hi, im new to everything

Easy there killa', your fine here, no rules broken.

Now, there is one forum here called the DIY forum that will answer all your questions and more....it's really pretty simple to build one, and you have come to the right place for help.

It's good that you are choosing a bike over a car if you have limited knowledge....walk be fore running and all that.

Welcome to the forum. I lived in Tustin in the late 80s.
These machines are far easier to tinker with than a computer controlled car.
E-bikes have a good range if you are willing to pedal a bit.
I would build on a light mountain bike with street tires.
Hub motors are usually the easiest to install.
Friction drive can cause rapid tire wear, but Deacon has found some ways around that. He lurks in the electric forum on this site.
You will probably want at least 36v/500 watts to help you up the hills.
Good luck.

Welcome to the forum!

I don't know anything about electric motors, but a little about the engines.
Engines are faster and better range than motors, but you have to buy gas + oil.
A 3-speed hub cruiser-style should work- if you're getting an engine w/ sprocket, make sure the wheel has 36 spokes to bolt the sprocket on.

There are 3 motor mounts- inside the bike frame(most popular), above the back wheel(usually friction drive with a roller on the back tire), and a push cart- the engine is on the cart with a wheel and pushes the bike- usually bigger, faster engines.

You can buy an engine/motor just by clicking on the ads on the side- try bikeberry. There are 4-stroke engines($200-$600) and two-stroke engines ($109-$230). Also, if you get a 2-stroke, you can get many performance parts like a shift kit which will work with your 3-speed hub(sickbikeparts), an expansion exhaust pipe, which adds a lot of power(sickbikeparts) and filters and stuff.
I got a 2-stroke from biketomopedkit, it works great, a bit on the basic side, $230(I coulda got a better bargain).
There are probably answers to all your questions on this forum!

-Stevo