Latest news with #MassCEC
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Government officials announce 'transformative' $1,200 incentive for residents to buy e-bikes: 'We do think it will sell out'
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Eligible Massachusetts residents can now claim up to $1,200 in rebates on new e-bike purchases — a fresh reason to ride into a cleaner, more affordable future. The Boston Globe shared the news right after the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center officially launched the program. To ease access to e-bikes for low and moderate-income residents, MassCEC introduced the Massachusetts Statewide Electric Bike Incentive Program. In a press release, MassCEC stated that the program will award 500 vouchers per month over a six-month period until the total allocation of 3,000 vouchers is distributed. Qualified residents can get rebates amounting to between $800 and $1,200 depending on their income or needs. On top of that, all selected participants will receive a voucher of up to $150 for safety gear and a bike pump. Applications for the e-bike vouchers opened on April 14. Having seen a ton of demand before the launch, MassCEC program manager Elijah Sinclair said via the Globe, "We do think it will sell out." Initiatives like this encourage more people to embrace eco-friendly transport options. Along with such government programs, many brands are also doing their part. Upway, for instance, helps by offering e-bikes at up to 60% off retail prices. Its wide selection of affordable e-bikes makes it easy for people to find one that fits their budget. But the perks of e-bike commuting go far beyond affordability. Compared with cars, e-bikes save on gas, maintenance, parking, and insurance expenses, all of which can amount to thousands of dollars a year. When used for daily commutes, e-bikes don't just save you money upfront; they also cut down on transportation costs over the long term. More than the financial benefits, e-bike commuting also has health benefits. It allows people to build consistent exercise habits right into their daily routine, especially for those whose schedules leave no time for workouts. Also, if more people switch from gas guzzlers to electric alternatives, cities would enjoy cleaner air. That's a win for riders, neighborhoods, and the planet. Although this program is a big step toward expanding climate-friendly transit options, there's still more to be done. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. As one Reddit user said: "As someone who just bought an e-bike, this is great news! My e-bike has greatly expanded my range and made it much easier to live without a car. If more people purchase e-bikes, I expect to see more paths and improved facilities for cyclists. Boston and the surrounding areas are beautiful places to visit on two wheels." Indeed, affordability is just one gear in the shift to eco-friendly transportation. Building truly sustainable cities also requires infrastructure that supports and protects all riders. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Boston Globe
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Boston Globe
What to know about new statewide e-bike incentive program. Plus, how Mass. residents can apply.
Following several local pilot initiatives, MassCEC (the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center), a quasi-public agency focused on economic development, is rolling out the new statewide program. When can residents start applying? What do applicants need? Advertisement After the two-week open registration period, selected applicants will be chosen via an automated random selection process. MassCEC will notify those selected, who will then have a week to complete their application and provide proof of residency and their income or participation in an eligible income-certified program. Awarded individuals will receive a code that they can use at a participating retailer, both for an e-bike and equipment. They will have 60 days to redeem their voucher. Over the course of six months, the agency will be staggering the rollout of 3,000 vouchers, with about 500 awarded each month. Who qualifies for the vouchers, and what are the rebates offered? What e-bikes are eligible? Residents can use the voucher on both e-cargo bikes, used for carrying large loads or children, as well as adaptive e-bikes, which are designed for people with mobility challenges. Advertisement The e-bike must be Class 1: An electric bicycle or tricycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance at 20 miles per hour. Class 2: An electric bicycle or tricycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, but tops out at 20 miles per hour. The e-bike must have two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, and an electric motor that is 750 watts or less. It cannot be gasoline powered. Plus, it must meet UL 2849 and or EN 15194 certifications. There is a maximum purchase price of $5,000 for a standard e-bike and $8,500 for an adaptive e-bike. The voucher can only be used in-person at participating bike stores in Massachusetts. Shannon Larson can be reached at
Boston Globe
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Boston Globe
Massachusetts launches statewide e-bike incentive program
