WA’s $5M e-bike rebate program will launch in April
Map of some (but not all) the communities that will likely be prioritized for the state's e-bike rebate program. (UPDATE: WSDOT reached out after publication to say they are planning to roll out the program state-wide all at once). From a June 2024 WSDOT policy document (PDF).Washington State's e-bike rebate program will launch in April, two years after the state legislature funded it as part of the Move Ahead Washington transportation package. The $5 million budget for the rebates is funded by emission taxes that are part of the Climate Commitment Act, which voters supported in November by rejecting Initiative 2117 by a landslide 38-62 margin.
WSDOT's Active Transportation Division expects all the rebates to be claimed very quickly based on experiences from other places that have launched similar programs. A March 2024 policy document anticipated 8,500 people would get rebates with those making more than 80% of area median income qualifying for $300 rebates while others can qualify for rebates up to $1,200. People will need to apply via an online portal that is still in development, and the state's policy plan suggests rolling out the program in identified overburdened communities" first [UPDATE: WSDOT reached out after publication to say they are planning to roll out the program state-wide all at once] and using a randomization system for selecting recipients rather than a first come, first served system. The exact details for how all this will work are still in development, so stay tuned.
Importantly, the rebates will be granted at the register. Lower-income people can access instant rebates more easily than tax credits because they don't have to front the cash until their next tax return. For someone living paycheck-to-paycheck, fronting $1,200 is not really an option. Yet owning an e-bike could be a boon for helping someone get ahead on their monthly budget since transportation is one of the highest costs of living, especially for lower-income households.
The policy plan also recommends only allowing rebates on sales from retailers in the state that have a physical store with repair service." This should be a much-needed boon for local bike shops, which have been struggling. It also makes sure that people who invest in these e-bikes have a place to keep them running, an ongoing problem with lower-cost bikes sold via online-only retailers. It could even encourage new shops to open within the overburdened communities" that will be the focus of the rebate program, which would be an amazing outcome since there are too many bike shop deserts in our state.
Even with the rebate program getting closer, it still isn't clear whether it makes sense to wait before purchasing an e-bike. For someone below 80% median income, especially in one of the priority areas, it probably does make sense to see if you can get one. But for someone above the income threshold in, say, Seattle, it could make more sense to buy an e-bike now rather than risk prices rising if the Trump administration follows through with its tariffs threat. There will also be a lot of competition for these rebates, so folks should not bank on receiving one.
More details from the WSDOT press release:
A new program designed to make e-bikes more affordable to Washington residents will launch this spring. In April, the Washington State Department of Transportation and its vendor, APTIM, LLC, will launch the state's first e-bike rebate program. The rebates will occur through point-of-sale discounts on e-bikes and associated safety equipment.
"I am thrilled to share that following a competitive bid process in 2024, WSDOT identified APTIM, LLC., to develop the technology and processes the agency needs to safely and securely manage the program," said Adele Peers, who oversees WSDOT's e-bike program.
APTIM has nationwide experience delivering e-bike rebate programs at the local and state levels for the cities of Boston, Bentonville, Boulder and Denver, and the state of Colorado.
Over the next few weeks, APTIM will finalize the program logistics, including training and educating bike shops across the state about participating in the program. The vendor is also building a secure online portal to accept rebate applications, distribute rebates and reimburse bike shops for sales.
The Washington Legislature included $5 million for the program in the 2024 supplemental transportation budget.
WSDOT will share more information about the program launch soon through the Active Transportation Division's Walk & RollNewsletter and the agency's program webpage.