Important Notice
This is an independent educational resource published by RideTHISbike. It is not the City application portal, and RideTHISbike does not decide who receives a rebate.
Official City and program-administrator rules control. Dates, required documents, retailer participation, eligible products, prices, and inventory may change.
First Application Window: CLOSED
The City opened registration September 28 at 9:00 a.m. The first application window closed October 9, 2026. The City has notified the first 100 selected applicants. Selected applicants must complete eligibility verification and required in-person safety training before receiving a voucher. Round two is expected in Spring 2027.
Do Not Choose Your E-Bike From a List Alone
Specifications and online research can help create a shortlist, but fit, balance, riding position and power delivery can feel very different in person. Our New Orleans showroom normally has 35+ new e-bikes available to see and compare in one place.
Ride several before you decide which eligible bike is right for you.
October 16, 2026 Update
- The first application window closed October 9, 2026. The City has notified the first 100 selected applicants. Selected applicants must complete eligibility verification and required in-person safety training before receiving a voucher. Round two is expected in Spring 2027. Check the official City program page for selection updates and future application rounds.
- Applicants must complete the City-linked Smart E-Bike Course before applying and save the completion certificate for upload.
- The first group of 100 applicants has been selected; selection does not mean a voucher has been issued.
- The general voucher is $600 and the income-qualified voucher is $1,200.
- Program updates and any future application link are on the official City program page.
- Issued vouchers are valid for 60 days.
Current Program Status
| First application period | September 28 through October 9, 2026 (closed). |
|---|---|
| Required before applying | Complete the free Smart E-Bike Course linked from the official City rebate page and save the completion certificate. |
| Official updates | Selection news and future application information are on the official City program page. Do not submit sensitive information through an unofficial form. |
| First pilot round | The first 100 selected applicants have been notified. Verification and required in-person safety training must be completed before voucher issuance. |
| Voucher amounts | $600 general voucher and $1,200 income-qualified voucher. |
| Voucher validity | 60 days after issuance. |
| Basic applicant eligibility | New Orleans resident, age 18 or older, one voucher per eligible resident, with proof of residency required. |
| Purchase timing | Do not buy for the program before receiving an official voucher. Prior purchases are not eligible. |
Financing Your Remaining E-Bike Purchase Balance
Many qualifying e-bikes cost more than the value of the voucher. In addition, sales tax and accessories you may want which are not covered by the program mean that there will be out-of-pocket costs which must be paid before riding your new e-bike home.
To help make these expenses more manageable, we have partnered with UNO Federal Credit Union to provide eligible applicants with access to financing options that allow repayment through affordable monthly payments. Both income-qualified and other eligible participants may apply.
For information regarding membership eligibility, loan terms, and credit approval requirements, please contact UNO Federal Credit Union directly.
UNO Federal Credit Union
Email: unofcu@unofcu.org
Telephone: 504-280-6496
Website: www.unofcu.org
After the First Application Window
- Complete the free Smart E-Bike Course linked from the official City rebate page.
- Download or save the completion certificate for the application.
- Gather proof of age and New Orleans residency.
- If seeking the income-qualified voucher, gather the documentation requested by the official application.
- Check the official City program page for selection updates and future application windows.
Why Newer Information Refers to Three Years
The federal grant originally allowed five years for the City to distribute the program funds. Approximately two years of that grant period have already passed while the program was being developed, leaving roughly three years for the remaining distributions.
The City program page currently says funding is budgeted for at least 2,500 rebates, including 1,500 reserved for income-qualified residents.
The first 100 selected applicants have been notified. They must complete verification and required in-person safety training before receiving vouchers. The City expects another round in spring 2027. Because most program funding remains to be distributed during the remaining grant period, future rounds are expected to be substantially larger, although their dates and voucher quantities have not been finalized.
Basic E-Bike Requirements
A potential qualifying e-bike must have functional pedals, a motor no larger than 750 watts, and certification to UL 2271 or UL 2849. It must be supplied in an eligible Class 1 or Class 2 configuration with assistance limited to 20 mph. A bike may be Class 3 capable, but it must be supplied in the Class 2 configuration.
Potential Qualifying E-Bikes
The central shopping guide compares current choices supported by the supplied product information. These are potential qualifying choices, not claims of individual official approval.
Compare Potential Qualifying E-Bikes
Shopping for dependable transportation on a budget? See eBike NOLA Value Packages, available to shoppers with or without a voucher. These upcoming packages combine reasonably priced bikes with local sales and service.
What Consumers Should Do Now
- Complete the required Smart E-Bike Course and save the certificate.
- Check the official City program page for selection news and future application windows.
- Do not purchase a bike in expectation of a retroactive voucher.
- Shortlist more than one model because prices and inventory may change.
- If selected, confirm the exact bike and redemption requirements within the 60-day voucher period.
- Budget for applicable sales tax, which the voucher does not cover.
Sources and Further Reading
- City of New Orleans Health Department for current department information.
- Official City E-Bike Rebate Program for current application and eligibility information.
- Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1 for the state electric-assisted bicycle definition.
- New Orleans City Council meeting records for agendas, presentations, and video.
- Bike Smarts: Buying a Safe E-Bike, UL Certification, Accountability and Support for a practical explanation of UL 2271 and UL 2849.
Accuracy Commitment
RideTHISbike will update this page weekly, and more often when important official information is released. If anything here conflicts with the City or APTIM, the official guidance controls.