House Representatives Panetta & Blumenauer introduce "e-bike Act" federal tax credit

[Asher]

It's an open question if Biden would even sign the bill if it came to him (and reaching Biden's desk itself is a tall order). Biden has been very explicit about being 'Buy American'. Biden has chosen not to cancel the tarriffs, and now you want him to let the government itself buy foreign e-bikes? Good luck.

The government buying US assembled battery packs made to a common open standard is a lot more in line with Biden's policy. Reuters recently claimed his administration is pushing domestic battery manufacturing.

 

[tomjasz]

It's an open question if Biden would even sign the bill if it came to him (and reaching Biden's desk itself is a tall order). Biden has been very explicit about being 'Buy American'. Biden has chosen not to cancel the tarriffs, and now you want him to let the government itself buy foreign e-bikes? Good luck.

The government buying US assembled battery packs made to a common open standard is a lot more in line with Biden's policy. Reuters recently claimed his administration is pushing domestic battery manufacturing.

FWIW we’re being tagged by China with a 25% duty.

 

[Dewey]

People for Bikes report the ebike act now has been introduced in the Senate as S.2420 sponsored by senators Schwartz & Markey

 

[Asher]

FWIW we’re being tagged by China with a 25% duty.

Huh? China isn't imposing the tarriffs. The US is.

 

[john peck]

Huh? China isn't imposing the tarriffs. The US is.

but we´re paying them.

 

[tomjasz]

Huh? China isn't imposing the tarriffs. The US is.

Sorry, an unfortunate turn of phrase. But obvious for most, without correction.

 

[john peck]

It's an open question if Biden would even sign the bill if it came to him (and reaching Biden's desk itself is a tall order). Biden has been very explicit about being 'Buy American'. Biden has chosen not to cancel the tarriffs, and now you want him to let the government itself buy foreign e-bikes? Good luck.

The government buying US assembled battery packs made to a common open standard is a lot more in line with Biden's policy. Reuters recently claimed his administration is pushing domestic battery manufacturing.

It is possible in the near future for batteries to become much cheaper. Sodium batteries have been
evolving, & other batt. tech as well. Rare earth batteries will be obsolete. I think he hasn´t lifted tariffs
cuz the goop in senate won´t go for it. That 2/3s B.S. again. He seems kinda wimpy when it comes
to working with the goop. Someone always gets shafted by ´compromise´.

 

[Asher]

I think he hasn´t lifted tariffs
cuz the goop in senate won´t go for it. That 2/3s B.S. again. He seems kinda wimpy when it comes
to working with the goop. Someone always gets shafted by ´compromise´.

He hasn't lifted tariffs because his practical policy toward China doesn't differ much from Trump's. The Biden administration has been tough on China much like Trump's has. The most noticeable difference is simply Biden's administration trying to avoid demonizing the people of China by extension.

China isn't a simple R vs D issue where Ds are the opposite of Rs.

One of many articles saying as much

Biden’s China Policy Is Emerging—and It Looks a Lot Like Trump’s

The president’s initiatives suggest he plans to retain his predecessor’s tough stance toward Beijing, though by different means.

www.wsj.com

As for battery innovations, most are fantasies that never escape the lab, and those that do take many years to bring to production and they don't emerge out of left field.

 

[john peck]

I like the notion of democracy. but, from a completely non-partisan point of view.(if there is such a thing).
our convoluted system of government in no way remotely resembles one. It seems geared to be a
self-defeating, ineffectual morass designed to accomplish as little as possible at the greatest possible
expense.

 

[Sparky731]

Yes, the US Govt is a constitutional federal republic as per our elected representatives. A bit different from a democracy, but who needs to get picky? Thank you again, Uncle Joe, for the Biden dollars (AKA a tax rebate) that I used to buy my new bike! Let’s keep this economy going!

 

[Angela M.]

We are unable to merge threads so here is another thread on the topic: https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/e-bike-act-what-do-people-think.44300/

 

[Art Deco]

I like the notion of democracy. but, from a completely non-partisan point of view.(if there is such a thing).
our convoluted system of government in no way remotely resembles one. It seems geared to be a
self-defeating, ineffectual morass designed to accomplish as little as possible at the greatest possible
expense.

