E-bikes aren’t cheap, but they’re still catching on. Many places across the U.S. offer e-bike rebates that have proven to be extremely popular. Some places – like Denver, Colorado – saw their rebate programs run out of applications in mere minutes. Not to fear, however, as cities, counties, states, and power companies across the U.S. have e-bike vouchers and e-bike rebates available for you today.
See the list of states with e-bike rebates and tax credit programs below.
What kind of e-bikes can I buy through these programs?
The type of e-bike that qualifies for a rebate depends on your program. But for the most part, there are two tiers. Just about every program offers a rebate for any bicycle with electric assist, so long as it qualifies for the CPSC definition of an e-bike and has a max 750-watt motor assist. Some programs, however, offer additional incentives for cargo bike purchases.
As a reminder, most e-bikes are split into three classes with speed, power, and throttle assist as the distinction. Class 1 e-bikes offer only pedal assist up to 20 miles per hour. Class 2 bikes offer both a throttle and assist up to 20 miles per hour, while Class 3 e-bikes offer only pedal assist up to 28 miles per hour.
Will there be a federal e-bike rebate program?
As much as Senator Blumenauer has advocated for a nationwide e-bike rebate program, there is nothing currently in place currently. The E-BIKE Act proposed offering up to $1,500 off for a qualifying electric bike, but that’s still in its infancy.
Read more: Congressman Blumenauer is Pro E-Bike, And You Should Be, Too
States with e-bike rebates
California
The state of California is in the midst of launching their e-bike rebate system called the California E-Bike Incentive Project. The project includes a soft launch in four regions in the state first before opening it up to the rest of the state.
Qualifying applicants of this California e-bike rebate can receive rebates of up to $1,750 for a cargo e-bike or adaptive e-bike and $1,000 for a standard e-bike. Folks who make under 225 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or live in a disadvantaged census tract can qualify for up to $250 in additional incentives.
Additional e-bike rebates are available in the following California cities and counties:
- Alameda – up to a $600 rebate from Alameda Municipal Power
- Contra Costa County – up to a $300 rebate
- Healdsburg – up to a $700 rebate for new e-bikes and conversion kits
- Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, & San Bernadino Counties – Up to $7,500
- Palo Alto & surrounding Bay Area cities – up to $1,000 through the Ride & Drive Clean program
- Pasadena – Pasadena residents can receive $500 or more
- Redding – up to a $1150 voucher
- San Mateo County – up to $1,000 off a new e-bike.
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara County – Up to $500 rebate
- Santa Cruz – Up to a $800 rebate
- San Francisco Bay Area – Up to a $7,500 rebate to replace your car.
Colorado
Starting April 1st, 2024, the state of Colorado will an e-bike tax credit program that offers up to a $450 discount from a qualifying e-bike.
Certain cities – namely Denver and Boulder – offer e-bike rebates as well, but both are closed for applications at the moment due to a higher-than-expected number of applications.
Additional rebates can be found in select cities and regions:
- Avon – $400 rebate
- Basalt – $250 rebate
- Durango – Up to $1,550 in e-bike rebates
- Edwards – $250 rebate
- Gunnison county – up to $150 rebate
- Mt Crested Butte – Up to $500 rebate
Connecticut
The Connecticut Electric Bicycle Incentive Program offers vouchers for up to $1,500 off an eligible e-bike. Round 1 of the incentive program came and went in 2023, but Round 2 should be available shortly.
Florida
The state of Florida doesn’t offer any state-wide incentives. However, the City of Tampa residents can receive up to a $2,000 rebate on a qualifying cargo e-bike.
Georgia
The state of Georgia doesn’t offer any state-wide incentives. However, the City of Atlanta residents can receive up to $1,500 for a standard e-bike, and up to a $2,000 rebate on a qualifying cargo e-bike. The expected launch for the Atlanta E-bike Rebate Program is Spring 2024.
Hawaii
The state of Hawaii offers an e-bike rebate program with rebates up to $500 of the retail price available for eligible purchases of an e-bike.
Indiana
The state of Indiana doesn’t offer any state-wide incentives. However, the City of Bloomington has previously offered up to a $1,000 voucher for an e-bike, with the portal being closed due to a higher-than-anticipated number of applications. We’re seeing a trend here.
Iowa
The state of Iowa doesn’t offer any state-wide incentives. However, the Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative offers members a rebate of up to $150 for ‘outdoor battery-operated equipment,’ which includes bicycles.
Maine
The Efficiency Maine Trust has launched a program in response to a bill passed last year. The bill is still currently in the development stage, according to the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.
Maryland
The state of Maryland has no current e-bike discount or rebate programs. However, House Bill 1008 – dubbed the Electric Bicycle Rebate Program – is in the process of going through the chamber. Contact your local lawmakers to advocate for this latest program.
Massachusetts
The state of Massachusetts doesn’t currently have an e-bike rebate program in place, but a proposal is in place through the Massachusetts Senate Transportation Bond Bill.
