October 10, 2020 - With interest in e-bikes rapidly rising during the COVID-19 pandemic, earlier this year, several e-bike rebate programs rolled out in Canada. The rebate programs aim to help increase access and affordability, as the purchase price of an e-bike can be a real obstacle for potential buyers.

In Edmonton, the City allocated $50,000 in early June to encourage e-biking as part of its Change for Climate program. Residents could apply for a 30% rebate to a maximum of $750. The program received so much interest that the City had to stop accepting applications.

Edmonton’s City Council then voted to put the program on hold until 2021 due to financial concerns related to the pandemic. There were also questions about why e-bikes were being subsidized but not non-electric bikes.

Then, in early August, British Columbia increased its existing e-bike rebate program by $200 to $1,050, but residents are still required to trade in a vehicle for scrap to qualify. A one- year pilot was also launched where businesses can purchase up to five eCargo bikes and receive a maximum rebate of $1,700 per vehicle.

Not to be outdone, the Government of Yukon launched a program in September that covers 25% of the cost of an e-bike to a maximum of $750, and up to $1,500 for an eCargo bike. If the e-bike was purchased on November 14, 2019 or later, it could also be eligible for the program.