Consider who profits from increasing that disfunction. Consider how many people draw government salaries, and how many of them stand to lose those salaries if the "problems" they are working on were solved. Begin with just Washington DC jobs ...

 

[Dewey]

The North American Electric Bike Association has a legislative action alert to encourage the public to write your congressmen to include ebikes as eligible for a 15% tax rebate. Here is the wording

Source:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1436709886499328000

And here is what I wrote my congressmen

Sec. 136407 of the Build Back Better Act includes a tax credit for ebikes. Please amend the wording to permit the credit to apply to DIY ebike kits, they are an essential part of delivering equity because they are less expensive and permit people to convert a pedal bicycle they already own. Please support a tax credit for ebikes, they make more sense than a tax credit for electric cars, but can complement them, they will help more Americans get to work, take their kids to school, grocery shopping, and all the shorter travel errands we currently drive a car everywhere to perform.

 

[Art Deco]

The North American Electric Bike Association has a legislative action alert to encourage the public to write your congressmen to include ebikes as eligible for a 15% tax rebate. Here is the wording

Source:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1436709886499328000

And here is what I wrote my congressmen

Sec. 136407 of the Build Back Better Act includes a tax credit for ebikes. Please amend the wording to permit the credit to apply to DIY ebike kits, they are an essential part of delivering equity because they are less expensive and permit people to convert a pedal bicycle they already own. Please support a tax credit for ebikes, they make more sense than a tax credit for electric cars, but can complement them, they will help more Americans get to work, take their kids to school, grocery shopping, and all the shorter travel errands we currently drive a car everywhere to perform.

Good move. Especially cargo bikes fitted for specific industries that Trek, Giant, and Specialized won't touch are really going to be necessary.

 

[Dewey]

Good move. Especially cargo bikes fitted for specific industries that Trek, Giant, and Specialized won't touch are really going to be necessary.

I agree I was looking at the Amazon vans coming up and down our street yesterday afternoon and thinking there has to be a better way

 

[Art Deco]

I agree I was looking at the Amazon vans coming up and down our street yesterday afternoon and thinking there has to be a better way

@J.R. just started a thread on police and first responders, @PedalUma has mentioned sandwich, souvenir, and coffee vendors, add the pizza and take out food delivery that are already common. How about bug exterminators, sign painters, and grocery deliveries? It's a big market...and every one needs a slightly different bike ...

 

[Dewey]

They’re going to need to up the maximum price though, above $8,000 msrp and the credit ends, a RadBurro with a cargo box is $7,000. The cap doesn’t leave much room for higher priced commercial cargo ebikes Like an Urban Arrow Tender with a cargo box that have been trialed here but cost around $9500 eg https://www.sarisinfrastructure.com/post/blog-public-sector-ecargo-bike-partnership

 

[Art Deco]

Sure. That's what the congress critters are for ... special cases and exceptions. New member @street peddler wants a gourmet coffee and tea service on a bike. That sounds like a great part time business for a retiree to me. Maybe a franchise ? Going to need a special bike ...

 

[Tom@WashDC]

This seems like bad policy. The majority of E-Bike purchasers are 60 and older. Most of them have plenty of money/assets, and don't commute to work. The bikes are being used mostly for leisure activity so they will actually consume more energy rather than "save energy". Most importantly this "tax credit" is actually a tax on all citizens, that will go straight into Chinese manufacturing pockets and increase the indebtedness of U.S. taxpayers.

 

[Dewey]

This seems like bad policy. The majority of E-Bike purchasers are 60 and older. Most of them have plenty of money/assets, and don't commute to work. The bikes are being used mostly for leisure activity so they will actually consume more energy rather than "save energy". Most importantly this "tax credit" is actually a tax on all citizens, that will go straight into Chinese manufacturing pockets and increase the indebtedness of U.S. taxpayers.

If it works as intended hopefully the average age of ebike owners will fall as more people consider getting one instead of or to complement buying a car. It’s difficult given the global supply chain of bicycle parts how a universal tax credit would work that excluded parts from China, and given they’re only talking a 15% credit it’s hard to see how copying rule of origin regs under the USMCA/NAFTA to mandate a percentage of parts be made in the US would offset the general price increase of domestic bicycle production, maybe if they worded it to include our neighbors Mexico & Canada, there’s a massive new bicycle factory in Mexico that could supply frames, if we invest in domestic battery production that would help.