MINNEAPOLIS— Minnesota’s inauspicious launch for applications for its e-bike rebate program remains on hold Thursday after technical issues forced officials take the entire system offline earlier this week.
Those who tried to apply for the rebate Wednesday morning found the application, which is managed by Minnesota IT Services and hosted by the Minnesota Department of Revenue, completely inaccessible.
“Despite expected high demand, our third-party suppliers were unable to support the capacity needed to launch the e-bike rebate program,” officials said Thursday afternoon.
The application’s developer, Turnberry Solutions, is working with the host’s service provider to resolve the issues that led to Wednesday’s closure.
According to the state revenue department, fewer than 80 applications went through successfully during the original launch. The department said these applications will be honored, but as of Thursday afternoon there is no timeline for reopening the application process for new users. Officials expect to send another update on their progress early next week and apologized to applicants for any inconvenience.
Some stakeholders noted the positive side of the site crashing.
“Even with more than a year to prepare, we crashed a government website. And a small point of pride: policymakers, think about what’s happening here. That’s how incredibly popular this program is,” said Michael Wojcik, executive director of Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota , a nonprofit that helped get the rebate legislation passed last year.
How much is the e-bike discount worth?
The discount is 50-75% of the cost of an e-bike and eligible accessories, up to a maximum of $1,500. Discounts are granted on a first come, first served basis. The state says total rebates will be capped at $2 million per year in 2024 and 2025.
The discount is determined based on the applicant’s income for 2023.
Click here to estimate your discount based on your income.
Who is eligible for the e-bike discount?
To qualify for the discount, a person must be at least 15 years old. They must have lived in Minnesota for the current year and the previous year and must not have been reported as a dependent in 2023.
For more information, including a list of approved retailers, click here.
