Finally Here: California E-Bike Incentive Program

Written by: Rémy Rossi | January 10, 2025 | Time to read 4 min

Deals on e-Bikes in California just got sweeter. If you’re eligible (and a bit lucky), you can take advantage of the state’s recently launched e-Bike incentive program.

More about the Author: Remy Rossi

Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.

Bike path in front of the Golden Gate Bridge

I thought the day would never come— the state of California finally launched its long-awaited e-Bike incentive program. The first round of 1,500 vouchers was released on December 18th and they ran out in less than an hour, but more rounds are coming up.

I’ve been following the Golden State’s e-Bike incentive program for a while, but it’s been chronically bogged down by red tape and eyebrow-raising administrative moves— let’s get an update.

Table of Contents

Introduction

What is the California E-Bike Incentive Project?

Round 1 of vouchers: successful but sold-out

How you can get a piece of the action?

Upway and e-Bike vouchers

Key Takeaways

What is the California E-Bike Incentive Project?

The California E-Bike Incentive Project offers income-qualified residents up to $2,000 toward buying a new electric bike. The project is funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and residents apply through the program’s portal— demand is high, so it’s not guaranteed you’ll be chosen right off the bat. The voucher is applied immediately at the time of purchase (instead of a rebate, for example) and can be used at approved in-store and online retailers.

Round 1 of vouchers: successful but sold-out

After years of delays and wishy-washy details about the start date, the California e-Bike voucher program finally kicked off on December 18, 2024. The application portal of the first round of 1,500 vouchers closed just 45 minutes after opening.On the bright side, that indicates a huge demand and popularity for the incentive, but thousands of people were left without economic assistance.

This first round distributed around $3 million which represents about 10% of the allocated funds for the program, so there will be plenty more rounds in the future. Still, the number of 1,500 vouchers seems pretty minuscule considering California has nearly 40 million residents. This is the latest program in a wave of e-Bike incentive programs popping up in states across the US— and that’s great news for cyclists and cleaner cities.

Find the best urban e-Bike at Upway:

🤝 Looking for a sweet deal?

Get an even better discount when you sell your old electric bike!
Click here for a price estimation!

How you can get a piece of the action?

If you missed out on the first round of the program (you’re definitely not alone), there are more chances coming up. The program administrators haven’t released an exact date for the next round of vouchers, so stay tuned on bike advocacy sites and your local news. The best idea is to subscribe on the program’s official website to get notified of any updates and voucher launches.

To give yourself the highest chance of success, do some initial legwork confirming your eligibility (based on income) and gather all the documents you’ll need to submit during the application. This way, you’re all set to go when the next round of vouchers is released. If it’s anything like the first round, vouchers will be snatched up quickly, so be sure to be online right when the window opens (it opened at 6pm last time).

Electric bike by the beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea in California

Upway and e-Bike vouchers

Upway is not currently an approved retailer for the incentive program, but should be eligible by sometime early 2025. We are already a partner for the Minnesota Rebate Program and are excited to partner with the California E-Bike Incentive Project soon! If you live in another state, check out my update on e-Bike rebates and vouchers across the US.

While most of the other voucher-approved retailers sell brand-new e-Bikes, Upway sells certified pre-owned models at a huge discount so you can get even more bikes for your money. If you’re on the hunt for a high-quality affordable electric bike, find your dream 2nd hand e-Bike for sale in our huge fleet featuring all the top e-Bike brands.

Check our e-Bikes

Key Takeaways

California Launches e-Bike Vouchers: Income-qualified residents can get up to $2,000 for a new e-Bike; the first round sold out in 45 minutes.

More Chances Ahead: Future voucher rounds are coming— prepare by confirming eligibility and gathering documents.

Upway’s Plans: Upway aims to join the program in 2025 and offers discounted brand-new and certified pre-owned e-Bikes, complete with a one-year warranty.

There is more to Explore

Visit below articles for more info about electric bikes

How Do Specialized e-Bikes Compare to Cannondale?

E-Bike Rebates & Vouchers in the US

Removable vs. Non-Removable Batteries: What’s the Difference?

Finally Here: California E-Bike Incentive Program

What is the California E-Bike Incentive Project?