Back in July, Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) launched a pilot e-bike rebate program worth up to $300 ($600 for low-income customers) to help offset the cost of a new or used e-bike. These bikes could take a big bite out of daily trips often done by car, since 63% of all trips in Alameda are 3 miles or less (see page 8). So halfway through the pilot program, BWA wanted to learn how it’s going.
According to Heather Heinbaugh, utility program supervisor at AMP, about 50% of the $15,000 in funding from the California Air Resources Board has been claimed by a total of 32 people (no low-income rebates yet). So barring a big spike in holiday-season rebates, she expects the funds to run out toward the end of the fiscal year in June.
One participant, local cyclist Erik Purins, recently purchased a used Radwagon e-bike. He said that “the price for an e-bike is astoundingly high, so being able to use [the rebate] on a used e-bike was a deciding factor for me.” He just made sure to get a bill of sale from the previous owner, with the serial number, bike description, date, and sale price, and had no trouble submitting the rebate form. His rebate arrived via email about two months later, and the speedy Radwagon has already saved his commute more than once!
So what is the future of the pilot program? AMP isn’t sure yet, and doesn’t have additional funding lined up for an extension. But according to the city’s Active Transportation Plan (p. 55, program 2), the city plans to support and promote programs like this. We also noticed that Alameda TMA has an additional $300 rebate for TMA recipients of the AMP rebate. But don’t wait — your TMA rebate application has to be received within 3 months of purchase!
AMP plans to evaluate the pilot once it wraps up, which will hopefully inform improved access for low-income residents in any future programs. BWA would also love to see data on vehicle trips replaced by e-bike trips. For example, evaluation of a rebate program in Denver, CO found that e-bikers replaced 3.4 car trips and 21.6 miles of driving each week.
Alameda, for our collective new year’s resolution, let’s beat Denver!