Throttle assist sounds nice but once you start riding you will probably rarely use use it as you can ride faster with pedal assist. I can't recommend an ebike in your price range but if you are willing to spend a little more there should be more choices. Don't skimp on something that could last you for years on a cheaper ebike that you may regret buying in a year....Consider the price over a 3 to 4 year span and the difference between a cheap entry level ebike and one from an established company is only pennies per day, plus peace of mind and you will be happy with your decision. My Diamondback Trace EXC from Performance Bikes at about $2200 plus 20% store credit is one of the best purchases I've ever made and I loved it from the start but now after some customizing I dream about it sometime, lol, it's that comfortable and fun to ride. Don't rush as there are new ebikes and deals released every week, but just find one that feels right, I suggest lots of test rides if possible, jump in, and enjoy the ebike experience. There's nothing like it in my opinion, sorry to all my 50 plus friends who want try and regain their youth and still do Triathlons and jump into a freezing lake in May and run 20 miles, but get over it and just get with reality, your doing more harm than good. Buy a quality ebike and you'll never regret it. Have fun and ride. All imho, lol, have fun.