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A invoice to create financial incentives for e-bike purchases already does one factor properly: making an acronym out of the phrase e-bike.
The Electrical Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Setting Act first arrived in Congress in 2021. Like most payments that come to America’s legislative chambers, it by no means handed into legislation. However 5 politicians and bike trade advocates hope that 2023 would be the 12 months People get tax credit for getting electrical bicycles, in response to an announcement from trade advocate PeopleForBikes.
For the invoice’s sponsors, getting extra automobiles off the highway is a transparent win for decreasing reliance on fossil fuels.
“Transitioning to a clear vitality financial system contains altering the way in which we get round. Meaning transit, rail, and electrical buses, automobiles, and bikes. Our invoice will make it extra inexpensive for working folks to purchase an e-bike and assist get automobiles off the highway,” mentioned Senator Brian Schatz, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and City Improvement.
Different invoice supporters embody Representatives Jimmy Panetta (California), Earl Blumenauer (Oregon), Mike Thompson (California), and Adam Schiff (California).

Invoice: $1,500 Credit score for E-Bike Buy
The E-BIKE Act hasn’t actually modified from its 2021 model, in response to PeopleForBikes.
It proposes a refundable 30% tax credit score for buying an electrical bicycle — as much as a $1,500 credit score for brand spanking new bicycles that value lower than $8,000. The credit score could be allowed as soon as per particular person each three years or twice for a joint-return couple shopping for two electrical bicycles.
There’s one addition to the 2023 invoice, nonetheless: revenue caps. These limits parallel the electrical car tax credit score caps. Meaning no tax credit score for these with an annual wage of $150,000 for single filers, $225,000 for heads of households, or $300,000 for these submitting collectively. The invoice additionally mandates a report from the IRS after two years to know the distribution of the credit score by revenue tax bracket and alter for fairness sooner or later, in response to PeopleForBikes.
An electrical bicycle tax credit score was included within the Home-approved Construct Again Higher Act in 2021. However legislators reduce the availability when negotiations resulted in a brand new invoice known as the Inflation Discount Act.
“The IRA is the most important local weather coverage package deal in American historical past, however to rapidly and successfully take motion on decreasing emissions, Congress should contemplate the E-BIKE Act as a necessary and complementary coverage,” PeopleForBikes wrote.
Native Governments Take Motion
Whereas the federal authorities has stalled, some states and cities have launched their very own e-bike incentives.
Denver began an e-bike voucher program in 2022, leading to 4,734 residents shopping for electrical bicycles. Native officers say they’ve already seen outcomes. Based on a joint report from town and bike teams, about 71% of program contributors drove much less after the acquisition. Moreover, 90% mentioned they rode the bike no less than weekly.
“The success of the Denver rebate program — and its clear affect on decreasing transportation emissions — means that policymakers must take e-bikes rather more critically as a local weather motion software,” Ben Holland, city transportation supervisor on the Rocky Mountain Institute, which collaborated on the report, mentioned in an announcement.
Electrical bicycles assist democratize our streets and make lively transportation an possibility for extra People, PeopleForBikes mentioned. The group is asking supporters to signal a web-based petition demanding passage of the E-BIKE Act.
“The E-BIKE Act rightfully positions electrical bicycles as a crucial half of a bigger answer to local weather change and equitable mobility,” mentioned PeopleForBikes CEO Jenn Cube. “We’re grateful to our local weather leaders in Congress main the cost on e-bikes.”
Feeling stoked about e-bikes? Use the hyperlink under to take a look at GearJunkie’s record of the most effective choices available on the market.
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