Vernon based manufacturer Electric Fat Bike Company 750W 19 " High Bar Frame / Facebook Image
Program swamped with requests

E-bike rebate energizing bike businesses

Jun 6, 2023 | 12:24 PM

The provinces new E-bike rebate which launched on Friday has created a frenzy among would be bike buyers.

According to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure the program received over 12,000 applications in the first 24 hours of the June 1 st launch date.

Just 4,000 received approval within 8 hours with the remaining 8,000 placed on a waiting list, while their applications are reviewed.

“I definitely noticed an immediate spike and it was easy to track as people were asking about the rebate, I think it drove a lot more local business than online bike sales,” Vernon Electric Fat Bike founder Kalyn Webster told Vernon Matters.

Rebates on the purchase of an approved e-bike were made available to B.C. residents older than 19 and based on a person’s income. Rebates range from $350 to a maximum of $1,400. Unlike previous programs, there is no need to scrap a car to access the rebate. The Province is investing more than $6 million in rebates, which will allow as many as 9,000 people to lower the cost of their e-bike purchase.

Olympia Cycle and Ski owner Brett Milner / Vernon Matters Photo

“We had a lot of interest before June 1 st, and that was clearly driven by the rebate, we are just a small shop so extrapolate that across the province and you can imagine the demand,” Olympia Cycle and Sky Owner Brett Milner said. “We have been encouraging interested people to get on the waitlist to show the government how much demand there is and maybe more funds will be put toward it.”

To determine how much of a rebate you would receive and to join the waitlist click here.

Businesses can continue to access the e-cargo bike rebate through the Specialty Use Vehicle Incentive.

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