Looking to purchase an e-bike but hesitant due to the cost? You might be surprised to know that it could actually put real money back in your pocket. In 2023, more states are offering tax credits and rebates to make buying an e-bike less stressful on your wallet. You can find a comprehensive guide to the e-bike rebates and tax credits offered in your area on the Juiced Bikes State Guide Electric Bike Rebates and Tax Credits website. The guide includes a list of various programs, including California’s E-Bike Affordability Program, which offers rebates of up to $1,000 for regular e-bikes and up to $1,750 for cargo or adaptive e-bikes. Other states offering incentives include Contra Costa County, which provides up to $300 worth of savings through its program funded by the Bay Area Air Quality Management & Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, which offer up to $9,500 for trading in a car for a cleaner alternative like an e-bike. With so many options available, it’s worth checking out the guide to see what incentives are available in your area.
In this article, we will go over the tax incentives and rebates for California.
California Statewide: The California Bicycle Coalition received a $10 million grant last year to create California’s E-Bike Affordability Program, which will provide rebates of up to $1,000 for a regular e-bike and up to $1,750 for a cargo or adaptive e-bike. This program is set to begin in Q1 of 2023 and is expected to fund between 4,000-7,000 e-bikes for Californians. Click for more details.
Central Coast: The Electrify Your Ride Resident Program provides a 50% rebate up to $500 for e-bike purchases, and 75% up to $1,000 for low-income residents. Click for more details.
Contra Costa County: The Bay Area Air Quality Management & Contra Costa Transportation Authority offer up to $300 in savings for Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes based on household income, as well as a separate program specifically for low-income households that provides $500 for buying an e-bike. Click for more details.
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties: The Replace Your Ride incentive allows residents to trade in their car for an e-bike and receive up to $9,500 to cover the cost of purchase, but they must meet income criteria and their vehicle must qualify for replacement. Click for more details.
Oakland: The Electric Bike Lending Library will launch later in 2022 and will provide low-cost, long or short term rentals of 500 e-bikes for low-income Oakland residents. Click for more details.
Redding: The city offers an income-qualified e-bike program that provides a point-of-purchase voucher of up to $1,150 towards an eligible e-bike, helmet, and lock from a participating retailer for qualified customers enrolled in the Residential Energy Discount program. Click for more details.
San Diego: The Pedal Ahead Program loans e-bikes to qualified applicants until they complete the program within two years, requiring them to ride at least 1,800 miles per year or 150 miles per month and obtain bike insurance. Upon meeting these requirements, participants are given the e-bike for free; if not, they are offered the e-bike at a prorated discount. Click for more details.
Santa Barbara: The EZBike Project allows Santa Barbara residents aged 16 or older to loan an e-bike to incorporate biking into their lifestyles. Click for more details.
Santa Clara: Silicon Valley Power offers e-bike rebates of around 10% of the pre-tax cost, with additional money for income-qualified applicants who must apply within 60 days of purchasing an e-bike. Click for more details.
Santa Cruz: The GO Santa Cruz E-Bike Rebate program offers $800 to low-income qualified residents and $400 to non-low-income residents. Click for more details.
San Francisco Bay Area: Clean Cars for All provides low-income residents with $7,500 to replace old, polluting cars with e-bikes or other electric vehicles, including accessories such as a helmet, bike lock, and horn. Multiple members of the same household can purchase additional e-bikes until they reach the $7,500 threshold. Residents must live in a qualifying zip code, have an income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Line, and complete an application to be awarded this grant. Click for more details.
Colorado: In 2022, the Colorado Legislature passed a bill that designates $12 million for Air Quality Improvement Investments statewide. This program aims to encourage local governments, tribal governments, and nonprofits to start e-bike sharing or ownership programs, with a focus on low to moderate-income families. The bill includes rebates for those who purchase e-bikes, which will be available starting in Spring or Summer 2023. To learn more about this program, click here.
Avon: If you purchase a new e-bike valued at $1,000 or more, you can receive a rebate of up to $200. Additionally, if you purchase a used e-bike, you can receive a rebate of up to $100. To qualify for this rebate, Avon residents must use the e-bike to replace car trips and apply for the rebate within 180 days of purchasing the e-bike. To learn more about this program, click here.
Boulder: The Community Cycles E-Bike Program is a two-year loan-to-own program for Boulder County workers that is set to end in late August 2022. Participants must be essential workers looking to use their e-bikes to commute to work, and the e-bike must be their primary vehicle. To receive an e-bike, participants must pay a $250 fee in full and share riding data via an app with Community Cycles Staff. After two years of participation, the e-bike is theirs to keep. To learn more about this program, click here.
Denver: The City of Denver offers a rebate of up to $1,700 on new e-bike purchases made through participating local bike shops. If you purchase a cargo e-bike, you can receive an additional $500 rebate. Note that the January rebates have been claimed, but the next release date is March 28th at 11 am. To learn more about this program, click here.
Eagle County: The Shift Bike Share Program, available to residents of Avon, Vail, and VailEagle, offers monthly and annual passes to bikes or a pay-as-you-go model of 40 cents per minute. To learn more about this program, click here.
Edwards: Residents who purchase an e-bike for more than $500 to replace their commutes to work and other car trips can receive a rebate of up to $200. To qualify for this rebate, residents must apply within six months of purchasing the e-bike. To learn more about this program, click here.
Glenwood Springs, Eagle, Pitkin, Garfield, Mesa, and Gunnison Counties: Holy Cross Energy customers in these areas can get a rebate of $50 when they purchase a new electric bike for commuting to work or running errands. The rebate is limited to two e-bikes per household. To learn more about this program, click here.
Granby: Mountain Parks Electric gives members a rebate of up to 25% of the cost of an e-bike (no more than $150) when they email a receipt of purchase within 90 days of purchasing the e-bike. To learn more about this program, click here.
Gunnison: Members of the Gunnison County Electric Association are eligible for post-purchase rebates on their e-bikes up to 25% of the cost, capping out at $150. Members can apply for the rebate through the association's website with a copy of their e-bike receipt. To learn more about this program, click here.
Connecticut: The Connecticut Clean Air Act, passed into law in May 2022, expands the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) program to now include $500 rebates for e-bikes. Learn more.
The Connecticut Assembly proposed a bill that would give personal tax credit to state residents for purchase of an e-bike. The credit ranges from $250-$1,000 depending on household income. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Finance, Revenue, and Bonding. Learn more.
Hawaii
In Hawaii, the state legislature has approved a bill that would grant residents a 20% rebate on e-bikes, up to a maximum of $500. The bill is currently awaiting the governor’s signature to become law. Further details can be found by visiting the provided link.
Iowa
Eastern Iowa: Members of the Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative who purchase an e-bike are eligible for a post-purchase rebate of 25%, up to $150. To claim the rebate, applicants must submit an application along with proof of purchase within 180 days of buying the electric bike. Learn more.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Statewide: A proposed electric bike rebate program in Massachusetts aims to offer rebates between $500-$750 depending on income status to residents. The program is currently being developed and more details are expected to be released in May or June 2023. Learn more.
Worcester: The Accelerating Clean Transportation for All Program is offering e-bikes to low-income residents for a two-year period as part of a loan-to-own program. Participants are also trained on safe riding practices. The program has already provided 89 e-bikes to locals. Learn more.
New York
Bronx & Brooklyn: The Equitable Commute Project, in partnership with Spring Bank, provides low-cost e-bike loans to employees or participating organizations to increase micro-mobility options for low-income workers. Learn more.
Buffalo & Niagara Falls: The East Side Bike Club and Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative offer free e-bike rentals to community members through an e-bike library. These programs aim to promote biking as a form of exercise and make biking more accessible in underserved communities. Group rides are also organized. Learn more.
New York Statewide: The Ride Clean e-bike program, introduced as a bill this year in the New York Assembly, aims to offer a 50% rebate on e-bike purchases, up to $1,100. This program is an expansion of the current Drive Clean rebate program for electric cars. Learn more.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Statewide: A bill is currently under consideration in the Oklahoma State Legislature that would provide a $200 tax credit to eligible new e-bike purchases. Learn more.