Additionally, cities such as Boston intend to launch the Boston E-Bikes Incentive Program as a pilot to provide up to $1,200 off on an e-bike at the time of purchase.
Michigan
The state of Massachusetts doesn’t currently have an e-bike rebate program in place, but a proposal is in place through the Michigan legislature for up to a $1,250 voucher toward an e-bike. Contact your local lawmakers to advocate for this latest program.
Minnesota
The state of Minnesota passed the Omnibus Transportation Finance and Policy bill, which includes a Minnesota e-bike rebate program. That rebate will get you up to $1,500 off the cost of an e-bike. The program is set to run from July 1st, 2024 to June 30th, 2026 with $2 million in rebates allocated every year until the program ends.
New Jersey
The state of New Jersey doesn’t currently have an e-bike rebate program in place, but a proposal in the New Jersey House proposed offering up to $2,000 in rebates to residents. Contact your local lawmakers to advocate for this latest program.
New Mexico
The state of New Mexico doesn’t currently have an e-bike rebate program in place, but a proposal to offer a $1,200 rebate for e-bikes has been proposed in Senate Bill 343. Contact your local lawmakers to advocate for this latest program.
New York
The state of New York doesn’t currently have an e-bike rebate program in place, but Bill S314 would create a Ride Clean e-bike program with rebates of up to $1,100 offered. Contact your local lawmakers to advocate for this latest program.
North Carolina
The state of North Carolina doesn’t currently have an e-bike rebate program in place, but the city of Raleigh will soon have the Ral-E-Bike program starting in spring 2024. Raleigh residents will be eligible for up to a $1,500 voucher.
Ohio
The state of North Carolina doesn’t currently have an e-bike rebate program in place, but the city of Columbus piloted the E-Bike Incentive Pilot Program in July 2023. The pilot program received 10x the number of applications than what could be accepted and closed quickly. City council is currently looking at expanding the program across the rest of the city.
Oklahoma
The state of Oklahoma doesn’t currently have an e-bike rebate program in place. However, the recently proposed SB435 bill – called ‘Tax credit for electric assist bicycle’ – would offer up to a $200 tax credit for the purchase of an e-bike. Contact your local lawmakers to advocate for this latest program.
Oregon
The state of Oregon doesn’t currently have an e-bike rebate program in place. However, House Bill 2571 proposes up to $1,200 in e-bike rebates.
Ashland, Oregon and Eugene, Oregon have e-bike rebates available, however. The Ashland Electric Utility offers customers up to $600 in e-bike rebates. The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) offers up to $300 in e-bike incentives.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island offers the Erika Niedowski Memorial Electric Bicycle Rebate Program. This program offers up to $750 off an e-bike or e-cargo bike. Limit of two rebates per household.
Texas
The state of Oregon doesn’t currently have an e-bike rebate program in place. Residents of the City of Austin however have an e-bike rebate program through Austin Energy called the Electric Ride (E-Ride Rebate). Energy company customers can receive up to $1,300 in rebates for e-bikes.
Vermont
Vermont residents have access to up to a $400 rebate on a qualifying e-bike, or an $800 rebate for qualifying e-cargo bikes. Select cities and regions have different e-bike rebates as well. This includes:
- Burlington – up to a $200 e-bike rebate.
- Vermont Public Power Supply customers – up to a $100 rebate for an e-bike or a retrofit kit.
- Stowe Electric customers – up to a $150 rebate for an e-bike.
Washington
The state of Washington doesn’t currently have an e-bike rebate program in place. However, recent budget updates mean that vouchers up to $1,200 will be available sometime in 2024. The initiative provides a $300 point-of-sale rebate for e-bike buyers, with up to $1,200 available for select individuals.
Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. residents will have access to the District Electric Bicycle Incentive Program within the District Department of Transportation. The program offers residents up to $2,000 rebates on e-bikes such as cargo e-bikes, as well as rebates for maintenance and bike locks.
States with no e-bike rebates
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Canada
Alberta
Alberta residents have access to a province-wide SCRAP-IT program which offers a $500 CAD rebate on an e-bike if you ditch your existing car and replace it with a new e-bike. Select cities also offer specific rebates, including:
British Columbia
British Columbia residents have historically had access to the Electric Bike Rebate Program with rebates up to $1,400 CAD. The program is currently unfunded for 2024.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia residents have access to a province-wide EV Assist program which offers a $500 CAD rebate on an e-bike.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island residents have access to a province-wide EV Assist program which offers a $500 CAD rebate on an e-bike.
Yukon
Yukon residents have access to a province-wide EV Assist program which offers up to a $1,500 CAD rebate on a cargo e-bike, or $750 on other e-bikes.
Provinces and territories with no e-bike rebates
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan
More info about e-bike rebates across the U.S. Find e-bike rebates in Canada and other parts of the world here, courtesy of CalBike.
Welcome to the Urbanist Update. My job here might be as a tech editor, but I’ve also spent tons of time studying transportation, city planning, and engineering. Here are some of the things I’ve found interesting over the past week related to biking in cities, cycling infrastructure, and urbanism.
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