The map shows cities offering up to $1,300 in discounts

Some U.S. cities have implemented discounts on e-bikes in hopes of boosting sustainability in their communities and encouraging the use of cleaner energy.

Residents of Salt Lake City, Utah, Portland, Oregon, and St. Louis Park, Minnesota, all receive rebates throughout the year, and the direct payments are worth up to $1,300 depending on your location and the e-bike you purchase.

“Cities are trying to find ways to reduce congestion and pollution in their cities, and by providing a different mode of transportation, reducing carbon emissions from just a few thousand vehicles could have a significant impact,” said Kevin Thompson, financial expert and founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group. News week. “Also, by reducing congestion and traffic, it helps reduce the number of accidents and possibly lower insurance costs.”

In Minnesota, residents saw the rebate app go live on July 2.

While there are some eligibility requirements, the city and state are looking to make it more affordable for most residents to switch to e-bikes instead of cars and other modes of transportation.

“This provides an affordable transportation option for those living in the city centre. Those who cannot afford a car and opt for public transport can now have an alternative solution to occasionally use e-bikes,” Thompson added.

In Portland, Oregon, another e-bike rebate is available, and residents can expect it to launch next summer.

The money is available to low- and middle-income residents who purchase an e-bike, with about 6,000 payments available over the next five years.

To get a rebate, you’ll receive a voucher online and can then use it at any authorized bike shop. While the exact amount available to Portlanders may vary, there is an additional $200 payment for safety supplies that can cover things like helmets and lights for your bike.

The typical electric bike costs a few thousand dollars, but some models cost as much as $5,000.

Salt Lake City also launched an e-bike rebate program after Mayor Erin Mendenhall suggested the idea in her 2024 budget proposal.

Residents can earn up to $1,300 toward the purchase of their e-bike, thanks to five e-bike shops in the city that accept the voucher at the point of sale. These include Bingham Cyclery, Contender, Magnum, Rad Power Bikes and Trek.

To get the money, you’ll need to be a resident and apply through the city’s lottery-based application system. Time is running out in Salt Lake City, though, as the application period closes tomorrow, July 16, and rebate recipients will find out by July 31.

Alex Beene, a professor of financial education at the University of Tennessee at Martin, cautioned residents of these cities against buying an e-bike just because the money is free.

“While incentives certainly make purchasing a vehicle more attractive, you’re still only obligated to make the purchase if you were already thinking about it,” he said. Newsweek“While e-bikes meet the needs of some residents, for others, the distance to work and other amenities makes owning an e-bike more of a frivolity than a necessity.”

Beene added: “It’s a good deal if you can use it. Just make sure you don’t buy one and see it sitting in your garage months later, gathering dust.”