Trucking news and briefs for Monday, July 11, 2022:
The California Air Resources Board is set to launch a pilot program that aims 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 help small fleets make the transition to no-tailpipe-emissions trucks. Programs 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 is within the larger Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP).
[Related: Cutting through the heavy-duty e-trucks hype]
Small fleets and owner-operators face multiple barriers to adoption of these new technologies, from high upfront costs to limited financing and complex planning for charging. By dedicating this set-aside funding for small fleets, CARB believes HVIP can position itself to better understand the specific needs of this group within trucking and support new-equipment adoption.
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.
