Colorado proves e-bike rebate programs are huge and everyone should follow suit

E-bikes already number more than 280 million, and displace four times the amount of oil as electric cars and it will only get better as America and other countries realise how easy and fun it is. The popularity of e-bike incentives will help usher in the change even faster, case in point — Colorado.

The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has marked the success of its income-qualified electric bicycle (e-bike) rebate program, exceeding expectations with a redemption rate of 87% through December 2023. The popularity of the Colorado e-bike incentive program, especially among recipients of the low-income, higher-value rebate, has prompted CEO to implement a waitlist to allocate remaining funds and announce at least one more round of rebate applications in February 2024.

Initially projecting a 65% redemption rate based on similar rebate programs in other states, CEO witnessed a higher-than-anticipated success. As of Dec. 21, 2023, 4,520 rebates had been redeemed across 54 counties in Colorado, resulting in a savings of $5,417,300 for the state’s residents. Notably, 92% of low-income standard rebates were redeemed.

“We are incredibly proud to have successfully implemented one of the largest e-bike rebate programs in the country,” said Sarah Thorne, a senior program manager for CEO’s transportation team, in a press release. “E-bike adoption is at an all-time high in Colorado as a result of this program. More than 4,500 income-qualified Coloradans across the state who could not previously afford an e-bike now own an e-bike as an efficient, low-cost, zero-emission transportation option.”

To assess remaining funds from the initial $9 million investment, CEO will temporarily pause rebate applications. A waitlist has been created by randomly selecting 400 residents from the most recent applicant pool, who will be eligible for rebates as unredeemed ones from previous rounds expire. Furthermore, $1.8 million will be reallocated from the Local Government Community E-Bike Rebate Grant Program to support an additional round of statewide e-bike rebate applications in February.

Although additional funding for the statewide e-bike rebate program is not anticipated, CEO has stated it is preparing to launch a statewide e-bike tax credit on April 1, 2024. All Colorado residents will be eligible to receive a $450 point-of-sale discount on a qualified e-bike purchase from an authorized dealer.

And, it isn’t just Colorado, e-bike incentive programs have proven to be very successful across the board, and other states are taking notice and moving in that direction. The latest is Virginia, where there is movement afoot to create an incentive program in that state. One of those pushing for it is Alexandria city councillor Sarah Bagley who, according to an article in the Virginia Mercury, got an e-bike following nerve damage that limited her mobility.

“My e-bike let me get back to moving faster because it takes the stress off of my body,” she said, in the article. “I wasn’t a believer before I had my own, but this has really reaffirmed my belief that e-bikes are a game changer for shorter trips like running errands, and they open up opportunities for people of an advanced age or with disabilities to get around their community.”

Virginia’s e-bike bill is being drafted by the General Assembly’s Division of Legislative Services.

A 2023 survey found that almost 50 per cent of Americans would switch to an e-bike with an incentive. This is the low-hanging and affordable fruit to battle the climate crisis while actually allowing people to get some exercise.