You're not wrong. From riding myself I remember many times when a ride went a bit further, or a bit wider than expected and one of the group would need to top up, so there would need to be a lot to make this viable and relaxing.
For commutes, it's fine. It's almost like it should be a sporty tourer, but then that's no fun on a press release.
I think given the Formula E plan of having 2x cars per race, racing is actually more applicable. Racing will challenge how these bikes are recharged/replaced quickly.
The most often overlooked issue with press-release-bikes, is that many motorcycle owners will show terror at the thought of having a no-brand bike. The cost of parts, servicing, or replacement if it gets crashed (it will) is so high, that it really is only a toy for the naive or rich (or both).