Want to buy an e-bike to get around town or on a trail this summer? The state is giving away vouchers to help you pay for it.Â
Starting at 5 p.m. on April 29, California residents can apply to the California E-Bike Incentive Project. The project provides up to $2,000 for a new e-bike.Â
E-bikes are a fast-growing mode of transportation, but they still make up only a small portion of overall bicycle sales. A research firm found last year that about 4% of all bikes sold in the United States were electric. They’re also the most expensive, with an average price of about $3,000, compared with $700 for gear bikes.Â
The benefit of electric bikes is that they can run without any or much pedaling, depending on the type. This allows people to ride them to work without breaking a sweat and to ride uphill easily.
And they are also now allowed in more places. The East Bay Regional Park District in 2023 opened more than 800 miles of trails to some e-bikes.Â
The California vouchers, available from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), have been popular. The first offer, in December, was a hit, with 1,500 applications reserved and nearly 100,000 people waiting in a queue.Â
This second round will give away about 1,000 vouchers for new e-bikes, or about $2 million in all. According to CARB, application winners will be randomized for fairness.
To apply, join the virtual waiting room between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. At 6 p.m., the room will close, and then a randomized software program will create a numbered queue. In its recent update about this queue system, the state bike advocacy organization CalBike said that anyone not in the top 2,000 numbers should drop out. If you’re not computer savvy, call (619) 438-0274 for information about other options for entering the queue.
In December many hopeful bicyclists became frustrated when they could not get the voucher. CARB told a local blog that there were technical issues caused by outdated web browers or applicants using multiple devices to access the website via the same IP address.Â
To be eligible for a voucher, you must be over 18, have a household income that’s 300% of the Federal Poverty Level: That’s $46,950 for a single household; $63,450 for two people; and $79,950 for homes with three people. Any additional person is $16,500. To ensure that the state has the proper income information, request a copy of the transcript of your tax return.Â
CARB is partnering with bike advocacy community groups for outreach to ensure that low-income people who need the bikes the most know about this project.
Not every e-bike is eligible for purchase with the voucher. The CARB program released a list of eligible bikes last month, and it includes more than 200 models, including cargo bikes, bikes from several new and established companies, and even fat-tire bikes.Â
Voucher winners will have the opportunity to buy into different classes of e-bikes. In California, there are three different classes. Class I has no throttle and can go up to 20 mph; Class II also only goes up to 20 mph but can have a throttle, and Class III is pedal-assist and can go up to 27 mph.
Accessories, including helmets, can also be bought with the voucher.
California legislators approved funding for the project in 2021 to incentivize people away from using cars for short-term trips. There is $31 million in funding, so if you don’t win this time, there will be other opportunities to apply.
Some cities and regions have also created successful voucher programs.
County, city also trying to encourage the use of electric bicycles
The city of Richmond and its e-bike partner Today offers vouchers for free electric bicycle rides to make traveling around the city easier and to promote a greener, cleaner environment.
Individuals who live, work or study in Richmond Rising project areas, including the Iron Triangle, Coronado and Santa Fe neighborhoods, can apply for bike ride vouchers using this form.
Under the Electric Bike Share program electric bikes are available for rent from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. at a number of stations citywide.
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority is sponsoring an e-bike rebate program.
Any adult who has purchased an electric bike in the past six months can apply for a rebate. There is a limit of one rebate per person and one rebate per household address.
The rebates range from $150 to $300, depending on household income.
Picking up a bike in the next few months might also be a good idea because of the trade wars initiated by President Trump. According to news reports, importers of some popular Chinese-made e-bikes expect to raise prices by 25% due to the tariffs.
