I am going to let him decide but have read so much positive feedback on Ralieghs and that I have one as well, am going to suggest the bike I linked above.
However I dont understand why
https://www.pureelectric.com/collec...=Skimlinks&utm_medium=awin&utm_campaign=78888
is so much more than
https://www.cube.eu/en/2020/e-bikes...cube-acid-hybrid-one-500-29-bluenorange-2020/
The difference is enough to buy the racks, guards and lights
The Cube has the original shaped battery under a plastic cover.
The Raleigh has the theoretically more desirable Powertube battery.
I say theoretically because the Powertube integrates more seamlessly into the frame, but is not so convenient to handle.
Depends if the user wants to remove the battery often for charging or security reasons.
It's also easier to carry one of the older style batteries as a spare - the Powertube is longer so won't fit easily into a trunk bag or medium sized pannier.
A friend has the Cube.
The frame coloured plastic cover is neat enough.
I dont know if there any bikes in the price range which incorporates the 2020 Bosch performance line CX. This has 85Nm of torque, compared to their 50/65Nm units. The difference would be substantial in climbing feel
I've not ridden the latest CX motor, but the one I have - 75Nm in theory - is not especially more pokey than my original 2009 Bosch Classic crank drive.
No harm in buying a more powerfully rated motor, but as I said earlier, most riders use the bike on one of the lower power settings to get range.
Which in turn makes me wonder if a few extra quoted Nm of torque is worth worrying about when it comes to bike selection.
I've ridden a lot of Bosch bikes, all the motors deliver their power and torque with a class leading smoothness.
As the miles rack up, that's far more worth having than largely theoretical numbers on paper delivered on a setting you rarely use.