'We want this to be the decision maker and truly enable access to a transportation option that would not otherwise be available,' said Rachel Ackerman, senior program director at MassCEC. As e-bikes, which average $2,000 to purchase, have soared in popularity, discounts as a strategy to cut back on road congestion and climate-warming emissions from cars. Advertisement Massachusetts is staggering its rollout of 3,000 vouchers over a six-month period. Two tiers of rebates are determined by income, and can reach up to $1,200 in discounts at participating brick-and-mortar retailers. 'We do think it will sell out,' said Elijah Sinclair, program manager at MassCEC. 'We already are seeing a ton of demand.' Initially, about 500 vouchers will be equally distributed Advertisement 'E-bikes are magic carpets. These things flatten hills. They shorten distances. They allow you to arrive at your destination without big exertion,' making them a functional choice for performing errands or traveling to work, said Scott Mullen, transportation demand management director at the Boston-based nonprofit A Better City. 'They help people make connections where transit is lacking.' State lawmakers first Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts, Most trips that people take in the state, take up far less of the road with no tailpipe emissions. 'The gridlock isn't working,' Mullen said. 'There's tremendous value there because, as we know, we're On a smaller scale, e-bike pilot programs have already proven successful in the state. In the spring of 2022, Advertisement Around 1,000 e-bikes have been deployed, and participants have logged over 300,000 miles, which were tracked on individual bikes with monitors and reported weekly. Early findings from the Greater Boston program show about In Worcester, the e-bike pilot was led by MassBike, which did outreach to marginalized populations, including immigrants, people with disabilities, and seniors on fixed income, said Galen Mook, the group's executive director. In the first phase alone, more than 1,200 people applied. There were only 100 e-bikes to give out. Two-year-old Levi was parked beside a row of e-bikes checking them out outside of Radical Adventures. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff 'So I am super excited that the state is going to scale this up ... rural, suburban, ex-urban, really, there's the opportunity for e-bikes to fit into all sorts of lifestyles,' Mook said, adding that the program should yield quick results. 'It's going to be a lot harder to retrofit all of our aging housing, but it's going to be an almost instantaneous return if we get people to think about biking instead of driving.' Emily Galante, an elementary school teacher in Worcester, received her e-bike for free in exchange for participating in the program. Having it has been 'absolutely transformative,' she said. These days, Galante, 39, regularly cycles through the hilly city to work — a 15 or so minute commute by car that now takes her maybe five minutes longer. 'I love showing up and the kids asking me about it,' she said. Advertisement In Boston, the city has been running its 'We really see distribution across all of the neighborhoods,' said Kim Foltz, program manager of Boston Bikes, noting that 510 people redeemed their vouchers during the first cycle. Bike stores that took part in Boston's program also reported an increase in sales. As of January, nearly $785,000 in e-bikes and equipment had been sold to voucher holders, according to the city. The same rang true for the state's pilot initiatives. 'All these sales were sales that they otherwise would not have made ... truly this is an additional stream of income,' Ackerman said. For the new statewide program, the agency has reached out to over 150 retailers, and many have already signed up to accept the vouchers, said Sinclair. That includes Faneuil Hall. A flier posted on the entrance advertises its participation in the city's incentive program. Inside the shop, both floors are lined with shiny, high tech-looking e-bikes. Radical Adventures co-owner Charlie Stark posed for a portrait inside the e-bike store he owns with his father. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Steve Stark, 59, who runs the business with his son, Charlie Stark, 21, said they have been able to serve a new demographic of customers — no longer just the older crowd and typical 'weekend warrior' — and are excited about expanding that reach to residents across Massachusetts. Advertisement 'We think it's fantastic,' he said. 'It gets people outside and moving. It's a great transportation alternative.' In Colorado, the early leader on e-bike rebates, the state has committed to a long-term, 'For a relatively modest expenditure of funds ... we're really able to give people new choices about how they get around,' said Will Toor, executive director of the Colorado Energy Office, who encouraged similar models. But that's far away from becoming reality in Massachusetts. At least for now. Before that next step, Ackerman said they need more data — and more money. 'We want to make sure that every voucher ... truly is making a difference in somebody's life,' she said. Shannon Larson can be reached at
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Resource Innovations and The Mobility House Tapped to Lead Massachusetts Statewide Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Demonstration Program
