Second Round of CA’s E-Bike Vouchers: All You Need to Know
Written by: Rémy Rossi | April 18, 2025 | Time to read 4 min
California residents, mark your calendars! The application window for the second round of statewide e-Bike vouchers opens on April 29th, and it’s sure to run out fast.
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.
What is the California E-Bike Incentive Project?
The California E-Bike Incentive Project provides income-eligible residents with financial assistance of up to $2,000 toward the purchase of a new electric bike. Funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the program requires applicants to apply through an official online portal. Due to such high demand, selection isn’t guaranteed. If approved, the voucher is redeemed instantly at checkout— no waiting for reimbursements— and is valid at participating in-store and online retailers, including Upway.
The program is staggering the release of e-Bike vouchers, typically giving out between 1,000-1,500 per round. April 29th marks the second application window and will award up to 1,000 vouchers. Demand is astronomically high, as demonstrated during the initial launch back in December. The vouchers ran out in less than an hour, and at one point, the online queue had nearly 100,000 people waiting, closing once the first 1,500 applications were reserved. So make sure you’re free during the time slot and can try your best to receive an application!
The program is based on financial need, meaning lower-income residents are eligible for a larger voucher. Residents ages 18 and up with a household income of 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or less can qualify for the program. Here's a useful table to calculate whether you're eligible for the $1,750 voucher or maximum amount $2,000 e-Bike incentive:
This is how it’s going to work
- On April 29th, visit the program’s website to join the virtual waiting room between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Applicants are encouraged to arrive early.
- At 6 p.m., all individuals who are in the waiting room will be put into a queue in a random order and will have equal access to a limited number of online applications.
- Due to such high demand, luck will determine whether you gain access to an online application.
- If granted access to apply, you can expect the first approvals to be issued the following week, however, approval times may take up to 90 days.
- Once approved, income-eligible individuals can redeem the voucher from approved retailers like Upway for an approved e-Bike at the point of purchase.
I recommend that you review the applicant eligibility requirements prior to applying so you know for sure if you are a match for the program. For more information on the second application window, you can read the program’s official press release.
Upway’s proud to be an approved retailer
Whether you’ve got your eyes on an electric cargo bike or a speedy Class 3 e-Bike, our huge selection of high-quality models from the top brands has got you covered. We’ve even picked out all our eligible e-Bikes for the California e-Bike voucher program, so you can see them all in one place.
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Get an even better discount when you sell your old electric bike!
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Key Takeaways
- Application Opens April 29th: California’s second round of e-Bike vouchers opens on April 29, 2025. Only 1,000 vouchers will be available, and demand is expected to be extremely high.
- Savings for Income-Eligible Residents: The program offers up to $2,000 off a new electric bike for qualifying residents. Approved vouchers are applied directly at checkout and can be redeemed through participating retailers, like Upway.
- Upway is an Approved Retailer: Upway is officially part of the incentive program, meaning eligible applicants can use their vouchers toward any qualifying e-Bike in Upway’s extensive online inventory at the new LA-based UpCenter.
