Los Angeles, CA - March 10:Electric bicycles for sale at Go Green Bicycles in Burbank, CA, Thursday, March 10, 2022. The shop expects to see more sales of e-bikes as the price of gas continues to raise.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Within an hour after launching a new statewide e-bike incentive program, offering up to $2,000 toward a new electric bicycle, the vouchers ran out, and the applications were filled.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) officially launched the program on Wednesday night, with the application portal scheduled to open at 6 p.m.
By Thursday morning, the program announced that no more vouchers were available, and all the funding had been spoken for. Officials had notified the public that applications would be processed in the order they were received until vouchers were exhausted.
On social media, some hopeful applicants complained that the portal had actually opened earlier than advertised and that the program launch did not offer equal access to everyone.
In a statement to KTVU, a CARB spokesperson said, "We have received feedback on the website and process and our team was monitoring the launch the entire time. There were no technical issues with the website and any inability to get through was a result of the demand."
Officials also said the program had 1,500 e-bike vouchers for the first round, and they were anticipating that the demand would be significant.
"At one point our queue got to 100,000 and once the 1,500 were reserved we closed the application portal shortly after 6:45 p.m.," officials said.
Those who missed out, will get another chance to try and take advantage of the incentive program. A second application window will open early next year, according to the California E-Bike Incentive Project.
Under the program, incentive recipients must be at least 18 years old and meet the income requirement-- having an annual household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
Once approved, eligible recipients will receive a voucher of up to $2,000. The vouchers can then be used at participating retailers.
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The program seeks to allow greater access to zero-emissions transportation options, especially for low-income residents.
"Prioritizing equity and access is key as we work to achieve our zero-emissions goals, and this incentive program will support those efforts by helping e-bikes be part of the solution," said CARB Executive Officer Steven Cliff in a press release.
Sustainable transportation experts say electric bikes are a greener alternative to cars, and for commuters, they promote exercise and allow for traveling longer distances than traditional bicycles.
The project is part of a partnership involving more than 20 community-based organizations, CARB said.
Officials said the overwhelming response to this first roll-out of the program speaks volumes.
"The first round of the launch points to an incredible demand for alternative forms of transportation and a willingness to use cleaner mobility options," CARB said, adding, "We are using the lessons learned from the soft launch and this first round of vouchers for next steps."
If you missed the first application window, income-eligible residents still interested in receiving a voucher are encouraged to visit the California E-Bike Incentive Project's website here and subscribe to the program's email list to receive updates including details on the next application window.
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