The first attempt to pass a national e-bike rebate failed. But this time, the bill has better numbers and a whole lot more supporters.

A bill to give Americans a $1,500 discount on the purchase of a new electric bike was introduced in Congress this week, less than a year after a similar proposal was left out of the climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act.

The original Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment (E-BIKE) Act was introduced in 2021 as a way to help defray the costs of an e-bike, which can be expensive but has been shown to reduce car trips for many riders. The bill was amended after it was included in President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better legislation but was then dropped after the bill morphed into the Inflation Reduction Act. The new E-BIKE Act is very similar to its predecessor, right down to using the exact same name, but there are several key differences.

The new bill would give a refundable tax credit of 30 percent on the purchase of a new e-bike, up to $1,500. That’s an improvement over the amended version of the previous E-BIKE Act, which would have capped the credit at $800, and in line with the original 2021 version. The credit would also be fully refundable, which would allow lower-income individuals to claim it.

Bikes that cost over $8,000 would not be eligible for the tax credit, which is an increase over the amended version that capped the price at $4,000. And income levels are adjusted as well: to get the full credit, income must be less than $150,000 for a single filer or less than $300,000 for joint filers. The previous version set income caps at $75,000 and $150,000, respectively.

“Many people are looking to get out of their cars and get on to e-bikes not just for recreation, but also for transportation purposes,” Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), a co-sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. “Although we’re seeing more people on them in our communities, more needs to be done to ensure that everybody across our country has access to an e-bike.”

Another key difference this time around is the amount of support that’s coalescing around the bill. First of all, the number of co-sponsors on the bill has increased from two to four, including Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), who introduced the Senate version last time around. There aren’t any Republican sponsors at this time, and in a divided Congress, passage is far from guaranteed.

The number of cycling and environmental advocacy groups endorsing the bill are noticeably higher this time around. The list of supporters includes PeopleForBikes, the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environment America, US PIRG, New Urban Mobility alliance (NUMO), CalBike, REI, CALSTART, E2, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, GreenLatinos, Ecology Action, Bicycling Monterey, the Outdoor Industry a*sociation, and the Santa Cruz County Bicycle Coalition.

That’s way more than last time, according to Slate’s David Zipper, who quotes Caron Whitaker, the deputy executive director of the League of American Bicyclists, as blaming “tepid enthusiasm from environmental supporters” as among the reasons the previous version of the bill failed.

“Much more support from advocacy groups, especially in the climate and environmental space this time around,” Noa Banayan, director of federal affairs at PeopleForBikes, said in an email to The Verge. “More members of Congress seem to understand e-bikes and their value as a climate and equity tool after watching their popularity soar in the past couple years, some representing cities and states with new incentives for e-bikes in place or in progress.”

There have been other major developments since the first E-BIKE Act was introduced. A number of cities and states have introduced their own local versions of an e-bike tax credit to much acclaim. The best example is Denver, which implemented its own voucher program that offered $400 off the purchase of a new e-bike and up to $1,200 off for low-income residents. A $500 bonus is applied to anyone purchasing an electric cargo bike.


The voucher program was wildly successful; residents scooped up the first 400 vouchers within minutes, prompting the city to fund another four rounds. Other cities and states have followed suit, with California set to enact its own $10 million program later this year.

Meanwhile, e-bike sales continue to grow by leaps and bounds, while traditional bike sales start to level out following the pandemic-era bike boom. And more companies are releasing cargo-carrying models in an explicit appeal to people and families who want to replace car trips.

The E-BIKE Act would also address recent concerns around battery quality after a series of fires in New York City were caused by faulty e-bike batteries. The bill would require eligible bikes to have drivetrains and batteries certified by the Underwriters Laboratory’s standard UL 2849 as a way to ensure their quality. The New York City Council recently passed legislation that also applies the UL standard to all e-bikes sold within the city.

The new bill is certainly better than the previous version, but it still has an uphill battle ahead of it. Without a Republican sponsor, it’s not clear that it can get a vote in the House of Representatives. But supporters are sounding optimistic about their chances this time around. And it’s clear that the more accessible and affordable e-bikes become, the more people start riding.

“I believe in the power of good policy to find a way,” PeopleForBikes’ Banayan said, “just as the E-BIKE Act did in [Build Back Better] in 2021 despite only getting introduced as legislation in the same year, but politics are inherently an obstacle in a divided Congress.”

 https://www.theverge.com/ .. -credit-amount

30% off? fu*k that. It's bikes that cost 1500 flat. The delivery dudes joints cost that down in the bowery. If you giving 15 give the bike. If 1500 is 30% off the whole fu*king bike it costs a car, foh.

Naw I'm not in favor... anyone buying an e bike doing pretty well off. Invest in our teachers and providing a living wage for teachers.

That’s why this administration is so retarded. They live in such a bubble of the well off elite big city folks. They think giving $1500 off on a bike that cost as much as a used car is a win for the American people. When most can barely afford rent or groceries they are so obsessed with their electric revolution they subsidize electric bike companies

BrooklynDamien said 30% off? fu*k that. It's bikes that cost 1500 flat. The delivery dudes joints cost that down in the bowery. If you giving 15 give the bike. If 1500 is 30% off the whole fu*king bike it costs a car, foh.

