You must use a threaded freewheel and
not the splined cassette:
The most gears I've seen fitted has been 27 using a nine speed freewheel on the rear:
If you have a steel frame it can easily be stretched slightly to accommodate the wider gear and spacer washer/s, but I wouldn't recommend stretching an aluminium frame as it can result in frame failure over time.
This is the seven speed freewheel I have fitted to mine. You should be able to adjust your dérailleur end stop screws to set the travel limits for the seven speed unit, but if the gears do not work correctly with your indexed gear changer, you might have to fit a seven speed changer mechanism to correctly match the spacing of the sprockets on the freewheel.
If you want to keep all eight speeds on the rear, I would suggest the
DNP Epoch 8 speed freewheel as the 11T sprocket will produce a much higher top gear so you won't have to pedal as fast trying to keep up with the motor.
I am not aware of anything cheap and compatible regarding the display unit, has anyone else come across something suitable?
Alan