Key changes in Round 2 of the eBike Incentive Program

• New this year, a lottery system is established to prioritize vouchers for income qualified applicants, followed by residents of an Environmental Justice or Distressed Municipality.  Vouchers will be awarded within each tier until funding is exceeded and then a lottery will be utilized to distribute vouchers through each successive Tier until all vouchers are issued.
• Vouchers will be available for 240 days from the date of issuance to provide consumers adequate time to shop for the best eBike price and for bike shops to order an eBike if necessary.
• If you received an eBike voucher last year, you are not eligible to participate in this round.

eBike Program Summary

The eBike program is designed to issue incentives in the form of a voucher at the time of purchasing an eBike directly from participating brick-and-mortar retailers located in Connecticut. 

DEEP received a robust response to Round 1. Connecticut residents throughout the state are clearly interested in using eBikes, a cleaner electrified mobility option, to meet their travel and transport needs.

eBike Program Benefits

Connecticut suffers from some of the worst air quality in the country, especially along heavily traveled transportation corridors where air pollution is most densely concentrated.  Mobile sources are the single largest contributor to statewide GHG emissions, contributing 40% of emissions, and 70% of emissions of nitrogen oxides, a precursor to ground level ozone (smog). Exposure to poor air quality exacerbates acute and chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and other lung diseases. eBikes provide a viable alternative to the use of cars for short trips and reducing vehicle miles traveled by expanding alternative mobility options will help decrease emissions and help Connecticut to meet its air quality and climate change goals.

Funding

DEEP has budgeted $1.5 million for three years of CHEAPR eBike Program incentives, as authorized under C.G.S. sec. 22a-201c and C.G.S. sec. 22a-202e. For Round 1, $750,000 was allocated, and similarly, DEEP has allocated $750,000 for Round 2. DEEP estimates that the allocation for Round 2 will support the issuance of 600 Voucher+ applicants.

Program Overview

Incentive Levels

Round 2 eBike vouchers are available at two incentive levels:

• Standard Voucher: $500
• Voucher+: Standard Voucher + $750 (these are stackable incentives allowing for a $1,250 total incentive)

Standard Voucher

Connecticut residents, 18 years or older, are able to apply for and redeem a voucher, of up to $500, at a participating Connecticut based eBike retailer to reduce the total purchase price of an eligible eBike.

Voucher+ for Qualifying Connecticut Residents

An additional $750 Voucher+ incentive (for a total incentive of $1,250) also is available to Connecticut residents who meet any of the following criteria:

• Participate in a state or federal income qualifying program.
• Have an income less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
• Reside in an Environmental Justice (EJ) community, which is defined as low-income U.S census block group, or a Distressed Municipality. 

Application Submission and Lottery

Completing an electronic application on the eBike Incentive Program platform is a necessary first step prior to purchase. Due to the high demand for Round 1 incentives, and to make the program more accessible both from a technology and timing standpoint, DEEP has instituted a lottery system for the opening of Round 2. The lottery system establishes three tiers for applicants:

• Tier 1: Participant in a state or federal income qualifying program or have an income less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
• Tier 2: Reside in an Environmental Justice (EJ) community or Distressed Municipality.
• Tier 3: Eligible for Standard voucher.

Applicants will have indicated which tier they are in when submitting their application. Tier 1 applicants will be funded first, followed by Tier 2 applicants and then Tier 3 applicants. 

In Tier 1, incentives will be awarded to as many qualified applicants as possible. If the number of Tier 1 applicants exceeds available funding, a lottery will be held to determine incentive recipients. Awards will be made and Round 2 will close. 

If the program has remaining funding after awarding Tier 1 incentives, a lottery will be held for Tier 2 applicants, and those selected in the lottery will receive a voucher. Similarly, if funding is still available after Tier 2 awards, a lottery will be held for Tier 3 applicants. 

Note: The application window has officially closed for Round 2. The application period began on September 17, 2024, at 12 p.m. ET and was open for 14 calendar days. It closed on October 1, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET.

Applicants who receive a voucher will be provided with instructions for redeeming it at an eBike retailer. It must be redeemed within 240 days of issuance. 

Applicants who do not receive Round 2 vouchers will be notified. They can reapply for future program offerings and receive program updates, if their email information remains current and accurate.

Next Steps

After the Round 2 voucher redemption period has ended, DEEP will evaluate the program via survey data and check to ensure compliance with program requirements. DEEP will also examine the effectiveness of incentive levels and work with the CHEAPR board on how best to approach possible future eBike incentive programs.

Sign up for the eBike Incentive Program mail list for future updates.

Eligible eBike List

DEEP’s initial Eligible eBike List includes over 40 eBike models and many popular brands. While supporting many models and brands, Connecticut is at the leading edge of eBike incentive programs by requiring minimum quality and safety criteria for eBikes in the program. 

Eligible eBikes must have a warranty and safety certification. The list of eligible eBikes continues to grow and be updated as manufacturers release new models.

If you are an eBike manufacturer and would like to request the addition of an eBike that meets the eligibility requirements listed below, please complete the eBike Eligibility Application and email it to the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) cheapr@energycenter.org. An eBike must be approved prior to inclusion on the Eligible eBike List.

To be listed on the Eligible eBike List an eBike must meet the following criteria:

• MSRP less than $3,000.
• 1 year warranty for frame and components.
• Active UL 2849 or EN 15194 for battery and electrical components.

Participating eBike Retailers

The list of Participating eBike Retailers only includes those that have completed program enrollment. Retailers will be added on a rolling basis after they submit a Participating eBike Retailer Enrollment Form. Please note, the list of retailers from Round 1 may not be the same as those from Round 2.

eBike Program Resources

eBike Application Guide 

eBike Factsheet

eBike Frequently Asked Questions

eBike Frequently Asked Questions (EN)

eBike Frequently Asked Questions (ES)

eBike Program Implementation Manual

eBike Program Terms and Conditions

eBike Retailer Flyer

eBike Retailer Flyer (EN)

eBike Retailer Flyer (ES)

eBike Webinar for Retailers & Residents

The Program Administrator will host webinars for participants and retailers on the following dates:

Retailer Webinar

A webinar, geared toward Connecticut eBike retailers, was held on September 5^th in preparation for the September 17^th launch of the Connecticut eBike Incentive Program. Watch this webinar recording to learn how to participate in the eBike Incentive Program if you are Connecticut eBike retailer. 

Participant Webinar

A webinar was held on September 11^th in preparation of the September 17^th launch of the Connecticut eBike Incentive Program. The webinar provided information about how to participate in Round 2 of the eBike Program and covered applicant eligibility requirements, voucher incentive amounts, application and voucher award processes, eligible eBikes, and more! 

CHEAPR Board

CHEAPR Board Materials 

Additional Resources

National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) + Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC)

• How Can eBike Purchase Incentives Grow the eBike Market?
• eBike Incentive Programs in North America: New Online Tracker
• UL eBike Certification

Safety Resources

• Bicycling.Com: eBike Safety

Archived Program Materials

eBike Request for Information

• eBike RFI Responses
• Summary of eBike RFI Responses
• Request for Information

eBike Public Listening Session

• Listening Session Recording
• Listening Session Presentation