The California Air Resources Board launched a pilot program designed to help small trucking fleets make the transition to zero-emission technologies.
The Innovative Small e-Fleet pilot will focus on privately-owned and nonprofit trucking fleets with 20 or fewer trucks and less than $15 million in annual revenue. The pilot will provide $25 million to implement a range of innovative solutions to help small fleets make the transition to zero-emissions, CARB says.
Services will include flexible financing, short-term rentals and full-service leases, such as all-inclusive truck-as-a-service options with enhanced incentives and fueling support.
The pilot comes within the board’s larger Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). That program provides point-of-sale vouchers for the purchase of zero-emission trucks and buses.
“Small fleets and owner-operators have often faced multiple barriers to zero-emission truck adoption, such as high upfront costs, limited financing, and complex planning for charging,” CARB says. The announcement was written too early to note that the AB 5 state law that recently went into effect for truckers thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court decision virtually wipes out owner-operators in the state.
CARB adds that by dedicating this set-aside funding for small fleets, HVIP can position itself to better understand the specific needs of this traditionally underserved group and support their transition to zero-emission ahead of the upcoming Advanced Clean Fleets rule.
Small fleets will work with a CARB- and HVIP administrator-approved provider to request a voucher. Dealers and their financing partners, leasing and rental companies, or truck-as-a-service providers can serve as providers under the program.