That looks really good, I especially like the handle bars. Off of a mountain bike? I might even pick up a bike like that for getting around in Suzhou.
Did it originally come with pedals and a chain? It looks far too sensible for a Chinese Ebike. No ridiculous fairing and large wheels to handle bumps. Maybe it's just that it doesn't have a family of 5 riding it in your pictures.

Please post some details about your friends' souped up Ebikes. I'm very interested in getting something like this myself.