Colorado
Electric Bike Rebates and Tax Credits

The city is offering incentives to expand access to e-bikes, which will provide those living in the City of Boulder with a discount voucher to cover part of the cost of an e-bike bought from a participating bike shop. Vouchers will be available for commuter e-bikes and e-cargo bikes. Income-eligible applicants will receive larger discounts to help cover the upfront cost of e-bikes and important equipment. The incentives are funded by the city's Climate Tax and supported by a partnership with Community Cycles.

- Discounts of at least 10% off the purchase price through Benefits Boulder County program - Tax payer dollars spent on staff time and outreach to lower the cost of e-bikes

The Climate Protection Fund (CPF) will provide free e-bikes to income qualified essential workers in the Denver neighborhoods of Sun Valley, Globeville, Elyria and Swansea. The CPF is also funding a pilot program in Sun Valley to provide e-bikes to residents of affordable housing. The e-bikes will be manufactured in Denver by FattE-Bikes. Denver has partnered with the Colorado Energy Office to provide additional funding for the e-bike program.

LPEA offers rebates to members for purchasing electric bikes and outdoor electric equipment. The rebate amounts vary depending on the type of equipment purchased, with a maximum combined rebate per member per year of $300 (riding lawn mower excepted). Eligible equipment includes snow blowers, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmer/pruners, power washers, chainsaws, and electric bikes. Rebates are remitted as a bill credit and applications must be submitted within 90 days of purchase.

The Colorado Energy Office provided a $50,000 grant to the 4 Corners Office of Resource Efficiency, aka 4CORE, to increase access to e-bikes, reduce emissions and provide a healthy alternative for commuting. The program is called “Roll to Restaurants” and will provide 16 low-income restaurant workers with e-bikes, helmets, LED lights, locks, panniers, and training from Roll’s co-owner. The bikes are Class II e-bikes, meaning they are pedal-assist with a throttle. The program is done with support from the City of Durango, LPEA and the Fort Lewis College Environmental Center.

The Can Do Colorado eBike Pilot Program provides resources to local communities and businesses to help safely reopen the economy after COVID-19 restrictions and work toward a healthier, more sustainable future. As part of this initiative, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) committed $500,000 toward an eBike pilot that increases access to eBikes for low-income essential workers. CEO awarded five organizations and the City and County of Denver awarded an additional two organizations. Awarded organizations include 4CORE in Durango, City of Fort Collins, Community Cycles in Boulder, Pueblo County, Smart Commute Metro-North, Northeast Transportation Connections, and West Corridor TMA. These organizations are providing rebates and subsidies for eBikes to low-income essential workers.

Holy Cross Energy is offering a $50 rebate when you purchase a new e-bike for running errands or commuting to work. HCE members living in the Edwards Metro District may be eligible for an additional $200 rebate. All qualifications for a specific project must be met in order to receive a rebate for that project. Receipts/invoices must be for projects completed no more than 90 days (3 months) prior to the date that rebate application was submitted. E-bike must be new; no rebate for resale or converting bike to e-bike.

GCE offers a 25% discount on e-bikes, up to $150.

Highline Electric Association offers a rebate program for electric bikes. To receive the rebate, members must submit a completed rebate form along with a valid W-9 form. The rebate form can be downloaded from the Highline Electric Association website.

- YVEA Member Rebate: $500 maximum rebate per electric member annually. - Energy Hero Rebate Program: Up to $150 for ebike rebate.

MPE offers a 25% discount on e-bikes, up to $150.

Avon residents can get a $200 rebate when they purchase a new e-bike for running errands or commuting to work. A $100 rebate for used e-bikes with a minimum purchase price of $500 is also available.

This program is made possible with a generous grant by the Colorado Energy Office and in partnership with University of Colorado, Boulder Community Health, Small Planet eBikes, City of Boulder and Boulder County. Participants receive a two year loaner-to-owner program requiring a fee of $250 to be paid in full before receiving their ebike. The value of the bike and accessories is over $1500. Participants will also receive a free tune up with Small Planet eBikes at 150 miles and a 2-year Membership to Community Cycles, including an invitation to participate in classes and workshops on bicycle maintenance at low or no cost.

Empire Electric Association, Inc. offers a variety of rebates and subsidies for ebikes. These include discounts on the purchase of new ebikes, as well as discounts on energy-saving accessories such as chargers and batteries. Contact Empire Electric Association, Inc. for more information.

The City and County of Denver offers e-bike and e-cargo bike instant rebates to Denver residents. The rebate vouchers are an upfront discount on the sale price of an e-bike from a participating bike shop. There are two types of rebate vouchers available: Standard Rebate (up to $300 for an e-bike or up to $500 for an e-cargo bike) and Income-Qualified Rebate (up to $1,200 for an e-bike or up to $1,400 for an e-cargo bike). Adaptive Rebate (up to $1,400 for an adaptive e-bike) is also available for persons with disabilities. The rebate vouchers are released every other month and are available on www.denverclimaterebates.com.

Through the e-Cycle to Own Program, income-approved essential workers in Pueblo County, in partnership with the City of Pueblo, Pueblo West Metropolitan District, active community members, and local non-profit organizations, will receive e-Bikes (electric bicycles) with accessories (helmet, U-lock cable, headlamp, portable pump, and spare tubes). To be eligible in the program process, a proof of residence and proof of income indicating an annual salary of not more than $35,000 will be required. Registration will be open from December 1, 2022 through February 8, 2023.

The Can Do Colorado Community Challenge provided $500,000 towards an eBike pilot program that increases access to eBikes for low-income essential workers. Through the mini-pilot, 13 low-income essential workers in the greater Denver area received a Momentum LaFree E+ eBike (Class 1) and equipment including a helmet, pump, lock, lights and more at no cost. The Can Do Colorado eBike Spring 2021 Pilot Program provided five organizations and the City and County of Denver with funding to distribute 156 eBikes throughout the State of Colorado, with another 25 planned in Spring 2022, and 50 eBike share memberships.

Boulder is likely to apply in 2023 for some of the $12 million in e-bike rebates that the state of Colorado is giving out.

Section 2 of SB 22-193 creates the community access to electric bicycles grant program (electric bicycles grant program) through which the office awards grant money to local governments, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations that administer or plan to administer a bike share program or an ownership program for the provision of electric bicycles in a community. Section 2 also creates the community access to electric bicycles rebate program (rebate program) through which the office provides rebates for purchases of electric bicycles and equipment used for commuting purposes to individuals in low- and moderate-income households, businesses, or nonprofit organizations (program participants) or bicycle shops that sell electric bicycles to program participants at discounted prices. On June 30, 2022, the state treasurer shall transfer $12 million from the general fund to the community access to electric bicycles cash fund (fund), which fund is created in the act. The fund may also consist of money from federal sources and from gifts, grants, and donations. The money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the office for its administration of the electric bicycles grant program and the rebate program.

The program will support the purchase of Class 1 (up to 20 mph, pedal assist only) and Class 2 (up to 20 mph, pedal assist and throttle) e-bikes and Class 3 (up to 28 mph, pedal assist only).