions when I start shopping.

i like the scooter style you mentioned, along with a solar charging capacity. Do you know what the electrical costs are when charging a bike?  

 I was contemplating an ebike or scooter as alternate form - or second form - of transportation a couple years ago.  Great for commuting or just to go get something from the store.  Then I got pregnant.

   I don't know the costs off hand but most bikes or scooters will have all those technical details for each model.    You then have to calculate the actual cost with whatever your per watt electricity prices are whereever you live.   It isn't that much or at least no different then charging up any sort battery of similar size.