E-bikes create opportunities
MassCEC / Clean Transportation / E-Bikes
In 2022, MassCEC began funding e-bike pilot projects. The success of those projects informed the rollout of a Statewide E-Bike Voucher Program in Summer 2025. We're sharing what we learned and how residents benefitted from having access to e-bikes.
Statewide E-Bike Voucher Program
The Statewide E-Bike Voucher Program enabled over 3,000 low- and moderate-income MA residents to purchase e-bikes at a discount.
This helps residents get to school, work, or anywhere else they need to go. The program has also held 18 group ride and education events. The 2025 Statewide E-Bike Voucher Program is now closed and not expected to re-open in 2026.
Bike shops were valued partners in the Statewide E-Bike Voucher Program
Over 70 e-bike retailers participated in the program to serve their local communities and help program participants select the right e-bike for their needs. Many participating retailers have reported increased sales and new staff training opportunities as a result of e-bikes.
Takeaways from the 2025 Statewide E-Bike Voucher Program
MassCEC's Previous Community-Focused E-Bike Funding Enabled The Statewide Voucher Program
Beginning in 2022, MassCEC launched the ACT4All and ACT4ALL 2 programs to increase access to electrified transportation and decrease transportation pollution for priority populations. Each project from those programs is providing a report of their accomplishments and learnings. Reports about ACT4ALL 2 projects will be available in 2027.
ACT4All E-Bike Project Reports
in the Spring of 2022 under the ACT4All program, MassCEC awarded $5 million for 10 projects that funded e-bike incentives, EV consumer education, ride-for-hire electrification and incentives, and e-cargo bike delivery.
City of Boston Final Report: E-Cargo Bike Program in Boston
The City of Boston, through their “Boston Delivers” program, made over 18,000 local deliveries by e-cargo bike to promote sustainable methods of making neighborhood deliveries for local businesses. Traveling over 5,800 miles by e-cargo bike, the program avoided an estimated 3 metric tons of CO2 emissions while also working with local businesses to deliver food and groceries to residents in Allston, Brighton, and the surrounding area.
Read the "Boston Delivers" Cargo Bike Pilot Evaluation Report
MassBike Final Report: E-Bike Vouchers and Education in Worcester
The Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) distributed 205 e-bikes at low or no cost to income-eligible participants in Worcester and neighboring communities between April 2022 and May 2025. In addition to distributing e-bikes, the program also focused on participant education and engagement, hosting over 60 events during the program period. Program participants reported 20,546 e-bike trips totaling 92,353 miles ridden, resulting in an estimate 22 metric tons of avoided CO2, equivalent to the use of 2,545 gallons of gasoline.
PVPC Final Report: E-Bikes for Environmental Justice in Western Massachusetts
The Pioneer Valley Planning Commissions (PVPC) leveraged strong partnerships with local community-based organizations to distribute 134 e-bikes to structurally disadvantaged people in the Amherst, Chicopee, Easthampton, Holyoke, Northampton, South Hadley, Springfield and West Springfield communities. This resulted in an estimated 23,905 miles ridden by e-bike recipients from June 2023 to June 2025 and estimated 21 metric tons of CO2 emissions reductions.
Read the Pioneer Valley E-Bikes for Environmental Justice Final Report
Cape Light Compact Final Report: Income-Eligible E-Bike Incentives in Cape Cod
Cape Light Compact (CLC) oversaw the redemption of 446 e-bikes vouchers from income-eligible year-round residents of Cape Cod at eight participating bike shops through a point-of-sale e-bike incentive program. This resulted in over 290,000 miles ridden by e-bike recipients from May 2022 to January 2025 and estimated 79 metric tons of CO2 emissions reductions.
Read the Cape Light Compact Income-Eligible E-Bike Incentive Program Final Report
Metro Mobility Final Report: Individual and Shared E-Bike Program in the Boston Area
Metro Mobility distributed e-bikes through three different deployment models: individual e-bike ownership with discount vouchers, individual ownership with charging station access, and low-cost shared e-bike stations. 125 individuals received personal e-bikes and 18 shared e-bike stations were installed – including a first-of-its-kind solar-powered e-bike station. Across the program, e-bike program participants rode over 77,000 miles between June 2022 and November 2025, resulting in an estimated 18 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions avoided.
E-Bikes Improve Residents' Quality Of Life
"Having an e-bike allows me to be self sufficient and helps the environment because I don't have to use a car or bus to get around.”
“I love the rail trail bike paths and hope to see them expanded. It is a safe and fun way to exercise and get around without needing to use my car to run an errand or visit a friend. Faster and more range than I can walk!”
"I am able to do groceries more often to get fresher vegetables and fruits, attend more local meetup groups for my hobby (boardgames and pickleball) and join more community activities.”
“Everything feels so accessible now! I don't have a driver's license so getting bike train/bus used up a lot of time. And commuting by Uber is so expensive."
“I have a heart condition but owning an e-bike allows me to get some exercise and allows easier access to my job and school which are all within just a few miles of my home.”
Learn About E-Bikes
Guidebook For New E-Bike Owners
If you're a new e-bike owner, congratulations! Download our E-Bike 101 Guidebook to get tips from seasoned experts on how to get the most from your new mode of transportation.
Articles
- 'We do think it will sell out': Mass. launches e-bike incentive program (Boston Globe)
- What to know about new statewide incentive program. Plus, how Mass. residents can apply. (Boston Globe)
- Massachusetts begins accepting applications for E-Bike Voucher Program (CBS News)
- Massachusetts Launches Long-Awaited E-Bike Rebate Program (Streetsblog Mass)
- MA offering vouchers to help buy e-bikes. Here's what to know, and who qualifies (Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
- Massachusetts begins process to offer rebates for e-bike purchases this year (WWLP.com)
- Boston to launch e-cargo bike pilot aimed at small business deliveries (Smart Cities Dive)
- Mass. Clean Energy Center Awards $3 Million to New E-Bike Subsidy Programs (Streetsblog Mass)
- How Massachusetts is getting electric vehicles, e-bikes to low-income populations (Wicked Local.com)
- Massachusetts' first solar-powered e-bike charging station opens (NBCBoston.com)