An ebike fits this idea fairly well. I commuted for several years on one when I lived in the city. After about a year I could fix anything on it. Was quite liberating.

Since I bought an e-bike my car has run its battery flat more than once, which is a good sign of how often it gets used. I had to get one of those drip chargers just to keep the battery topped up. E-bikes are a game changer. Originally I got one because I wrecked my right leg and have trouble getting the bike up to speed (once cruising it is fine though, because that requires much less force). But after a very short time I realized that besides the low starting torque the range is what really made me happy, the fact that even against the wind I can do 50 km in a bit under two hours without arriving dripping with sweat.

I've done a few thousand on the e-bike now and it is only getting used more and more. Car trips are now anything in really bad weather, long distance or with more cargo than the bike can take.

Right on! Free parking is another plus and I bet you still have a silly e-grin on your face after every ride. You can even run them all winter and in snow with studded tires and a bit of thought for the controller and moisture.

I agree its annoying, personally I hate them.

They usually serve to allow for automatic roll-away protection. On new Jeep Latitudes they come on automatically when the vehicle senses you have the vehicle running and are stopped, with the door open, or neutral. Owners like the hand holding ... it's a Jeep thing.

It does increase the price a little bit and if you do not have an OBDII scan tool and need to buy one. If you operate the EPB maintenance mode very incorrectly it is possible to damage the EPB mechanism. They're pretty easy to operate and replace if you know what you're doing.