Electric Bicycles - A Great Way to Get Around Vermont
Get Your Pedal Assist On!
Battery powered electric bikes (E-Bikes) and other low speed plug-in vehicles are now in Vermont - if you’re looking to drive less (or not at all) there are some great options out there. Several excellent resources are listed below to help shed light on E-Bike and other efficient transportation options. Whether you’re located near the upper valley, Montpelier, Brattleboro, Burlington or another part of the state, someone can help you consider your options for pedal assist E-Bike transportation. Resources include organizations that will work with you to design your own E-Bike solution, authorized dealers for popular E-Bike brands, and online resources to stay current on the latest E-Bike and efficient transportation news. There are many more resources available online and in local bike shops - let us know if you you’re aware of other resources we should include!
Introduction to Electric Bikes
Watch our 1 minute video for a quick introduction to E-Bikes and then dive in to the resources below for more information.
Vermont Resources
VBike
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VBike is a nonprofit organization dedicated to shifting the bike and bike culture in Vermont towards an inclusive, fun and transportation-oriented future. VBike's main focus is to promote exciting innovations and solutions, including electric-assist technology and cargo bikes, which profoundly expand the range, carrying capacity (children and cargo), hill climbing ease, comfort and the overall utility of biking. To get Vermont moving on these advances in bike transport, VBike has developed diverse fleet of electric bikes for families, commuters, seniors and others to provide hands-on experiences of these mobility solutions. The fleet, which is unique in the US, has been featured around Vermont for test rides at community events, and workshops. In 2016, VBike piloted its highly successful Take it Home program, providing Brattleboro area residents an opportunity experience their daily errands and trips by taking home one of our electric-assist fleet bikes for a up to a period of a week. The project inspired widespread adoption of e-cargo bikes and e-bikes in the area. VBike is working to expand the Take it Home program statewide in 2017. To make these options more accessible to Vermonters, VBike supported the VSECU credit union in developing Vermont's first low-interest loans for bikes. VBike also works under contract with Go Vermont to provide free bicycle consultations for Vermonters looking to purchase a cargo bike, e-assist system or anything related to bike transport. VBike also provides cost-free support and consultations to the state's bike shops. |
Local Motion
Local Motion is a Vermont statewide nonprofit advocating for walkable and bikeable communities. They have many resources on their website for cyclists, including their information on their e-bike loaner program which provides free short term loans of several different types of e-bikes.
Go Vermont
Go Vermont is a Vermont Agency of Transportation program designed to help Vermonters reduce the cost and environmental impact of driving. They offer free carpool matching and vanpool services, and statewide bus routes, as well as resources to help you make the switch to more efficient travel options at work or at home. Go Vermont information on commuting via bicycle and other helpful information on their bicycling page.
Vermont e-Bike Incentives
Burlington Electric Department
BED offers a $300 discount on an e-bike purchase for existing customers.
Green Mountain Power
GMP offers a $200 discount on an e-bike purchase for their customers.
Stowe Electric Department
Stowe offers a $150 rebate on an e-bike purchase for their customers.
Vermont Public Power Supply Authority
VPPSA offers a $100 rebate on an e-bike purchase for customers served by one of the following public power utilities: Barton Village, Village of Enosburg Falls, Hardwick Electric Department, Village of Jacksonville, Village of Johnson, Ludlow Electric Light Department, Lyndonville Electric Department, Morrisville Water and Light Department, Northfield Electric Department, Village of Orleans, and Swanton Village.
Washington Electric Coop
WEC offers a $100 discount on an e-bike purchase for their customers.
State of Vermont
The State of Vermont is offering $400 for a standard eBike or $800 for a cargo or adaptive eBike to income-eligible Vermonters. Separate from the State E-bike incentives, some Vermonters with 10+ year old vehicles may be able to scrap their car and get up to $5,000 for an E-bike and/or other clean mobility options through the Replace Your Ride program. Details on both are available at our State incentive resource.
Vermont e-Bike Shops
A growing number of local shops offer electric bikes in Vermont. The list below is a resource for e-bike shoppers, but we do not specifically endorse vendors.
| Shop | City |
| AJ's Ski & Sports | Stowe |
| Alpine Bike Works | Killington |
| Battenkill Bikes | Manchester Center |
| Betty's Bikes | Burlington |
| Bicycle Express | Waterbury |
| Bootlegger Bikes | Jeffersonville |
| Bradley's Pro Shop | Manchester Center |
| Burrows Specialized Sports | Brattleboro |
| Brattleboro Bicycle Shop | Brattleboro |
| Earl's Cyclery | South Burlington |
| Electric Transport | Bellows Falls |
| First Stop Ski Shop | Killington |
| Frog Hollow Bikes | Middlebury |
| The Gear House | Randolph |
| Green Mountain Bikes | Rochester |
| Hanover Adventure Tours | Norwich |
| Highlander Bicycle | Bennington |
| Little City Cycles | Vergennes |
| Malletts Bay Bicycle and Ski | Colchester |
| Northstar Sports | Burlington |
| Old Spokes Home | Burlington |
| Onion River Outdoors | Montpelier |
| Outdoor Gear Exchange | Burlington |
| RAD Innovations | Middlebury |
| Red Clover Bikes | Fairlee |
| Ski Rack | Burlington |
| Vermont Bicycle Shop | Barre |
| Vermont Bike & Brew | Thetford |
| Waterbury Sports | Waterbury |
| West Hill Shop | Putney |
Online Resources
Electric Bike Report
Electric Bike Report has news, guides, reviews, tips and more on all different brands of E Bikes. They also have a YouTube channel with detailed reviews of many different electric bike models.
Charged Magazine
A great resource to stay up to date on electric vehicles, Charged covers anything and everything renewable energy, battery technology, clean alternative transport systems, E bikes, EVs on the market and EVs soon to be released.
Karl Kemnitzer
Karl Kemnitzer is an e-cargo bike developer in the upper valley of Vermont. He has been doing custom builds for many years and regularly updates his blog: My Solar Electric Cargo Bike. The blog contains years of various projects working on e-cargo bikes of different designs and guides on how to become a part of the e-cargo bike world.
Other Options
Electric Motorcycles
Want something more efficient than a car, but capable of traveling on the highways for longer trips? You might consider an electric motorcycle. There are several exciting options for zero emission motorcycles, including well reviewed models from Zero which are now available at Cyclewise in New Haven, Vermont and other northeast dealerships. Harley-Davidson also has their Livewire electric motorcycle now available.
Neighborhood Electric Vehicles
Just need to get around campus or town? A neighborhood electric vehicle might fit the bill for you. Under Vermont statute, these are limited to a maximum speed of 25 mph and are street legal on roads with speed limits up to 35 mph. GEM is one of the leading manufacturers, with many different models and configurations available, including one with seating for up to 6 people!
Organic Transit
Organic Transit is a company that provides a transportation alternative to people who want to save money by not going to the gas station but also want protection from the elements. ELF is an alternative vehicle that rides with the comfort of a car, gives you the exercise that a bike would and gets the equivalent of around 1,300 miles per gallon with a solar panel to help power your electric assist.