People don't value free things. It'll just be a hub of them being resold and people still using their cars.

Probably why they cost the price of a car, because they're trying to replace them.

csmitty said Naw I'm not in favor... anyone buying an e bike doing pretty well off. Invest in our teachers and providing a living wage for teachers.

The typical e bike rider in my area are poor and that e bikes is the families only mode of transportation

It’s pretty normal to see kids getting dropped off to school like this in my area

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Spawn said People don't value free things. It'll just be a hub of them being resold and people still using their cars. Probably why they cost the price of a car, because they're trying to replace them.

If it's about helping ppl who can't afford them then they ain't help much. Looks like a way to sell more bikes is all. Last bike I bought was off Craigslist lol I'm not paying a rack for a bike. E bike, z bike, no bike.

Booda Sack said That’s why this administration is so retarded. They live in such a bubble of the well off elite big city folks. They think giving $1500 off on a bike that cost as much as a used car is a win for the American people. When most can barely afford rent or groceries they are so obsessed with their electric revolution they subsidize electric bike companies

Majority of the country lives in urban areas

view image

I'm for it. The obesity epidemic has only been getting worse....

I'm not in Denver County, so I don't get ANY incentives for these type of tax credits. I'm in metro Denver and while I do have a road bike and an electric scooter that I actually regularly commute with, an e-Bike would be tremendously helpful for commuting to downtown from where I'm at.

Sin said The typical e bike rider in my area are poor and that e bikes is the families only mode of transportation It’s pretty normal to see kids getting dropped off to school like this in my area view image

That's some dr sh*t right there. You up in the heights near union city? I used to live out there. Nice out there.

BrooklynDamien said That's some dr sh*t right there. You up in the heights near union city? I used to live out there. Nice out there.

I saw it this morning in the south Bronx leaving shorty apartment and on Kennedy blvd in union city on my way home

It’s way too normal in poor neighborhoods

I love it here, it’s cheap and convenient

Sin said Majority of the country lives in urban areas view image

Yes who can’t afford rent let alone electric bikes.

So far he has passed subsidies on

Solar panels that cost 20k

EV cars that cost 70k

And now E bikes

These are all bills tailored to upper middle class white people in big cities they have their priorities fu*ked up.

Sin said I saw it this morning in the south Bronx leaving shorty apartment and on Kennedy blvd in union city on my way home It’s way too normal in poor neighborhoods I love it here, it’s cheap and convenient

Yeah, so bronx, grand concourse, Fordham road, wash heights, Bushwick, uc, jc heights all got that heavy dr presence. A lot of scooters. Gotta look both ways crossing the street on one ways bc they be wilding but they keep it pretty chill. Not too bad with it. If you've ever been to dr you'll see where it's from lol legit 5, 6 on a bike on the highway with no street lights and sh*t just headlights

Booda Sack said Yes who can’t afford rent let alone electric bikes. So far he has passed subsidies on Solar panels that cost 20k EV cars that cost 70k And now E bikes These are all bills tailored to upper middle class white people in big cities they have their priorities fu*ked up.

Indeed. But here in nyc ppl already got unlimited access to ebikes. It costs 5 bucks a month. So, in 20 years lol you still would just pay the little 30% off they are giving you here but with the program you ain't gotta maintain, house or otherwise worry about the bike. Just get it and get. That's why I look at this program as some type of sales tactic. And less about helping ppl who can't afford them

pnoi89 said I'm for it. The obesity epidemic has only been getting worse.... I'm not in Denver County, so I don't get ANY incentives for these type of tax credits. I'm in metro Denver and while I do have a road bike and an electric scooter that I actually regularly commute with, an e-Bike would be tremendously helpful for commuting to downtown from where I'm at.

How does e-bike help obesity?

Booda Sack said How does e-bike help obesity?

More movement. People are completely dependent on their vehicles for transport and lack enough exercise to begin with.

BrooklynDamien said Indeed. But here in nyc ppl already got unlimited access to ebikes. It costs 5 bucks a month. So, in 20 years lol you still would just pay the little 30% off they are giving you here but with the program you ain't gotta maintain, house or otherwise worry about the bike. Just get it and get. That's why I look at this program as some type of sales tactic. And less about helping ppl who can't afford them

That’s how I see the whole EV movement they are looking to creat a new major market they invested in. Don’t forget before all these subsidies were passed Pelosi bought millions in electric battery companies. They also have 0 discussion on the pros bs cons. Of cost to fix, purchase, electrical grid being able to handle massive automobile industry in the Us.

These new EV vehicles are like current electronics once they break they are done no fixing them. So every 5-7 years you will be purchasing a new one. No small repairs and maintenance and the technology will always be outdated in a few years, it’s all a scam. If you they really care me invest in trains and busses.

Can I get a rebate for my onewheel?

