Hawaii rolls out rebate program for e-bikes, electric mopeds

The state immediately begins
an electrical bike and electrical moped rebate program, roughly seven months after a invoice proposing it was signed into regulation.

Rebates of as much as $500 or 20% of the retail value — whichever is much less – at the moment are obtainable for eligible purchases because of Act 306, which was signed into regulation final summer time to assist cut back the price of transportation.

“This program will allow households to scale back their value of transportation, and profit those that need assistance probably the most,” mentioned state Sen. Chris Lee, chairman of the Transportation Committee, in a information launch. “If you take a look at those that qualify for the rebates, they’re already receiving monetary help, school college students,
or individuals who don’t personal
autos.”

The rebates are legitimate just for purchases of recent e-bikes able to speeds of not more than 28 mph and for electrical mopeds at a retail retailer after July 1, 2022.

To be eligible, candidates should be at the least 18 years outdated and show one among three standards: participation in a low-
revenue help program such because the Supplemental Vitamin Help Program or Part 8; that they don’t personal a motorcar with 4 or extra wheels; present enrollment at school, group school or college.

Moreover, no individual is to obtain greater than $500 in complete rebates per fiscal yr.

On Oahu, e-bikes seem to have grown in recognition over the previous few years,
in line with the Honolulu Division of Buyer Companies, which started
monitoring registrations in fiscal yr 2021.

In 2021 there have been roughly 1,400 e-bike registrations, which greater than tripled to about 4,900 in 2022 and is at about 5,300 to date this yr.

“Extensive adoption of electrical autos, together with bicycles and mopeds, will assist transfer us towards our clear vitality targets whereas filling a key hole in mobility for a lot of in our state,” mentioned Transportation Director Ed Sniffen in a launch. The state Transpor­tation Division “will proceed to assist applications that encourage
Hawaii residents to make use of autos with decrease emissions that improve their transportation alternate options.”

With wider adoption anticipated, nevertheless, officers are reminding individuals to watch out driving e-bikes and electrical mopeds on Hawaii roads. Since 2021, Sniffen mentioned, there have been 4 electrical bike or moped riders killed on Hawaii roads, and 894 main crashes.

Officers remind e-bike and electrical moped riders that they need to put on a correctly fitted and fixed helmet for security, and beneath state legal guidelines aren’t allowed on any sidewalks and are to not “pack” or carry
passengers.

In Hawaii one should be at the least 15 years outdated to function a moped or an e-bike registered to an grownup family member. Helmets are required by regulation for anybody beneath the age of 16 driving a bicycle, and for anybody beneath the age of 18 working a moped.

The rebates can be found by way of a web based utility at arcg.is/1rvTTX2 or by calling 808-831-7931 to request a paper one. Questions could be despatched to DOT.ebike.rebate@hawaii.gov.