Ebike vouchers scrapped early

Friday, 28 June 2024 06:44

Jersey's government has scrapped the last tranche of e-bike vouchers due to low uptake.

Applications were due to open on 8 July for the final set of subsidies, worth up to £600 each.

The Environment Minister has chosen to close the scheme immediately, saying only 31% of the vouchers issued in March have been used.

A total of 1,800 vouchers have been given out since the incentive began in January 2023. They offered £300 off the cost of an e-bike or £600 towards a cargo or adapted e-bike.

34% of all the vouchers issued were redeemed. That equates to around 600 islanders who were helped to make a purchase as part of the government's efforts to promote active travel and cut carbon emissions.

The remaining funding of around £100,000 will instead be used to support local businesses switch to electric vans.

More details will be released soon.

Deputy Steve Luce said:

"With only a minority of issued e-bike vouchers actually being redeemed by those who got them, I have decided to divert the funding to other aspects of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap."

The Carbon Neutral Roadmap, agreed by the island's parliament in April 2022, sets out how Jersey will meet its long-term target of reaching net zero by 2050.

£300,000 from the Climate Emergency Fund was set aside for e-bike grants, of which just over £200,000 has been spent.

All unused e-bike vouchers have now expired.