Distribution of the E-Bike Rebate and data collection for the analysis of travel behavior impact

Project Summary

The 2023 Minnesota State Legislature established a two-year electric-assisted bicycle (e-bike) rebate program to make e-bikes more affordable for Minnesota residents by offering up to $1,500 per recipient based on income. This research examines the demographic information collected during the rebate application process to understand who did and did not receive a rebate in the 2024 program year. In collaboration with the Departments of Revenue and Transportation, researchers analyzed application data and surveyed people on the rebate email list to complement information collected through the rebate application to investigate the use of the purchased e-bike. The research suggests widespread rebate interest in Minnesota, especially in the Twin Cities metro region and Rochester. Rebate applicants and users whose tax status was married, filing jointly, were generally older and had higher incomes than those who filed through other statuses. Survey respondents were generally from two-vehicle or two-person households and identified as white and not Hispanic or Latino. While many survey respondents were frustrated with the program's rollout, they generally held positive opinions of the process to claim the rebate. Survey participants who used their rebates in Phase 1 used their e-bikes more than those identified as Phase 2 recipients, consistent with the seasonal weather conditions in Minnesota, and used their e-bikes for exercise and recreation. Those who did not receive a rebate indicated continual interest in both the rebate program and e-bikes generally.