BrooklynDamien said Indeed. But here in nyc ppl already got unlimited access to ebikes. It costs 5 bucks a month. So, in 20 years lol you still would just pay the little 30% off they are giving you here but with the program you ain't gotta maintain, house or otherwise worry about the bike. Just get it and get. That's why I look at this program as some type of sales tactic. And less about helping ppl who can't afford them

That would be nice out here in Denver. It's a little more expensive that adds up for sure....

I think Lime is $6/month, but you still pay like $0.30 a minute. That can add up quick.

I ended up getting my own scooter years ago that paid itself off already. I ride that thing 6 miles from my home to the lightrail station, than another 2 miles to the office in downtown. And I just charge at the office (or at the gym since I use it to commute there too). Then the same commute back.

Booda Sack said That’s how I see the whole EV movement they are looking to creat a new major market they invested in. Don’t forget before all these subsidies were passed Pelosi bought millions in electric battery companies. They also have 0 discussion on the pros bs cons. Of cost to fix, purchase, electrical grid being able to handle massive automobile industry in the Us. These new EV vehicles are like current electronics once they break they are done no fixing them. So every 5-7 years you will be purchasing a new one. No small repairs and maintenance and the technology will always be outdated in a few years, it’s all a scam. If you they really care me invest in trains and busses.

We got an electric dollar cab van infrastructure the city just invested in, i just heard about, black owned. Those cars service ppl who can't get to public transpo like that.

But hell yeah its all bs and unsustainable. The batteries alone are a grip. 15k a battery isn't going to work. I remember my blackberry battery needing to be replaced all the time. It was a thing with bb to where they had the batteries get serviced they failed so much.

Them sh*ts would get fat and blow up. It's a 70 mph ticking time bomb. And the whole green thing is bc of the death of the petro dollar...

Thing is, how fu*king stupid can you be? If you knew the deal was going to expire why not get all of this sh*t done and in place years ago? It was a 50 year deal...

Like you said, we ain't even got the charging infrastructure. Legit looks like we're set up to fail. Once the resources we need for the batteries are totally controlled by the opps, then? China ain't want poppy plants in Afghanistan like the US did.... they don't grow their fentanyl in Africa... they got different business in those places. Heavy resources. And they aint fu*king with us. Africa or Afghanistan or most developing countries with the resources.

The us is gonna have to go full on evil empire to keep what they got if they're trying to keep it.

pnoi89 said That would be nice out here in Denver. It's a little more expensive that adds up for sure.... I think Lime is $6/month, but you still pay like $0.30 a minute. That can add up quick. I ended up getting my own scooter years ago that paid itself off already. I ride that thing 6 miles from my home to the lightrail station, than another 2 miles to the office in downtown. And I just charge at the office (or at the gym since I use it to commute there too). Then the same commute back.

I don't think the ppl on the program have to pay mileage. Just that 5 buck flat rate and they get 45 min windows to ride before they have to dock i believe. We have lime here too, that program is city bike. All over the city but funny enough I've only seen the lime scooters in the Bronx in Dominican hoods. The city had banned some mopeds around when covid dropped bc dudes were out of control with it lol only other place i saw like this was Oakland. I saw lime there first years ago. Scooters just littering the sidewalks

BrooklynDamien said We got an electric dollar cab van infrastructure the city just invested in, i just heard about, black owned. Those cars service ppl who can't get to public transpo like that. But hell yeah its all bs and unsustainable. The batteries alone are a grip. 15k a battery isn't going to work. I remember my blackberry battery needing to be replaced all the time. It was a thing with bb to where they had the batteries get serviced they failed so much. Them sh*ts would get fat and blow up. It's a 70 mph ticking time bomb. And the whole green thing is bc of the death of the petro dollar... Thing is, how fu*king stupid can you be? If you knew the deal was going to expire why not get all of this sh*t done and in place years ago? It was a 50 year deal... Like you said, we ain't even got the charging infrastructure. Legit looks like we're set up to fail. Once the resources we need for the batteries are totally controlled by the opps, then? China ain't want poppy plants in Afghanistan like the US did.... they don't grow their fentanyl in Africa... they got different business in those places. Heavy resources. And they aint fu*king with us. Africa or Afghanistan or most developing countries with the resources. The us is gonna have to go full on evil empire to keep what they got if they're trying to keep it.

Also add that California who can’t support the current energy demand passed a law to make EV cars mandatory in a decade. How can you expect 15 million cars added to the electric grid every day to be sustainable?

Booda Sack said Also add that California who can’t support the current energy demand passed a law to make EV cars mandatory in a decade. How can you expect 15 million cars added to the electric grid every day to be sustainable?

It's just not logical. I can't see them logically sitting there thinking this is a good plan. Roads fu*ked up, bridges, sink hole here, building collapse there. They must know something they are keeping to themselves like magic builder elves or some sh*t.

Booda Sack said How does e-bike help obesity?

Don’t underestimate balancing yourself

It takes a lot of core muscles

BrooklynDamien said It's just not logical. I can't see them logically sitting there thinking this is a good plan. Roads fu*ked up, bridges, sink hole here, building collapse there. They must know something they are keeping to themselves like magic builder elves or some sh*t.

Oh a flood of e bikes on these streets with no bike lanes is definitely going to k*ll a few lol