California Could Give You Up To $2,000 for an E-Bike Again. Here’s When 2025 Applications Open

May 9 update: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) — the agency that manages the E-Bike Incentive Project — has confirmed that May 29, 2025 will be the new date to apply for the program’s second round after CARB’s website experienced technical issues on the original April 29 application date.

The multimillion-dollar state fund that offers Californians up to $2,000 each to buy a brand new electric bicycle will once again start accepting applications on April 29 at 5 p.m. PT.

This is the second round of the California E-Bike Incentive Project, which is distributing $7.5 million to help lower- and middle-income families buy an e-bike — a purchase which can help riders with faster commutes and make it easier to transport young kids or groceries.

“Having an e-bike makes longer distances much more achievable,” said Kendra Ramsey, executive director of the California Bicycle Coalition (CalBike), which helped design and promote the voucher program. But while an e-bike is cheaper than a car, she acknowledged it’s still a pricey purchase for many people — and the E-Bike Incentive Project gets bikes “in the hands of folks who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them.”

“And for every e-bike trip on the road, that is one car trip someone’s not taking,” she said, “making sure that the air we breathe in our communities is cleaner and is safer.”

The California E-Bike Incentive Project, launched by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) back in 2024, offers $1,750 in vouchers to each qualifying individual — along with an extra $250 if they meet additional income requirements. The voucher can be used at hundreds of participating e-bike retailers all over the state to cover the cost of an e-bike, with the program covering a wide range of e-bikes to match the needs of each rider.

During the program’s first round in December, state officials set aside 1,500 vouchers, or about 10% of the total money in the program. But this time, only 1,000 vouchers will be given out.

As well as a third fewer vouchers being available, the rules to apply are also slightly different this year. On April 29 — which falls on a Tuesday — applicants will have to join a “virtual waiting room” from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. PT in order to even get the chance to apply.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about applying for the second round of California’s e-bike voucher program when applications open later this month, including who qualifies for the money and what kinds of e-bikes can be purchased.

Who is eligible to apply for an e-bike voucher through the California E-Bike Incentive Project?

There are only two requirements to apply for the voucher program starting Wednesday, April. 25 at 5 p.m.:

• You must be a California resident 18 years of age or older.
• You must report a household income of 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or less.

You can provide your residency with a state ID, like a driver’s license. For the income requirement, keep in mind that the program takes into account how many people are in your household — including your spouse, kids, parents or roommates. You can check if you qualify using this chart below from CARB:

As for proving your income when completing the application, the preferred way is to upload your IRS tax transcript: A document that includes only the most essential information you’ll find on your 1040. To access your IRS tax transcript, you’ll need to make an IRS Individual Online Account at irs.gov.

You can also upload other types of documents for this requirement, including:

• Your W-2 or pay stubs for the past three months.
• A 1099 if you are self-employed.
• An award letter confirming you’re unemployed and are receiving benefits from a state or federal agency.

If you did not file taxes last year, the program provides a list of other documents you can provide to check off this requirement (PDF) — and remember, you just need to provide one of these documents.

How can I apply for the California E-Bike Incentive Project this time around?

For the second round of the program, officials are encouraging applicants to visit the E-Bike Incentive Project’s website on April 29 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. During that time, you can join the virtual waiting room by clicking the “APPLY” button at the upper right corner of the website. (This waiting room process might be familiar to you if you’ve ever purchased tickets online for a super-popular event or concert.)

When you’re admitted to the waiting room, don’t navigate away from this page — because at 6 p.m., everyone who is in the waiting room will be randomly assigned a number which will show on your screen.

If you receive a number between 1 and 1,000, you’ll then be able to move out of the waiting room and begin your application. If your number you’re given is higher than 1,000, you can stick around in the waiting room and wait to see if your number gets called later — which could happen if other people ahead of you in line drop out of the application process.

