California Bicycle Coalition
Updated August 28, 2023
Statement from the program administrator, August 2023:
“We are currently launching a multi-phase California E-Bike Incentive Project soft launch which includes retailer onboarding and training, community-based organization (CBO) outreach and community engagement, and the website launch. The next one to two months will be focused on retailer and CBO outreach, which will be happening concurrently leading up to the application window opening.
“The soft launch will focus on four regions in California and we have already begun introducing the program to local CBOs and identifying retailers in the regions to make sure they are fully supported with the appropriate program support, trainings and resources.”
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is responsible for the statewide e-bike incentive program, administered by Pedal Ahead. Here are the program basics:
- The incentives program will have a soft launch in four regions in late 2023. The statewide program will launch a couple months after that and will be open to people living anywhere in California.
- Qualifying applicants will get a voucher of up to $1,000 for a regular e-bike and up to $1,750 for a cargo or adaptive e-bike. People whose income is under 225% FPL or who live in disadvantaged (DAC) census tracts qualify for additional incentives of up to $250.
- To qualify for the incentive program, participants’ household income is capped at 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL), with special priority given to those under 225% FPL or living in a disadvantaged community.
- The program will support the purchase of Class 1 (up to 20 mph, pedal assist only) and Class 2 (up to 20 mph, pedal assist and throttle) e-bikes and Class 3 (up to 28 mph, pedal assist only). Only electric bikes in these classifications will qualify.
- Participants must purchase a bike from a California bike shop or online from a company with a business location in California.
We estimate that the $13 million budget of the pilot project will fund between 4,000 and 7,000 e-bike vouchers, but demand is likely to be much higher. CalBike is advocating for additional funding so the program can continue past this year’s pilot.
The electric bike is the cleanest electric vehicle and the one that most efficiently reduces GHG emissions.
