2023: The Year of the e-Bike

As we enter a new year, climate change remains a pressing global concern. Global temperatures are increasing, ice sheets are shrinking, sea levels are rising, plant and animal extinctions are accelerating, and extreme weather events are threatening communities at rates higher than ever before. While the suggestion has been around for decades, this year more than any other demands us to reduce carbon emissions.

With the overwhelming amount of news coverage on global warming and greenhouse gases, it can seem impossible to identify first steps in on our collective journey to net zero. As a company of technical subject matter experts, we look to science for guidance along our path. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, transportation represents the single largest share of carbon emissions nationally. By rapidly shifting toward alternative methods of mobility—such as electric vehicles, micromobile solutions, and public transportation—we can dramatically slow and perhaps even reverse current climate trends.

State of e-Mobility

Given the large amount of funding opportunities, governmental support, and technical knowledge, electrification is a most promising solution. It is not, however, a perfect one. Electricity generation closely follows transportation as the second leading source of carbon emissions due to our heavy reliance on fossil fuels. By simply switching from gas to electric, the offloaded impact would not be eliminated but rather transferred. In that case, we must make transportation both cleaner and more efficient.

Electric cars are not the only, nor the most popular, electric and efficient vehicle alternative. Minimobiles, three-to-four-wheel electric vehicles carrying one to two passengers, are turning heads this year. At APTIM, we believe that electric bicycles, or e-bikes, are the key to reducing the total amount of electricity needed for transportation. E-bikes cannot entirely replace the need for cars, so other modes of mobility certainly serve a meaningful role—to which we refer APTIM’s experienced team of EV Charging Infrastructure professionals. At the same time, we believe every car ride that can be replaced by an e-bike ought to be, especially since 52 percent of all trips in the U.S. cover a distance of three miles or less.

Shifting Gears Toward e-Bike Adoption

Leaders in many cities and states are beginning to recognize that e-bikes are among the most efficient forms of transportation available, with additional benefits in community health and planning, commuting time, and street safety. Traditionally underserved and under-resourced citizens unable to afford the high price of new, or even used, cars and their other associated costs are especially benefitted.

As of yet, e-bike adoption in the U.S. remains limited due in part to their high up-front cost. Many states and cities are looking to incentive programs as a tool to help reduce the barrier to entry to owning an e-bike. The most popular type of program demonstrated is a purchase subsidy, where citizens apply to receive a voucher that immediately lowers the up-front cost of certain types of e-bikes at point-of-sale. Cities from Paris, France, to Austin, Texas, have seen high levels of participation and broad popularity of their programs.

The Future of E-bike Programs

APTIM expects at least 10 other cities and states to initiate similar e-bike purchase subsidy programs in 2023 as their value for environmental engagement is recognized by officials. Our experts stand ready to assist with every stage of program development and implementation. From identifying program goals and target populations to defining internal and external processes to evaluating the performance of the program.

For more information on e-bike rebates or how APTIM can help you develop and implement a program, reach out to the APTIM team today.

Tim Olson
Senior Environmental & Sustainability Regulatory Advisor
Tim.Olson@APTIM.com

Contacts:

Brian Bilbo
Business Development Director, CleanTech, APTIM
Email: brian.bilbo@APTIM.com

Joel Freehling
National Director, CleanTech, APTIM
Email: joel.freehling@APTIM.com