A financial incentive programme from the California Air Resources Board will put more than 650 hybrid trucks and buses on the state’s roads.
The majority of the vehicles will be beverage and package delivery trucks that will head to private fleets with more than 300 classed as heavy duty trucks and more than 200 as light duty trucks. Most will appear in the South Coast and Bay Area Quality Management districts although Shasta and Kern County will also be recipients.
Under the Hybrid Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program, $20,000-$35,000 vouchers are presented to help California fleets offset the purchase price of advanced technology hybrid trucks and buses. The technology is designed to reduce fuel consumption as well as greenhouse gas and smog forming emissions.
The programme first came about in 2007 and is implemented by CALSTART, a non-profit organisation that works with businesses, fleets and governments on efficient transport solutions.
This latest award means that all $19million that was originally dedicated to the voucher programme has now been distributed with an additional $25million approved by the board in June to fund more hybrid vehicles from early 2011 onwards.
