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Michigan lawmakers considering bill that could reduce the price of electric bicycles

Noa Banayan with her e-bike in the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lane.
Adam Bearne
Noa Banayan with her e-bike in the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lane.

An electric bike is a bicycle equipped with a rechargeable electric motor to make pedaling easier. The average price of an e-bike can run around two thousand dollars.

Now, a recently introduced bill could cover part of those costs by offering discount vouchers to buyers. Democrat Michigan State Representative Julie Rogers is a sponsor of the bill. She says those with greater need would receive higher discounts.

“So $500 voucher, or 90% of the retail price of a purchase of an E bike. But if you are low income and already qualify for SNAP benefits, the voucher would be a larger amount $1,250.”

The bill is now awaiting approval from the legislature’s committee on tax policy.

As WKAR's Bilingual Latinx Stories Reporter, Michelle reports in both English and Spanish on stories affecting Michigan's Latinx community. Michelle is also the voice of WKAR's weekend news programs.