E-Bike Rebate Program to Start Soon in Pasadena

The City’s Pasadena Water and Power plans to launch an E-bike rebate program on July 1, Evan Johnson of PWP reported during Tuesday’s Municipal Services Committee meeting. 

According to Johnson, the incentives will start at $500, with additional incentives available for E-cargo bikes, adaptive E-bikes, and certain eligible groups.

Johnson said a new E-bike must be purchased in-store at a participating local bike shop to qualify for a rebate.

Each bike shop taking part in the program provides an “E-bike Rebate Program Agreement Form” to the customer making the purchase..

Once approved, customers will receive a rebate check in 4-6 weeks.

“Buying from a local bike shop is a good thing for us. It also supports our local business,” said Johnson. 

The new pilot rebates would apply to Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 E-bikes only.

Class 1 are E-bikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph. Class 2 are E-bikes that also have a maximum speed of 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted while Class 3 are E-bikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph.

The rebate amount is $500 for standard rebate, which is about 25 % of the price of a regular e-bike.

Residents can get a low income bonus of $250 if they are in any PWP low income program. There is also an additional $250 incentive if they get an e-cargo bike or an adaptive e-bike. 

Scooters, mopeds, Segways and e-bike conversion kits do not qualify for rebates, according to Johnson.

Of the $50,000 funding for the Pilot E-bike Rebates, $25,000 will come from  Air Quality Management District funds while $25,000 will come from PWP Public Benefits Fund (PBC) & Low Carbon Fuel Standard funds, according to Johnson.

Johnson said the pilot rebate program will be in effect for one year. 

“We will start reviewing it nine to 10 months through the program. We are going to keep monitoring it quarterly,” said Johnson.

Johnson said starting January 1, 2024, PWP will transition to only offering rebates for the purchase of used EVs, with a limit of two EV rebates per PWP residential electric account. 

The approach of incentivizing only used EVs aligns with the direction that is currently in place among several other local utilities. 

“Thank you so much for making this initiative for local businesses. That is extremely key for me,” Councilmember Tyron Hampton said. 

Councilmember Felicia Williams thanked nonprofit Complete Streets Coalition and Day One for providing their expertise and input. 

“This is a great result of us being nimble and quick, being innovative and having a community-driven program,” Williams added. 

“Doing a press release on the program, that it would start in July, would be good,” Williams also suggested.