How to get a free $2,000 from California to buy an e-bike, starting tomorrow
Last week, we shared the news of California’s long-awaited electric bicycle rebate program finally preparing to kick off in the Golden State. The rebate program opens to the public tomorrow, and here’s how you can try and snag up to $2,000 to buy your own e-bike.
The program took a circuitous path to implementation, overcoming serious mismanagement issues along the way.
But now it is finally here, helping Californians afford an electric bike that could serve as a key form of alternative transportation or as an investment in improving health and fitness. More e-bikes replacing cars on the roads also helps contribute to lighter traffic, reduced air pollution, and improved road safety – especially for cyclists and pedestrians.
The incentive is surely to be popular, as evidenced by similar programs in other states. So if you’re a California resident and been hoping to score one of only a few thousand coveted rebates to make an electric bike more affordable for you, make sure you’re prepared and know the requirements.
To qualify, Californians will need to first check if they’re in the eligible income bracket.
The cutoff is 300% of the Federal Poverty Line, which varies depending on the number of members in a household according to the chart below. Applicants who make less than 225% of the FPL are able to receive the full rebate amount of US $2,000, while applicants making between 225-300% of the FPL are eligible to receive the base incentive of US $1,750.
Both are enough to fully cover a number of highly capable electric bikes, or a significant portion of most e-bikes on the market.
Next, applicants will have to complete the online application form. There are several steps in the application, and they can only be completed once the application window opens on December 18 at 6PM PST.
First, create login credentials, followed by entering the basic contact details.
Next, complete the California residency verification and age verification step by uploading a picture of a valid driver’s license or state identification card.
The next step is verifying income eligibility by uploading your most recent federal tax return transcript. For those who many not have filed taxes, it is also possible to upload different income verification documents. There’s a list of acceptable documents that can be used to complete this step.
Lastly, applicants will need to watch a series of e-bike safety and climate impact training videos before being able to submit the application.
According to the program’s website, “Applicants whose applications are deemed ineligible will receive an email detailing this information and instructions on how to either resubmit required information or a notification that the information provided is not eligible under the program requirements.”
Those fortunate enough to be approved for an e-bike voucher (which can take up to 60 days to select and notify) will then have 45 days to use the voucher to purchase an eligible e-bike.
An extension of 45 days can be received if the desired e-bike is not currently in stock.
Eligible e-bikes must be new, conform to the 3-class system used by California, have an integrated front light as well as some type of rear light, come with at least a 1-year warranty, and be fully-assembled. The incentive also covers certain biking accessories such as safety gear, locks, etc.
A list of eligible electric bicycles is provided by the program officials here, though it hasn’t been updated in a month and is likely to change as additional qualified e-bikes are added.
While the California program isn’t the same as Denver’s, that successful program has proven to exhaust its new supply of vouchers in mere minutes each time a new round is opened.
This is only the first of several expected rounds of vouchers to be dismeninated through the California program, so if you aren’t lucky enough in the first round, there’s still likely going to be more chances next time.
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Danish renewables developer European Energy (EE) has completed the sale of its largest solar farm in the US to date.
Copenhagen-based European Energy said it sold the solar farm to an undisclosed buyer so that it can develop, deliver, and recycle capital into new US renewable energy projects. EE develops solar, onshore and offshore wind, power-to-X, and battery storage projects. It arrived in the US in 2021 and has an office in Austin.
Lorena Ciciriello, chief executive of EE North America, said, “Our goal in the US is to create a broad portfolio of renewable energy solutions, and this sale is an important step in realizing our strategy.”
It’s the Danish developer’s “second major divestment” in the US since European Energy entered the solar market in 2021, bringing the total capacity divested to 800 MW. The company sold its first US solar farm, Yellow Viking in Texas, in 2023.
When fully operational, the still unnamed solar farm – EE doesn’t say where in the US it’s located, either – is expected to produce around 1,389 GWh of electricity annually, equivalent to the annual consumption of 128,000 US households.
“We remain committed to developing renewable energy projects in the USA that drive local growth and create jobs,” said Thorvald Spanggaard, EVP and head of project development at European Energy.
Electrek’s Take
This announcement, which is light on details, piqued my interest. It’s a large solar farm sold by a large European-HQ’ed global company that says it’s committed to developing more renewables in the US, which is currently being run by a government that doesn’t consider solar or wind to be defined as energy. What’s the incentive for EE to do that? It sure isn’t federal tax incentives.
