Creative Financial Funding for E-Bikes (the official thread)

[MikeFairbanks]

I'm starting a thread today so that we can help each other find creative ways to fund our E-bikes.

For instance, are there grants available (federal, state, local, private) for building electric bicycles? It seems that (as part of the Recovery Act) that electric cars were part of the U.S. tax code, but not bikes (unless I missed something).

Also, if you guys remember, I won a grant to build an electric tricycle a little less than a year ago (Coweta/Fayette EMC---our utility company), and the project was a success. However, it was only for educational purposes (which is great), but I was wondering if it's worth our time to put our heads together in order to come up with some ideas for financing.

And I'm not just starting this thread because I personally am looking for creative financing (which I'm working on through various companies) to build a new E-bike, but the thing is: Americans aren't going to get off their butts and make a paradigm shift without a little incentive.

I'm hoping this won't turn political in anyway, or a debate, but rather a round table discussion.

Off to the races....

 

[docnjoj]

The university that I teach for is giving grants for it's employees and I applied for one to study rehab ability in E-bikes and trikes for older folks. I submitted the application in late April and they said notification in 45 days so...... I should know (or not) pretty soon. I'm not holding my breath!
otherDoc

 

[Willow]

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[docnjoj]

That looks like a great upgrade for the mobility scooter CM! The tilt would make it corner a lot safer and faster but it is still narrow enough to go up the grocery aisles. Cool design. That high vision is really helpful so others can see you too! Does it have a tilt lock out as an automatic below a certain low speed?
otherDoc

 

[number1cruncher]

Great topic!


My creative solution to funding my ebikes:

Stash $10 a week in a drawer without the wife knowing about it.
Use all the coupons possible and justify savings to wife.
Cash in my credit card cash back rewards and stash from wife.
Subsidize the monies above with general funds and pretend it was an accident.
Order extra supplies when fixing someting around the house like the HVAC. I replaced the blower capacitor recently and added a "couple" things to my Grainger bill.

Maybe if I got rid of my wife I'd have more funding? I have a problem, I know....

 

[MikeFairbanks]

Nah...problem?

You're a guy.

I teach kids, and tell them all the time, we boys never outgrow toys. They just get more expensive as we age.