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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6485
AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONNECTICUT HYDROGEN AND
ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILE PURCHASE REBATE.
SUMMARY
This bill adds electric bicycles (e-bikes) to the list of vehicles eligible
for rebates under the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile
Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) program (see BACKGROUND) ,
specifically e-bikes purchased as new or used or leased as new. Under
current law, from January 1, 2020, until December 31, 2025, the
CHEAPR program must provide rebates of at least $3 million annually
to residents who (1) purchase or lease a battery, plug-in hybrid, or fuel
cell electric vehicle or (2) purchase a used hydrogen or electric vehicle.
By law and under the bill, rebate levels and income eligibility for
rebates for those used vehicles are established and revised by the
CHEAPR board, which is responsible for administering the program
and evaluating it annually. Under the bill, the CHEAPR board must
also conduct a study on ways to ensure the equitable distribution of
rebates under the program. The study must consider how other states
administering similar programs distribute rebates equitably and target
areas most impacted by vehicle pollution. The board must report the
study’s result to the Transportation Committee by February 1, 2022.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
BACKGROUND
E-Bikes
Existing law defines three types of e-bikes, all of which must have
operable foot pedals and a motor of, at most, 749 watts:
1. A Class 1 e-bike’s motor must operate only when the rider is
peddling. The motor must disengage when the e-bike reaches 20 2021HB-06485-R000124-BA.DOCX
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mph.
2. A Class 2 e-bike’s motor may be used exclusively to propel the
e-bike (i.e., without peddling). The motor must disengage when
the e-bike rider applies the brakes or reaches 20 mph.
3. A Class 3 e-bike’s motor must operate only when rider is
peddling. The motor must disengage when the e-bike rider
stops peddling or reaches 28 mph.
State law’s definition of e-bike specifically excludes dirt bikes and
all-terrain vehicles (CGS § 14-1).
CHEAPR Program
CHEAPR was created administratively in 2015 as a pilot program. It
was developed by the Department of Energy and Environmental
Protection in partnership with Eversource Energy, Avangrid (i.e., the
United Illuminating Company), and the Connecticut Automotive
Retailers Association. The 2019 state budget (PA 19-117) formally
established the program and an administrative board to oversee it as
well as create a General Fund account with a revenue stream
generated by the greenhouse gas reduction fee to fund it (CGS §§ 22a-
202 and -201c).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Transportation Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 35 Nay 0 (03/10/2021)