July 10, 2024 - Minnesota’s recent $2 million e-bike rebate initiative was overwhelmed in early June resulting in a crashed web site that re-opened almost a month later on July 2 with over 10,000 applications being received in 18 minutes reports the Star Tribune and other outlets.
“We have received enough submissions to fill the applicant pool for the Minnesota e-Bike Rebate Certificates. The application is now closed,” the Minnesota Department of Revenue wrote in a post on X at 11:19 a.m on July 2.
The 2-year rebate program provides a discount of up to $1,500 on a qualifying e-bike which represents 50-75% of a buyer’s qualifying expenses, depending on their income. The rebate value cannot exceed the price of the e-bike. Approved applicants have two months to use the certificate or it expires.
If there are funds remaining in the program after October 1, the state will issue more rebate certificates up to the $2 million limit hoping to assist up to 10,000 residents to help reduce pollution and fight climate change.
Minnesota became the second state in the USA after Colorado to launch such a program. The two-year initiative will see funding of up to $2 million per year in both 2024 and 2025.
Read more in the Star Tribune here and about the launch of the program here.
