A renewable energy agency in Oakland is offering a new perk to wean people off cars: rebates for electric bikes.
Starting Tuesday, Ava Community Energy will offer $10 million to defray the cost of e-bikes at more than 20 shops in the East Bay. Representatives of Ava say this program is among the nation’s largest. It follows on the heels of a similar project by the California Air Resources Board, which distributes vouchers of up to $2,000 for eligible residents to purchase an e-bike.
Anyone seeking to participate in Ava’s program must either live in Alameda County or be a customer of Ava — the agency supplies power to 16 Northern California cities. Every month Ava will award 600 rebates, worth $400 to $1,500, through a random selection drawing. Ultimately, the agency aims to hand out between 8,200 and 9,200 rebates from Tuesday morning until September 2026…