California Air Resources Board

Project Goals 

The California E-Bike Incentive Project provided incentives to reduce the purchase price for e-bikes to low-income Californians. This project aimed to 1) help people replace car trips with e-bike trips, 2) increase access to e-bikes, and 3) reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lowering barriers to e-bike ownership. In addition, the project helped Californians learn about bicycle safety and supported local businesses. 

Guiding Legislation

The California E-Bike Incentive Project originated from Senate Bill 129, which authorized the California Air Resources Board to create a program that provides financial incentives to purchase e-bikes.

Senate Bill 350 directs the California Air Resources Board to identify and reduce barriers to accessing electrified transportation. The California E-Bike Incentive Project adopted these recommendations by requiring all applicants to meet specific income thresholds and further incentivized participants in disadvantaged and low-income communities.

Senate Bill 1271 updated e-bike definitions to include battery safety for all e-bikes sold or rented in California by 2026. E-Bikes sold or rented in California must have Underwriter Laboratories (UL) or European Standard (ES) certification on all battery and electrical components.

Project Funding History 

• Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22: $10,000,000
• FY 2022-23: $3,000,000 
• FY 2023-24: $18,000,000
  • SB 127 directed CARB to ensure regional air district Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A) programs have enough funding for applications received from the past 3 fiscal year appropriations. Pursuant to SB 127, CARB is moving $18 million of funding, previously earmarked for the California E-Bike Incentive Project, to the regional CC4A programs to ensure funding is available to support these projects.

Funding Breakdown* 

*This table includes FY 2021-22 and 2022-23 funds.