The EU have been working on eBike standards for a while now, with this coming through as the latest update for the higher speed class of s-pedelecs (up to 45km/h):
http://www.bike-eu.com/laws-regulat...oval-for-speed-e-bikes-now-effective-10125384
In effect, it means they'll be subject to type-approval, which is a more stringent set of standards that are closer in operation to motorcycle regulation compared to the lower spec 25km/h regulated eBikes.
At some point, expect to see offroad ebikes conforming to the s-pedelec standard and they'll eventually find their way to our part of the world. The Bultaco Brinco is one such example that are working to alignment with the L1e-B standard. Personally, I love the look of them and think they'd be a hoot to ride. At least they're working to align themselves with the EU standards from the start. But it will likely also mean MTB trail contention, which this thread clearly shows is still a very live issue.
I've been on both sides of the fence on this one, as an early 90s MTB racer and (more recently) eBike owner/dealer.