The California Energy Commission recently approved funding of nearly $5 million to help bring natural gas-powered shuttle buses and large trucks to California’s highways, according to a recent report from U.S.GasVehicles.com. The awards, funded from the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, help to pay the difference between a conventional gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicle and one powered by a cleaner alternative fuel.
According to the report, the Energy Commission already has awarded nearly $15.5 million to help fleet operators as well as individual consumers afford new alternative-fueled medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses as well as passenger vehicles.
The incentive reservations are awarded in blocks to vehicle manufacturers or their designated dealers and are passed on to individual buyers at the point of sale. Natural gas truck manufacturers receiving funds that can be passed along to buyers include:
• Capacity of Texas, Inc. (Longview, TX): $1,280,000 in incentives to help buy-down 40 heavy-duty natural gas-powered trucks of 26,001 pounds and greater GVWR.
• TEC of California (Oakland, La Mirada and Fontana, CA): $1,280,000 in incentives to help buy-down 40 heavy-duty, natural gas-powered trucks built by Mack Truck.
• Bridgeport Truck Manufacturing (Bridgeport, TX): $320,000 in incentives to help buy-down 10 natural gas-powered trucks (over 26,001 GVWR) that they manufacture.
