Electric bikes, e-scooters, and e-cargo bikes are “a genuinely sustainable, zero-emissions way to travel”, Greens MLA Jo Clay believes – and she is disappointed the ACT Government’s Sustainable Household Scheme does not cover them.

The Scheme provides zero-interest loans of $2,000 to $15,000 to buy energy-efficient products, such as rooftop solar panels, household battery storage systems, electric heating and cooling systems, hot water heat pumps, electric stove tops, and electric vehicles. But not e-bikes.

“Many Canberrans can’t use the Sustainable Household Scheme,” Ms Clay said. “Someone living in an apartment can’t install solar panels; a renter can’t modify their major appliances; and not everyone can afford an electric car, even with an interest-free loan.

“Lots of Canberrans want to do the right thing by the climate, and are struggling to meet their transport costs. An e-bike or e-cargo bike would fix these problems.

“E-bikes are a great way of replacing a car or the second family car. But to get reliable transport, you might need an e-bike with a longer-range battery, or an e-cargo bike that can carry the shopping or a couple of kids.”

In the Legislative Assembly this week, Ms Clay asked whether the government would consider dropping the minimum floor so that someone who could not afford a $1,000 or $2,000 outlay without a loan could obtain an e-bike.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr explained that the Scheme does not provide small-scale loans; it was designed for capital-intensive items with 10-year paybacks that delivered significant emission reduction and cost savings.

“Reducing the loan amount below $2,000 is not something we will consider,” he said. The minimum amount was due to administrative costs, while a credit assessment screened applicants.

Although other forms of microcredit were available, Mr Barr was concerned that people who could not raise $2,000 might find it difficult to repay a loan.

“We have to be very wary of [those] type of credit arrangements… That’s been a problem with some of the microcredit schemes in the past, and loan shark behaviour … in the private sector.”

Ms Clay, however, hopes that the Chief Minister will expand the Scheme to include e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, and other forms of electric transport. Good e-bikes cost more than the Scheme’s $2,000 limit, and so should be included in the Scheme, she argues.

“Despite what Andrew Barr believes, $2,000 is a lot of money to many Canberrans,” Ms Clay said. “If you’re a student, someone on welfare, or if you work part-time, you may not be able to afford the upfront payment of an e-bike or e-cargo bike, most of which are over $2,000.

“I’m disappointed that Andrew Barr thinks $2,000 is not a barrier. This belief is locking a lot of Canberrans out of a government scheme that would make their lives better and reduce climate emissions at the same time.

“The ACT Greens want people to be able to change their transport habits, and it’s the ACT Government’s responsibility to help them do it.”