Oregon
Ashland: Ashland Electric Utility customers are eligible for an e-bike rebate ranging from $200 to $600, depending on the type of bike and the purchase location. Applicants must submit their application within 180 days of purchasing their e-bike. Learn more.
Benton/Corvallis County: Local residents can receive up to a $1,200 rebate when purchasing an e-bike from a participating bike shop. Applicants must apply for the rebate before purchasing the bike. Learn more.
Eugene: EWEB customers can receive a $300 rebate towards the purchase of an e-bike to reduce their carbon footprint and promote active transportation. Applications must be submitted within 180 days of purchasing the e-bike. Learn more.
Oregon Statewide: A proposed e-bike rebate bill is currently awaiting scheduling in the current legislative session. If passed, the bill will offer a rebate of up to $1,200 for electric bikes or up to $1,700 for electric cargo bikes, provided that the minimum retail sales price of the e-bike is $950 or more. Learn more.
Tennessee
Nashville: The Metro Council is considering a resolution to allocate unused federal COVID funding towards e-bike rebates for residents. The base rebate amount is up to $300 for an e-bike and up to $500 for a cargo electric bike, while the income-qualified rebate is up to $1,400 for an e-bike or cargo e-bike. More information is expected in April 2023. Learn more.
Texas
Austin: Austin Energy customers are eligible for an e-bike rebate of up to $300 for qualifying purchases made through the approved dealer list. Applications must be submitted within 60 days of purchasing the e-bike. Learn more.
Vermont
Barton Village, Village of Enosburg Falls, Hardwick Electric Department, Village of Johnson, Village of Jacksonville, Ludlow Electric Light Department, Lyndonville Electric Department, Morrisville Water & Light Department, Northfield Electric Department, Village of Orleans, or Swanton Village: The Vermont Public Power Supply Authority is offering a $100 after-purchase rebate for e-bike or retrofit kit purchases by VPPSA customers. Applicants must submit proof of purchase and the bike’s serial number to receive the rebate. This program is set to expire at the end of 2022. Learn more.
Residents of Burlington can get a $200 discount on e-bikes purchased either locally or online until December 31, 2022. To obtain the discount from a local store, bring your ID and a piece of mail with your address to the Burlington Electric Department and receive a $200 coupon. If you purchase online, you need to apply for the rebate after making the purchase. Local Motion and other statewide partners offer e-bike libraries across the state, including in Burlington, Brattleboro, Montpelier, and Upper Valley. Business owners can offer their location as an e-bike library for 2023. Learn more.
Green Mountain: Green Mountain Power customers in Colchester and surrounding areas can save $200 on e-bike purchases from local retailers. To avail of this rebate, customers need to present a GMP energy statement, account number, and address within the GMP territory at the time of purchase. The Stowe Electric Department provides a $200 post-purchase rebate on Class 1 e-bikes to its customers. To qualify, customers need to fill out an online application and submit the receipt. Learn more.
Washington: A proposed bill to exempt sales tax on e-bike purchases and up to $200 on e-bike accessories is under consideration in the legislature's House. A $1000 tax credit for e-bike purchases is part of a $100 million proposal by Gov. Jay Inslee to expand incentives for purchasing EVs in the state. A similar e-bike rebate program is being evaluated by the County Executive's office. Learn More.
The Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstarting the Environment (E-BIKE) Act of 2023 has been proposed by lawmakers in the Washington D.C. area, offering a rebate of up to $1,200 or 75% of the bike's cost for local residents who purchase e-bikes at bike shops within Washington, DC. Learn more.
If you cannot find any financial incentive programs for e-bikes in your city or state, keep up-to-date with cycling news in your area by connecting with your local biking coalition or visiting People For Bikes. Switching from car miles to e-bike miles can help reduce emissions, improve your health, and save on gas. Take advantage of the rebates and tax credits available and join the thousands of people switching to high-performance e-bikes.
