The e-bike rebate program will re-open next week

Weeks after the failed launch of its e-bike rebate program, the Minnesota Department of Revenue has announced that it will again open applications on July 2.

The new program, which offers up to a $1,500 rebate for the purchase of a new e-bike, attempted to take applications in early June, but a deluge of interest crashed the state's website. The program remained on hold for weeks as the state and its vendors attempted to reconfigure the portal to handle the amount of traffic the application process drew.

On June 25, the state announced it will re-open applications on July 2 at 11 a.m. However, the process will look a little different this time.

"Due to popularity and high demand for the rebates," the Department of Revenue announcement says, "applicants may need to wait in a virtual waiting room before accessing the application. This will allow the system to control the surge of users when the application opens at 11 a.m. This is a similar process to what major sports teams use when selling a limited number of tickets for their playoff games."

Once applicants pass through the waiting room, they'll have 15 minutes to submit. The state still plans to accept only 10,000 submissions before it closes the portal.

Applicants will be notified of their status by July 9, with the few who manage to get a rebate receiving their certificate on July 10.

About 1,300 rebates will be given. However, approximately 80 have already been distributed to people who managed to get an application through the portal during the initial launch of the program before the site crashed.

The program will run again in 2025.