The California Hybrid Voucher Incentive Program (HVIP), is offering $20 million in vouchers for fleets. As of Feb. 12, approximately $11 million remains. All fleets with trucks operating in California are eligible for up to 100 vouchers each, on a first-come, first-served basis. Launched last week by the California Air Resources Board and administered by CALSTART, the program was designed to provide $20 million in funding assistance for fleets to replace old diesel trucks with newer, cleaner hybrid trucks. Depending on the vehicle weight and model, the voucher amounts range from $10,000 to $45,000, including a $5,000 bonus for each participating fleet's first purchase. Details about participating in the program, approved dealers and eligible vehicles are available on the program Web site at www.californiahvip.org.
ABOUT THE HYBRID TRUCK & BUS VOUCHER INCENTIVE PROJECT (HVIP)
California Hybrid Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) is a unique and streamlined program to help speed the early market introduction of clean, low-carbon hybrid trucks. HVIP accomplishes this by addressing the biggest barrier for fleet purchase of medium- and heavy-duty hybrids: the high incremental cost of these vehicles in the early market years when production volumes are still low.
The HVIP is designed to offset about half of the incremental additional cost of eligible hybrid medium- and heavy-duty vehicles using a simplified purchase voucher. This amount was deemed critical by fleets and manufacturers to assist the early market. The HVIP is also designed to assist fleets and dealers by reducing this cost right at the time of purchase, and has been designed to simplify implementation. Dealers request a voucher with their fleet customers at the time of order; the amounts are pre-set for each qualified vehicle. This first-in-the-nation approach can become a model for effectively spurring clean vehicle technologies.
HVIP provides a meaningful "kick-start" to the low-emission hybrid truck and bus industry; it could help deploy up to 800 vehicles, potentially growing the nation's early market hybrid truck volumes by 50 percent. Since hybrid technology reduces greenhouse gas and criteria emissions, and cuts petroleum use, HVIP provides a strong public benefit by helping speed commercialization of these technologies and supporting a critical ramp-up in production that is necessary to meeting Californias clean air goals.
The HVIP vouchers range from $10,000 to $45,000 on a first-come, first-served basis for the purchase of an eligible new hybrid truck or bus. The HVIP is administered and implemented through a partnership between ARB and CALSTART (which was selected by ARB via a competitive grant solicitation).
The complete rules and conditions of the program are available in the HVIP Implementation Manual .
To find out what dealers need to know to take part, visit the Dealer section of the web site (http://www.californiahvip.org/about.asp).
For fleet background on how to take part, visit the Fleet section. Vehicle manufacturers can learn how to qualify their hybrid products on the Manufacturers page.
Background
In 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law the California Alternative and Renewable Fuel, Vehicle Technology, Clean Air, and Carbon Reduction Act of 2007 (AB 118, Statutes of 2007, Chapter 750). AB 118 created the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), a voluntary incentive program administered by ARB to fund clean vehicle and equipment projects, air quality research, and workforce training. ARBs funding, based on projected revenues for AQIP projects in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009-10 State Budget, is $34.6 million.
In April 2009, ARB adopted AQIP Guidelines that establish minimum administrative and implementation requirements, providing the overarching rules for how ARB will run this incentive program. The AQIP Guidelines include the procedures for issuing project solicitations and selecting projects.
In April 2009, ARB also approved the AQIP Funding Plan for FY 2009-10 (Funding Plan), which serves as the blueprint for expending FY 2009-10 AQIP funds. The Funding Plan establishes ARBs priorities for the funding cycle, describes the projects ARB will fund in FY 2009-10, and sets funding targets for each project. Under the Funding Plan, AQIP funds will be focused on supporting development and deployment of the advanced technologies needed to meet Californias longer-term, post-2020 air quality goals. The Funding Plan establishes the HVIP as the cornerstone of the AQIP for FY 2009-10, accounting for about 60 percent of this years funds. The AQIP Guidelines and Funding Plan are available at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aqip/aqip.htm.
Project sponsored by the California Air Resources Board and implemented by CALSTART.
OEMs Talk Up Natural Gas Opportunity at US Trucking Show
March 30, 2010 | Source: Fleet Owner | USA
U.S. truck makers and other industry suppliers believe in the future of natural gas-fuelled transportation, reports online newsletter Fleet Owner. Such was the talk at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) held in Louisville last week, and at the adjacent National NGV Fleet Summit. NGV order and build rates apparently impressed many participants at the event.
Read more on the item at www.fleetowner.com
Fleet Rebates up to $5,000!
SACRAMENTO, CA - California fleets can now receive rebates on new zero-emission and electric vehicles of up to $5,000 per vehicle as part of the new Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP). Certain zero-emission commercial vehicles are also eligible for rebates up to $20,000.
Source: Government Fleet Top News - March 26, 2010
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