State officials are taking steps to correct errors in the previously troubled implementation of the California Electric Bike Incentive Project, a long-awaited initiative aimed at promoting clean-energy transportation.
The California Air Resources Board recently announced the introduction of new vendors to manage the next enrollment period, as well as plans to replace the San Diego nonprofit currently overseeing the program.
With $31 million allocated for the project, the air board revealed that upcoming online enrollments scheduled for May 29 will be handled by Akamai Technologies and Queue-it.
These firms are recognized as leaders in their respective fields, specializing in securely managing large traffic volumes and data.
The air board assures that they will provide a safe and reliable experience for applicants, especially given the challenges faced during previous application attempts.
The announcement comes on the heels of two disappointing voucher rollout attempts, each characterized by significant technological difficulties and numerous complaints from potential applicants.
In December, the California E-Bike Incentive Project website blocked thousands of individuals trying to secure grants.
The situation worsened during the April application period, when the site shut down entirely due to what officials later described as a security threat.
The Air Resources Board has publicly acknowledged its shortcomings and expressed a commitment to improve future iterations of the program.
“We had over 150,000 people trying to get into the program, and we only have 1,000 vouchers,” said spokesperson Lisa Macumber at a press briefing last week, empathizing with frustrated would-be applicants.
“It’s challenging,” she stated, comparing the situation to the high demand for tickets to a Taylor Swift concert.
The E-Bike Incentive Project aims to incentivize the purchase of electric bicycles by offering subsidies of up to $2,000 to income-eligible residents, promoting eco-friendly alternatives to traditional vehicle use.
The Air Resources Board initially chose Pedal Ahead, a San Diego nonprofit, to manage the project due to its experience in overseeing a similar e-bike program for the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).
However, Pedal Ahead faced allegations of falsifying records and mishandling documentation, leading SANDAG to revoke control of the project before the nonprofit was selected to manage the state initiative.
Edward Clancy, the founder of Pedal Ahead, has had a controversial past, having served as a political consultant and an FBI informant over a decade ago.
He was ultimately removed from the nonprofit after reports from The San Diego Union-Tribune surfaced about ongoing investigations into the organization.
The Air Resources Board has refrained from commenting on the current regulatory investigation, with the state Department of Justice also withholding remarks on its criminal review of the case.
Clancy and Pedal Ahead, which received over $2 million in state funding, have not responded to inquiries from the Union-Tribune since last year.
Moving forward, Macumber stated that the Air Resources Board plans to re-bid the contract managing the e-bike program this summer, aligning with a routine practice of periodically inviting new bids for program management.
“As part of our normal process, we typically run new third-party administrators every three years or so,” she explained.
For the upcoming enrollment on Thursday, California anticipates awarding another set of up to 1,000 vouchers.
Additionally, the Air Resources Board plans to conduct a final round of subsidies next year, which will feature a large single online giveaway of approximately 9,000 vouchers.
image source from：https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/05/23/like-getting-tickets-to-a-taylor-swift-concert-state-officials-pledge-improvements-to-botched-e-bike-signups/