“If you’re number 50,000 in line, you … can probably just log off because there will not be a voucher for you at that time,” said Ramsey from CalBike. “But say you’re number 1,500, or number 1,900: You may want to wait for an additional hour or so and see, because not everyone who started an application last time finished.”

And while she encouraged folks to apply, Ramsey noted that “this program is not funded in a way that everyone who is eligible will get a voucher.”

Even if you are able to get a good, low number and reach the application process, she said, “it’s a little more like a lottery than a guaranteed ticket to get something.”

Because the demand for this program is so high, Ramsey recommends that applicants have all their documents ready ahead of entering the waiting room at 5 p.m. on April 29.

CalBike will also be hosting a webinar over Zoom at 12 p.m. on April 22 which will walk people through the application process. The session will be recorded and be available later that day on CalBike’s website.

If I’m able to complete an application, when can I get my e-bike?

Once CARB has your application, they’ll take several weeks to process it and let you know if you’ve been selected to receive a voucher — or if there’s anything missing from your materials. According to the agency, this process could take up to 60 days, so it’s likely that you may have to wait till summer for your new ride.

If everything looks good on your application and you’re chosen to receive a voucher, you’ll receive information through the email address you provided that explains how to make your purchase.

If I do get a California E-Bike Incentive Project voucher, can I buy an e-bike wherever I want?

Not necessarily. The program has a list of hundreds of bike shops, athletic stores and other businesses all over California that are approved retailers for the program. You can find a store that’s closest to you using this map and see what’s available, including approved home delivery, based on your zip code.

Not all bikes at an approved retailer are included in the program, either — because your voucher only covers the cost of three types of e-bikes:

• Class 1–3 e-bikes, with top speeds of 28 miles per hour.
• Cargo e-bikes.
• Adaptive e-bikes (adult electric trikes, handcycles, recumbents, wheelchair tandems).

There is also a full list of approved e-bike brands and models. But don’t worry: “You don’t have to know what bikes you’re going to purchase before you apply for the voucher,” Ramsey said. “So you do have some time.”

She recommends visiting a local bike shop — ideally one already approved by the program — and talking to staff about what type of e-bike would work best for your own needs. “Let them know what types of things you’ll be doing,” she said, adding that she uses her e-bike to pick up her child from school. “You might need cargo space if you’re taking trips to school, like I do.” Read more about which e-bikes are eligible in the program.

Something else to keep in mind: a large portion of e-bikes sold in the U.S. are either imported from China or require key parts — like batteries — manufactured in that country. The Trump administration announced on April 15 that Chinese goods coming into the U.S. will now be charged tariffs as high as 245%. Newsite Electrek reports that e-bike companies are preparing for higher costs when selling in the U.S., which could mean higher prices when looking for your e-bike.

Brad Branan, a spokesperson for CARB, told KQED that this agency is monitoring the impact of global tariffs on e-bike prices, but confirmed that the existing cash amounts provided by the voucher program remain unchanged.

I submitted an application but wasn’t awarded the voucher. What are my options?

If you weren’t chosen this time around, it’s likely you didn’t meet one of the state’s very specific income requirements for the e-bike program. But even among the folks who do qualify under those restrictions, the need for these e-bikes is “far greater” than the program can actually meet, said Ramsey.

All over California, there are still other regional programs and community groups that offer affordable alternatives to get people moving on bicycles and e-bikes.

In the Bay Area, San Francisco, San José, Oakland, Berkeley and Emeryville are part of the Bike Share for All program, which in partnership with Lyft, provides unlimited 60-minute rides in the bikes you see stationed throughout these cities. You may be eligible for this program if you qualify for CalFresh, SFMTA Lifeline Pass, or PG&E CARE. Members pay $5 for the whole first year and then $5 per month after that.

Community groups like Bike East Bay or Bicis del Pueblo in San Francisco also offer weekly bike repair workshops and opportunities for members to build their own bicycles.

This story includes reporting from KQED’s Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman.