Electric bikes (e-bikes: bicycles with an electric power assist function) are attracting attention as an easy and environmentally friendly means of transportation that can replace automobiles.
Starting June 1st, British Columbia (BC) will have a new e-bike rebate program. B.C. residents aged 19 and over can receive rebates based on their income when purchasing a licensed e-bike.
The rebate amount will be $1,400 if the income is $38,950 or less, $1,000 if the income is between $38,951 and $51,130, and $350 if the income is $51,131 or more. Under the previous system, e-bike buyers who scrapped their cars would receive a flat rebate of $750, but the new system eliminates the need to scrap cars. Rebate application and approval must be completed before purchase.
Must be new, $2,000 or more, and purchased from an approved retailer. Buyers are required to keep the purchased e-bike for two years.
Along with this, the state government has partnered with HUB Cycling to provide both online and face-to-face programs for learning basic bicycle knowledge such as hand signals. The state government is calling for attention to the date of purchase as e-bikes purchased before June 1 are not eligible.