BOSTON, February 24, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Resource Innovations (RI), a leading provider of clean energy solutions, and The Mobility House (TMH), a global leader in vehicle-grid integration (VGI) technology, have been selected by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to spearhead a first-of-its-kind statewide vehicle-to-everything (V2X) demonstration program. This two-year initiative will deploy bidirectional charging infrastructure to enhance grid resilience, reduce energy costs, and increase renewable energy integration across Massachusetts. The program, which represents one of the largest state-led V2X initiatives in the U.S., will deploy 100 bidirectional chargers to residential, school bus, municipal, and commercial fleet participants. The bidirectional chargers will activate participants' electric vehicles (EVs) as mobile energy storage assets, collectively totaling an estimated 1.5 MW of new storage capacity across Massachusetts. The program prioritizes low-income and disadvantaged communities, ensuring equitable access to cutting-edge clean energy solutions. "Vehicle-to-everything technology is key to leveraging electric vehicles as assets to the grid, both as a financial resource and improving reliability," said Rachel Ackerman, Senior Director of Clean Transportation at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. "Through a targeted deployment of bidirectional chargers across a variety of sectors, barriers can be quickly identified and resolved, demonstrating a clear pathway for an accelerated application of V2X technology. MassCEC's V2X program is a crucial step in Massachusetts's efforts to enable wide-scale adoption of electric vehicles." Massachusetts EV owners and fleet operators enrolled in the program will benefit from the deployment of bidirectional chargers capable of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and backup power operations. Key program benefits: Charging infrastructure: Program participants will receive bidirectional charging stations and installation at no cost to the participant. Grid resilience: Energy infrastructure in Massachusetts will be strengthened with an estimated 1.5 MW of new flexible and distributed storage assets. Clean energy: V2G technology supports the transition to renewable energy by charging EVs when renewables are available and discharging from the EV batteries when they are not. Backup power: Program participants will have the capability to use their vehicle batteries as mobile energy storage, providing backup power during outages. Revenue opportunities: The bidirectional charging systems will allow some participants to be compensated for sending stored energy to the grid. "With the charging infrastructure provided through this program, we're eliminating financial barriers and enabling school districts, homeowners, and fleets to access reliable backup power," said Kelly Helfrich, Vice President, Transportation Electrification Practice, Resource Innovations. "By documenting our processes, we aim to create a scalable blueprint for V2X programs nationwide." "This program activates the potential of EVs as energy storage assets," said Russell Vare, Vice President, Vehicle Grid Integration, The Mobility House North America. "Bidirectional charging benefits vehicle owners by providing backup power and revenue opportunities while strengthening the grid for the entire community." This program addresses a critical gap in the adoption of V2X technology by providing and installing the innovative infrastructure at no cost to participants across socioeconomic levels. By leveraging renewable energy and reducing strain on the grid, this program positions Massachusetts as a national leader in clean energy innovation. This initiative brings together a coalition of energy leaders: Resource Innovations provides program management and implementation, reporting, and energy program design expertise. The Mobility House contributes advanced vehicle-grid-integration (VGI) software and global experience in V2G deployment. Voltrek and B2Q offer local engineering, site design, and construction expertise for residential, fleet, and school charger installations. Converge Strategies and Vehicle-Grid Integration Council lead stakeholder engagement and coordination with utilities, local governments, community members, charging vendors, and automakers to develop a Massachusetts V2X Guidebook aimed at scaling and enhancing energy resilience. EV owners can apply for the program now through June 2025. For more information about the program and participation, visit the MassCEC V2X Program webpage. About Resource Innovations Resource Innovations is accelerating the transition to clean energy, serving as a trusted partner to utilities and governments in energy efficiency and decarbonization planning. Since its inception in 2016, Resource Innovations has worked under a bold vision to address climate change and energy equity. The company has been recognized three times in the Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest Growing Companies. Visit to learn more about how we are accelerating the clean energy transition and leading the charge to power change. About The Mobility House North America The Mobility House is shaping the zero emissions future of energy and mobility. Our resilient charging technology makes EV charging reliable and flexible, and provides drivers the freedom of zero emissions, zero cost charging. We integrate flexible charging with energy systems to stabilize the electrical grid and free it from fossil fuels. Across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America, The Mobility House currently manages more than 2,000 EV fleet charging facilities, charges hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles, and trades power from more than 100 MWh of energy storage. View source version on Contacts Dylan 650-629-4262 Sign in to access your portfolio
