If you need to get to work without breaking a sweat or tapping mid-east oil, buy an electric bike.
If you need a bike that looks great, has lots of torque, and folds up to fit in a compact car's trunk (like my Jetta TDI), then the Ezee Quando is your bike. Great metal frame, sturdy welds, handy built-in LED lights in front and rear, built-in sturdy bike rack in back. Rides smooth despite smallish tires due to tire width and nice comfy seat. I ride the accelerator and cruise along from Northgate to University and back without recharging, up hill and dale. I got a new battery 1.5 years after buying the Quando and clearly they are improving the torque and charging capacity. Fun, Fun, Folding Electric Fun!