Press Releases
09/17/2024
DEEP Launches Second Round of Electric Bike Voucher Program
Application Portal For Updated Incentive Program Opens at Noon Today
(HARTFORD) — Today, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced that the second round of the State’s successful electric bicycle (eBike) voucher program will open for applications at 12 p.m. today, on September 17. This program offers residents an alternative clean transportation option, with increased incentives for low-to-moderate income individuals and those who live in environmental justice (EJ) communities. DEEP held an event in Bushnell Park in Hartford yesterday with local and state officials, and eBike advocates and retailers to celebrate the launch of the second round of the program.
The eBike Incentive Program provides Point-of-Sale (POS) incentives to Connecticut residents who purchase a new qualifying bike from a participating "brick and mortar" Connecticut eBike retailer. The eBike incentive is intended to provide additional electrified transportation options and improve air quality, especially within EJ communities. The program offers two voucher amounts: the Standard Voucher is $500 and the enhanced “Voucher+” is $750. The vouchers are ‘stackable’ so income-qualifying Connecticut residents and residents of EJ communities will be eligible for a $1,250 incentive total.
A lottery system will prioritize vouchers in tiers: first for income-qualified applicants, followed, second, by residents of an EJ community. Vouchers will be awarded by lottery within each successive tier until all available 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. Residents who received an eBike voucher last year are not eligible to participate in this round.
“Building on the success of one of the first statewide eBike incentive programs in the country, we are thrilled to again provide this exciting program to residents, DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. Since last year, we’ve talked with key stakeholders about ways to make the program even more equitable and impactful. Through this program, we’re excited to give residents an additional electrified transportation option, especially low-income residents and families where this provides a solution to help meet their everyday transportation needs, while lowering carbon emissions in our communities.”
"Providing residents with accessible transportation is crucial to fostering a connected community, and with this voucher program electric bikes will be an affordable option for residents who need a low cost, efficient, greener and healthier way to get around our Capital City,” said Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. “Hartford is committed to being bike-friendly, and we’re grateful for our partnership with Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection and their leadership on sustainable mobility in Hartford and beyond.”
"We're really excited about this second round of the state's eBike Incentive Program, which we fought hard for in 2022," said Jay Stange, Program Manager for Transport Hartford at the Center for Latino Progress. "eBikes are a great option for Hartford families who might not be able to pay $8,000 and $12,000 per year to own another car, or even their first one. More than one-third of all the Vehicle Miles Traveled in Connecticut are trips shorter than 10 miles, which are easy to replace with an eBike. This program is a great opportunity for urban residents to save money, improve our health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our state."
"As one of the top 5 retailers for CT's e-Bike Voucher Program last year, Berkshire Bike and Board in Bloomfield is stoked for round two this year,” said Keith Goeben, Manager of Berkshire Bike & Board in Bloomfield. “We felt the program managers listened to retailer feedback after last season, and new changes, such as a new tier system to determine who gets a voucher, have been implemented. With the right guidance and education from local bike shops, eBikes can be an amazing tool for anyone- from lightweight eBikes to get people to work quickly without breaking much of a sweat, all the way to cargo eBikes for people looking to ditch their cars entirely. We encourage everyone to take a look at the program website and see how you can qualify for up to $1,250 off a new eBike. And even if you don't qualify, come on down to your local bike shop. Let the experts guide you and ride a couple! You'd be surprised how affordable they can be.”
How to Apply for the eBike Incentive
The application portal will open at 12 p.m. on September 17, 2024 and will remain open until October 1, 2024 at 8 p.m. To qualify for a Standard Voucher, applicants must be 18 years or older and in possession of a valid driver’s license or state identification card. Qualified applicants must first register for their eBike voucher and receive approval from the Program before purchasing an eligible eBike.
Where to Redeem Your eBike Voucher
Vouchers may only be redeemed for eligible eBikes by a participating eBike retailer. To find a participating eBike retailer near you, go to www.drivecheapr.org/ebikes. If you are a bike shop who sells eligible eBikes and you have not yet registered for the program, please do so here: Participating eBike Retailer Enrollment Form.
Background
The eBike Incentive Program was established by Public Act 22-25 (the Connecticut Clean Air Act), which expanded the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) incentive program to include incentives for eBikes. The CHEAPR program already provides incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) costing up to $50,000 and now includes incentives for qualifying eBikes costing up to $3,000. The CHEAPR program is funded through a combination of motor vehicle registration fees and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. An average eBike battery ranges in size from 200W-700W. The 600-700eBikes expected to be included in this year’s program will not noticeably impact electric demand.
DEEP launched Round 1 of the eBike Incentive Program in June 2023 as an extension of the CHEAPR Program. Due to overwhelming demand, the application portal was closed in ten days. Applications were assessed on a first-come, first-served basis, with 468 vouchers awarded and 422 vouchers, redeemed with a value of $621,128 that benefited residents of environmental justice communities and income-qualified applicants.
eBike Safety Considerations
Fires from inferior eBikes are a growing concern in both Connecticut and around the country as they become a more popular mode of transportation. In response to safety concerns associated with inferior eBike batteries, Connecticut is adopting some of the first in the nation minimum battery quality and safety criteria requirements for eligible eBikes. In order for an eBike to be included in DEEP’s program, it must be on the eligible eBike list and include a one (1) year warranty and either UL 2849 or EN 15194 certification for battery and electrical components. DEEP is adopting these minimum requirements with the goal of pushing the industry to provide reliable and safe eBikes.
Connecticut’s Air Quality and How eBikes Will Help
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. Reducing vehicle miles traveled through the promotion of alternative mobility options will decrease emissions and help Connecticut meet its air quality and climate change goals.
More information: http://www.drivecheapr.org/ebikes
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110