More people on bikes is good for many reasons. Among them are less cars on the roads thereby reducing emissions and providing opportunities for Charlottesville residents to commute to school and work in a way that’s not only fun but increases mobility and time spent outdoors in our beautiful city. And quite simply, we love bikes and think e-bikes are a great way to get around this not-so-flat area of Virginia with ease and efficiency.
In 2025, The City of Charlottesville launched a pilot "E-Bike Grant Program" to support and encourage the use of electric-assisted bicycles instead of motor vehicles. For 2026, the program has been modified to serve a broader number of community members. Going forward, the City will issue grant vouchers valued between $500 and $1,500 each, to be applied toward the purchase of an e-bike or e-cargo bike, and certain related accessories, through an authorized retail store. The grant vouchers will be issued to City residents through a lottery-type system, with voucher amount dependent on income level and/or participation in government assistance programs.
We will accept entries online for the first month of each quarter and the drawing will take place the first Wednesday of the second month. Winners will have 90 days from the date of the drawing to redeem their voucher. You must be a resident of the City of Charlottesville and be 18 years of age or older at the time of the drawing.
All residents of the City of Charlottesville who are 18 years of age or older at the time of the drawing may enter. You must be able to prove your eligibility when you pick up your voucher. Some City employees and their families are not eligible – see FAQ for details.
Entries will be accepted online until the last day of the first month of each quarter. If we are not currently accepting entries, you can sign up for our email list to be notified when registrations open the next quarter.
Winners will be notified on the first Wednesday of the second month of the quarter (within one week of closing entries). A general email will be sent to everyone who did not win. Non-winners are eligible to enter again!
Enter by 5:00 EST January 31, 2026
We’ve partnered with several reputable local bike shops in the Charlottesville area to provide an ample selection of reliable e-bikes. We realize that e-bikes are expensive — you also get what you pay for and we want to make sure your bike is dependable, safe, easy to maintain, and has a warranty you can rely upon for the life cycle of your bike.
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:
| connect@charlottesville.gov | |
| Website | www.charlottesville.gov |
