A friend converted his 26" bike with the Bafang 1KW motor, and that thing is a beast. Definitely not street legal, as it can reach speeds of 80km/h, but a lot of fun
Happened to me to with a company within my trial period. It's amazing how many things you can learn about a company in times of difficulty, in my case leaving the company was happening with or without the layoff.. I hope your friend can find a replacement soon.