Minnesota Rep. Frank Hornstein Launches Popular E-Bike Program After Attending NCEL Forum

Overview

After learning about e-bike rebates at an NCEL Forum session focused on sustainable transportation, Minnesota State Representative Frank Hornstein passed a very popular e-bike rebate program in the state’s 2023 Omnibus Transportation Policy and Finance bill.

• By the Numbers: Minnesota’s rebate covers 50-75% of the cost of an e-bike up to a maximum of $1,500. The bill allocates $2 million for 2024 and 2025, supporting purchases of over 1,000 new e-bikes.

• In Rep. Hornstein’s Words: “There was a workshop on sustainable transportation and a legislator from Colorado talked about e-bike rebates. I thought that was a fantastic idea. So in our 2023 big transportation bill that was passed, we included e-bike rebates…It was so popular when the vouchers were offered on the internet, the computer system crashed and there was a little bit of a delay because so many people wanted to get these rebates. This is just one small example of what happens at these [NCEL] Forums and how we can all make a difference by attending these events.”

NCEL’s Impact: Events and Collaboration on Sustainable Transportation

NCEL introduced the topic of state incentives for e-bike adoption in 2022 at the National Forum and again in October 2022 during the New England Climate Convening. Legislators were excited about the idea which prompted resource creation and follow-up, as well as the distribution of example policy options.

At the 2023 National Forum, NCEL again discussed looking at options beyond single-occupancy vehicles by sharing new data on the efficacy of e-bike adoption and emissions reduction. Legislators also had the chance to test-drive e-bikes at the Forum thanks to a partnership with REI. 

Following the Forum, Rep. Hornstein reached out to NCEL staff for more information. NCEL staff provided additional resources and policy options leading to the introduction of the rebate in Minnesota’s budget.

More About E-Bikes and Active Transportation

Electric vehicle legislation is critical but often takes up most of the space in the transportation conversation. To reduce total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in a given state, advancing other transportation modes is imperative. 

• Why Active Transportation: Increasing access and prioritizing the development of active transportation like walking and cycling reduces a household’s reliance on single-occupancy vehicles and fossil-fuel-dependent vehicles. Choosing a bike over a car just once a day reduces an average individual’s carbon emissions from transport by 67%. 

E-bikes are a great way to get more people out of cars and onto bikes by being quicker and less physically demanding than traditional bikes. States throughout the country have considered e-bike grants or rebate programs to help make the mode affordable for consumers. Many e-bike incentive programs have also prioritized low-income community members, who are less likely to own a car.