The Minnesota E-Bike Rebate Program application process was initially postponed due to technical issues caused by an overwhelming amount of traffic. Minnesotans were supposed to be able to apply for a rebate for a new e-bike starting Wednesday, June 5th at 11am, but many users found they were unable to access the application site. Michael Wojcik, Executive Director of Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, a nonprofit that helped pass the rebate legislation, remarked, “We crashed a government website. And a little point of pride – policy makers, think about what’s happening here. That’s how incredibly popular this program is.”
The site is managed by the Minnesota IT Services and hosted by the Minnesota Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue released a statement saying, “We are working with our external technology vendors engaged for this program to understand and fix the technical issues on the site. The Minnesota Department of Revenue and Minnesota IT Services apologize to potential rebate applicants for the inconvenience.”
The application process resumed in July, using a virtual waiting room to control the surge of users accessing the site, similar to methods used for purchasing tickets to popular sporting events or concerts. On July 2nd at 11am the application process reopened, successfully managing traffic without crashing. However, it closed a few days later. Another opportunity for the highly popular rebate is scheduled for 2025.
The e-bike rebate offers a discount of up to $1,500 or 50-75% of the bike’s cost, depending on the applicant’s income. Individuals earning under $41,000 per year will make up 40% of accepted applications. Once approved, recipients receive the rebate via email and have two months to purchase the e-bike at approved retailers. Total rebates are limited to $2 million per year for both 2024 and 2025.
Minnesota is not the first state to roll out the popular e-bike rebate program. Nearly two dozen states have similar programs, with many offering multiple rebates. Colorado and California, for example, have more than 10, including those specific to counties like Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz.
In Sweden, a study found that a 25% rebate led to a 70% increase in sales, even though e-bike prices remained stable. The study also estimated that new e-bike owners reduced their car travel by 1,146 km (about 712 miles) annually.”
Despite the growing popularity of e-bikes and rebate programs across the country, cities face challenges integrating e-bikes into existing road and trail infrastructures, which were originally designed for cars and traditional bikes or scooters. The rise of e-bikes and likely expansion of electric transportation leads to a “chaotic struggle for space” in places like New York City. However, the health benefits and reduced environmental impact of e-bikes make them a valuable addition to urban transportation. Cities worldwide will need to adapt to accommodate the increase in e-bikes and the positive changes they bring to our travel habits.