What’s coming down the pipeline for renewable projects in the US? Everyone is speculating, but no one knows – not even Republicans, despite the risks of renewable project collapses being highest in their own states. I will make an educated guess and say that EE will sit on its sale proceeds and wait for clarity, which they may never get. That’s because the Trump administration memos and executive orders are deliberately designed to be vague. Chaos is a form of control.
Read more: Republican districts lose billions as clean energy cancellations surge
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Rivian’s (RIVN) $6.6 billion federal loan to build its new EV manufacturing plant in Georgia faces uncertainty after President Trump froze federal loans. Georgia Gov Brian Kemp said he’s “not sure” about where the funds stand.
Rivian’s loan for its new EV plant faces uncertainty
After Rivian closed its loan agreement with the US Department of Energy to finance its new facility last month, just before Trump took office, the funding is already in jeopardy.
“They secured that loan at the tail end of the Biden administration and, you know, I think there’s no secret that the Trump administration is taking a look at all those things,” Kemp told Richard Elliot from Channel 2 news this week. He added, “So I don’t really know where that stands right now.”
The comments come after the Trump administration’s abrupt order to pause federal funding in January. Although the order was rescinded less than two days later, it’s already wreaking havoc.
Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff commented on the situation, saying, “The president’s suspension of federal grants for Georgia threatens chaos.”
Although Kemp said he remains committed to helping Rivian, he will also protect taxpayers. “We got parameters in, and whether it’s the incentives, the side itself to protect taxpayers regardless of what happens with that side,” he explained.
Still plowing ahead
Despite the uncertainty, Rivian is confident the funds will still be available next year when it draws from the loan. A Rivian spokesperson said, “We’re working hard to onshore US manufacturing, providing thousands of American jobs here in Georgia.”
Rivian has already begun hiring for construction and management. Last month, the EV maker said recruitment was “expected to ramp quickly” as it prepared to restart construction on the facility.
As of now, the loan will be split into two phases. The first phase consists of a loan of up to $3.4 billion, with the remaining $2.6 billion in the second phase.
Rivian’s CEO RJ Scaringe said the loan would “help us accelerate the launch of our Georgia plant for R2 and R3, providing thousands of jobs in the state.”
The EV maker is still plowing ahead with plans to restart construction next year. By the end of 2028, Rivian expects to begin producing customer vehicles.
The 1,744-acre site is 40 miles east of Atlanta. It’s expected to create about 7,500 jobs and another 2,000 construction positions in the area.
Rivian will produce its smaller, more affordable R2 and R3 electric vehicles at the facility. The midsize R2 SUV will start at around $45,000, or about half the cost of Rivian’s current R1S and R1T.
Once up and running, Rivian’s new plant in Georgia is expected to be able to produce up to 400,000 EVs annually. The new R2 is expected to attract a new base of buyers to the brand at a lower price point. Check back soon for more info on the situation. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
Source: WSBTV
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Environment
Kia’s first electric van, the PV5, spotted in the US for the first time: Here’s what we know
After teasing the PV5 last week, Kia’s electric van was just spotted in the US for the first time. The PV5 is Kia’s first dedicated electric van, and it already looks ready to challenge Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz. Here’s what we know about it so far.
Kia PV5 caught testing in the US for the first time
The PV5 is the first from Kia’s new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) electric van lineup. It was showcased at CES alongside the smaller PV1 and larger PV9 models last January. In September, Kia held its European debut at IAA Transportation.
Kia claims its “game-changing” PBV platform goes “way beyond the traditional concept of a vehicle.” It’s a total mobility solution that can be modified for a number of uses.
The mid-size PV5 is not only an electric people mover. It’s also a workshop on wheels. Kia will offer several different configurations, including basic for passengers and van for delivery. It will also be available with a Chassis Cab option, like a pickup truck bed.
Although the PV5 was caught in public a few times last year while testing in South Korea, this is the first time Kia’s electric van has been spotted in the US.
The photo, courtesy of KindelAuto, shows a covered PV5 at a charging station in Indiana. Despite the camouflage, you can see Kia’s electric van appears to be slightly bigger than the Volkswagen ID.Buzz. It could be closer to the size of Ford’s E-Transit.
Kia previewed the PV5 last week with several teaser images ahead of its official global debut on February 27. The EV5 will be showcased alongside the EV4 (which we finally got a glimpse of) and EV2 during its second EV Day next week.
We will also learn more about Kia’s PBV strategy. The company will reveal full details, including the lineup and PV5 launch date. Check back soon for more.
Source: KindelAuto
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