We offer tax credits for electric cars — but ebikes are arguably even more transformative

  • I’d say offer it to the lower end, particularly ebikes that are near/cheaper than $1K but offer more value than is typical (for instance, I bought one that has gears+is only 45 pounds+has a decent range on sale for $720, though it is only 250w). And don’t lock it behind tax. Hopefully that’d allow more people to afford an ebike while avoiding raised prices or race-to-the-bottom

    Either that, or take the opposite approach: free bike parts/upgrades. There are lots of nice-to-haves missing from my ebike (even from spare parts and self-install at least for basic stuff) that I either don’t feel like paying extra for or the hassle outweighs the need.

    Such as:

    • a mirror
    • rear rack
    • integrated rear light
    • whatever would increase battery meter accuracy (display? controller? or added watt meter)
    • ignition
    • lock

    The electrical ones would require service though (aside from maybe rear light if it could just plug in). Also I’d say a bell, but I did buy one at the local bike shop (though that was 11 miles of riding to get there).

    Maybe something like tune-up vouchers or something, but I know with the rising popularity of ebikes shops are probably already swamped as-is.