E-Bike Environment and Economics Impact Assessment Calculator

E-bikes can significantly lower the number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT), reducing transportation-related emissions and their negative effects on the environment, public health, and transportation costs.

RMI’s free E-Bike Environment and Economics Impact Assessment Calculator quantifies these environmental, health, and economic benefits, giving stakeholders critical information they can use to accelerate e-bike adoption, lower overall VMT, and reduce transportation-related emissions.

Stakeholders can use the calculator to see the following:

1. The city and statewide annual impacts of replacing a percentage of short vehicle trips with e-bike trips (either over a period of 10 years or through an immediate shift).
2. The impacts of potential city or state e-bike incentive programs (using inputs such as the total budget, timeline, and the portion of incentives for income-qualified participants).
3. How increased e-bike adoption will reduce greenhouse gas emissions; air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and carbon monoxide; and vehicle miles traveled.
4. The degree to which reductions in PM2.5 might help prevent deaths and work absences due to illnesses related to PM2.5.
5. Expected electricity costs associated with e-bike charging, expected maintenance costs, and related savings.
6. Statewide projections on EV adoption across three scenarios (business as usual, mid growth, and climate aligned) and how e-bike efforts can complement electrification efforts and reduce dependency on internal combustion engine vehicles.

If you have questions or concerns about the calculator, please reach out to Bryn Grunwald.

Instructions on how to use the tool can be found in the “Introduction” tab of the calculator. You can also see a demo of the tool in the video below. 

Acknowledgments

RMI would like to thank the following individuals for reviewing the calculator and providing valuable input and feedback:

• Mike Salisbury, City of Denver
• Ashley Seaward, People for Bikes
• G. Teeter, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
• Sebastian Castellanos, World Resources Institute, New Urban Mobility Alliance