What is an electric assisted bicycle? 

Electric assisted bicycles, or e-bikes, pedal and handle just like a regular bicycle and include similar components as a regular bicycle. With the help of an electric motor, an electric assisted bicycle provides additional power to help the rider manage things like hills or carry heavier loads and allows for traveling longer distances more easily.

Benefits of E-Bikes

• Cheaper Than A Car: No need to pay for car registration, car insurance, or gasoline. Cost of maintenance and repairs is substantially lower for an e-bike than a car.
• Low Barriers: Reduces physical exertion, making it easier to carry cargo and/or children, ride uphill, and go further faster. Being more affordable than a car means more people have access. No need to meet car insurance requirements.
• Low Emissions: E-Bikes emit approximately 96% less CO2 than gasoline-powered cars for the same distance traveled.
• Health Benefits: Riding an e-bike provides moderate exercise, which in turn improves cardiovascular and heart health, increases muscle tone and metabolism, boosts the immune system, reduces stress, and contributes to quality sleep.

Important considerations 

It can be helpful to ask yourself these questions as you look at e-bikes.

• Riding needs: Where and how far will I ride most of the time?
• Local Service: Can I get local service and maintenance? Support from a trained bike mechanic is a crucial to keeping your e-bike in top shape.
• Warranty: What is the battery and electronics warranty? A battery warranty of 2 years or more is highly recommended. The battery warranty is not the same as the warranty on the frame or parts.
• Cargo: Will I want to carry passengers, groceries, or other cargo? 

Electric Assisted Bicycle Classes

• Class 1: Provides power assistance only when the rider pedals and stops assisting when the bicycle reaches 20 mph.
• Class 2: Is equipped with a throttle that can propel the bicycle without any pedaling by the rider and stops assisting when the bicycle reaches 20 MPH.
• Class 3*: May or may not be equipped with a throttle and stops assisting when the bicycle reaches 28 MPH.

Oregon State E-Bike Laws

Per Oregon Vehicle Code ORS 801.258, an electric assisted bicycle is street legal if it is designed to travel with no more than three wheels in contact with the ground, has a power output of no more than 1,000 watts, and is incapable of propelling the vehicle at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour. *Class 3 electric assisted bicycles do not fall under these criteria.

• Speed Limit: E-bikes may not exceed 20 MPH when being powered by the electric motor. It may exceed 20 MPH when being powered by human effort.
• Minimum Age: Age minimum for e-bike riders is 16 years old.
• Helmet Requirement: Helmets not required for e-bike riders.
• License and Registration: Riding an e-bike does not require a license, insurance, or registration.
• Where Allowed: E-bikes are considered a bicycle by Oregon Vehicle Code. They are allowed on any roadway, lane, or path that bicycles are allowed on, including bike paths. E-bikes are not allowed on sidewalks.

Funding for this program is in part made possible by the Oregon Clean Fuels Program (CFP) administered by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ).

Applicant Eligibility
The applicant must meet the following criteria:

• The applicant must reside at the service address of a City of Ashland Electric Utility customer with an active account.
• Applicant must have consent to apply from primary utility customer, or an authorized individual under the account.
• The applicant must be the purchaser of the bicycle.
• Only one e-bike rebate may be issued per Ashland Electric Utility account.
• This program is available to Residential and Commercial accounts.

Rebate Amounts
The rebate amount varies depending on where it is purchased and type of e-bike. Current rebate amounts are:

• Participating Ashland bike shops  =  $300 for e-bike  or  $600 for e-cargo bike
  • See the bottom of this page for a list of participating bike shops.

Rebate Requirements

• E-bike must be purchased on or after April 15, 2022. (Locally purchased E-bikes purchased before this date may still be eligible under the previous program rules. Please email chad.woodward@ashland.or.us for assistance.)   
• Rebate may not exceed 50% of the purchase price.
  • For purchases on or after November 15, 2022 the rebate may not exceed 30% of the purchase price. 
• Rebate application must be submitted to the City of Ashland within 180 days from the purchase date.

E-bike Eligibility
The e-bike purchased must meet all of the following criteria:

• Your invoice or bill of sale must be paid-in-full and you must have possession of the bike.
• Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 rated e-bikes are eligible.
• E-bike battery must carry a minimum warranty of 1 year (be sure to ask for this information, especially if you are planning to buy a lower cost e-bike)
• Only new e-bikes are eligible. E-bikes that are used, resold, rebuilt, received from warranty insurance claims, third party-owned, or won as a prize are not eligible for rebates under this program.
• E-bike must be intended for use by utility customer household.
• Rebate recipient must be retain ownership of the e-bike for a minimum of 12 months from the date of purchase. If the bike is returned, sold, or stolen, the recipient shall contact program administrators at the email listed on this page.  
• Full-suspension mountain bikes are excluded from this program.
• E-bike conversion kits are excluded from this program.

E-Cargo Bike Eligibility
E-cargo bicycles must have an extended frame designed to carry additional people or cargo.

E-cargo bike must meet all of the following criteria:

• Designed to carry one or more passengers in addition to the rider OR designed to carry heavier or bulkier loads than a traditional bicycle can carry
• Bike has an extended frame (long tail, long john, Bakfiet or box bike)
• Bike's extended frame has a published cargo load carrying capacity of at least 100 lbs.

Documentation Required with Application
Specific e-bike documentation requirements include, at minimum:

• Applicant name and contact information
• Primary Ashland Electric Utility customer information (name, account number, service address, and contact information)
• Fully-paid invoice or bill of sale
  • Invoice must be complete and legible 
  • Invoice must show applicant’s first and last name (should match your utility bill)
  • Invoice must show bicycle make and model, purchase price, date of purchase, bike shop or vendor contact information.

Participating Ashland Bike Shops

• Ashland Cycle Sport
• Ashland Electric Bicycles
• Piccadilly Cycles
• Siskiyou Cyclery 

If you operate an Ashland bike shop and would like to participate, please contact chad.woodward@ashland.or.us. 

Additional Information

• Please allow 6-12 weeks to process your application.
• Submissions that do not meet the program eligibility criteria will not be considered.
• Incomplete documentation may result in incentive ineligibility.
• The City is not responsible for documents lost or destroyed in transit or misdirected applications. Please do not submit paper applications. 
• Submitted program application and accompanying documents becomes the property of the City.
• The City reserves the right to request additional information or documentation to process an application.
• Terms, conditions, and availability of this program may change at any time.
• Incentives are issued on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.
• Check will be issued to the applicant that purchased the bike.
• If you require a assistance with the application, please contact climate@ashland.or.us. 

1. Ensure that you have read all program details and understand all program eligibility requirements. (Please contact staff early in the process if you have questions.)
2. Purchase an eligible e-bike at a participating Ashland retail bike shop. 
3. Click here to fill out an online application.