Well I figure paying a couple of hundred bucks for road shipping is worth it since (i) you will have your own bike (ii) still cheaper than hiring a bike for more than a day or two. Mind you, in my case, I also need to hire a 4WD to carry the bikes. But hey what wouldn't you do to use your EMTB...
I use a Biknd Jetpack for my Merida E-One Sixty. Not a hard case but still a very good case which will take an EMTB with plus tyres etc. Haven't flown with it though. Without the battery, the combined weight of the bike and bag is around 30Kg - which is at the limit of what airlines will accept...