New York Launches $19 Million Truck Voucher Program

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced a $19 million truck voucher incentive program to encourage the purchase of battery-electric commercial trucks as well as other energy-efficient transportation, including hybrid and compressed natural gas trucks.

The program will include two voucher funds: $9 million for battery-electric truck vouchers offered in 30 counties around the state that did not meet federal clean air standards, primarily downstate New York, the Capital Region and Western New York; and a $10 million alternative fuels voucher fund for New York City, which also includes compressed natural gas, hybrid-electric vehicles, and retrofitting diesel engines with emission control devices.

The program is for Class 3 to 8 trucks, which include large pickups, delivery vans, box trucks, buses, tractor trailers, garbage trucks, and construction vehicles such as cement and dump trucks. Under the terms of the program, NYSERDA approved vehicle manufacturers, dealers and retrofit providers which will receive the vouchers, allowing them to pass on the full incentive in a lower vehicle price to buyers.

The electric truck vouchers are available immediately with vouchers accepted for purchases of eligible vehicles meeting program guidelines. The alternative fuels voucher and diesel retrofit funding for NYC will be rolled out in late August and September, respectively.

Details of the program include:

$9 million is now available in vouchers up to $60,000 that can be used by companies, non-profits and state and local government entities toward the purchase of electric trucks and buses. This incentive is available in 30 counties around the state which do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and is for class 3-8 battery-electric trucks only. NYSERDA approved electric equipment manufacturers participating in the Truck VIP include AMP Trucks Inc., Boulder Electric Vehicle, Electric Vehicles International, and Smith Electric Vehicles,
$6 million will be available in vouchers up to $40,000 for the purchase or lease of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), hybrid-electric or battery-electric trucks in New York City. This incentive also includes repowering a diesel truck with CNG. The funding is open to all private and non-profit fleets based in and operating 70 percent of the time in New York City, and will be available starting in August. A list of participating manufacturers will be available at the launch of the program.
$4 million to cover up to 80 percent of the purchase and installation of emission reduction equipment on medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks such as diesel particulate filters. The funding is open to all private and non-profit fleets based in and operating 70 percent in New York City, and will be available starting in September.