CARB announces up to $205 million in EV grants

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced up to $205 million in grants for projects to accelerate the adoption of clean freight technologies and improving air quality in the state. Eleven projects will receive $150 million, with another $55 million to be considered for further investment.

The eleven confirmed projects will be funded from the California Climate Investment programme, using funds from the state’s Cap-and-Trade programme. The projects focus on a variety of aspects surrounding freight transportation and ways to make the process cleaner, including all of the following:

• “Flexible Solutions for Freight Facilities – San Joaquin Valley Zero and Near-Zero Emissions Enabling Freight Project: The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) will receive $22.6 to demonstrate a battery electric locomotive, zero-emission drayage truck, hybrid cranes and other equipment at intermodal rail yards in Stockton and San Bernardino. Project partners will provide $22.9 million in matching funds.
• Frito Lay Transformative Zero and Near-Zero Emission Freight Facility Project: The SJVACP also will receive $15.4 million to help replace all diesel-powered equipment at Frito-Lay in Modesto, including deployment of 15 heavy-duty Tesla battery electric tractors, 38 low NOx trucks fueled with renewable natural gas, and demonstrate six Peterbilt e220 battery electric trucks. Partner match: $15.4 million.
• Volvo Low-Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions (LIGHTS): The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will receive $44.8 million to deploy 23 Class 8 Volvo battery electric trucks and 24 zero-emission forklifts, along with 58 heavy-duty fast chargers and other related equipment in Ontario, Chino, Fontana and Placentia. Partner match: $45.9 million.
• Next Generation Fuel Cell Delivery Van Deployment: The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) will receive $5.4 million to deploy four fuel cell hybrid electric delivery vans for UPS for a minimum 12-month demonstration project in Chino. Partner match: $5.8 million.
• Zero Emissions for California Ports: The Gas Technology Institute will receive $8 million to demonstrate two fuel cell yard trucks at the Port of Los Angeles. Partner match: $6.3 million.
• Zero-Emission Freight “Shore to Store” Project: The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) will receive $41.1 million to deploy ten Kenworth and Toyota fuel cell Class 8 trucks, build two new large-capacity hydrogen fueling stations in Wilmington and Ontario, and deploy two electric yard tractors at the Port of Hueneme and two zero-emission forklifts at Toyota’s POLA warehouse. Partner match: $41.4 million.
• Sustainable Terminals Accelerating Regional Transformation (START) Project Phase 1: The Port of Long Beach will receive $50 million for a project expected to benefit the Ports of Long Beach, Oakland and Stockton that will deploy 38 electric yard tractors, nine electric gantry cranes, 18 electric heavy lift forklifts, 15 zero emission Class 8 trucks, a hybrid tugboat, two ocean-going vessels with selective catalytic reduction installations, and other state-of-the-art port-related equipment. Partner match: $52.9 million.
• Zero-Emission Beverage Handling and Distribution at Scale: The Center for Transportation and the Environment will receive $5.5 million to deploy 21 battery-electric Class 8 trucks at four Anheuser-Busch distribution facilities, and to commission solar generation at its Carson facility. Partner match: $5.8 million.
• Zero Emission from Farm to Table: Reducing Pollution Emissions and Health Risks from the Movement of Produce along Two adjacent Trade Corridors in California: The City of San Francisco will receive $4.6 million to demonstrate 30 electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles between the Bay Area and the Valley, to install fast chargers in San Francisco and Sacramento, and additional charging infrastructure at the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market. Partner match: $4.6 million.
• Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Delivery Van Deployment: The Center for Transportation and the Environment will receive $4.3 million to expand a project with UPS in Ontario that will yield 15 new zero-emission vehicles. Partner match: $5.2 million.
• Net-Zero Farming and Freight Facility Demonstration Project: Project Clean Air will receive $3.3 million to deploy and demonstrate five electric battery Class 7 trucks with all-electric Transport Refrigeration Units with Moonlight Companies in Reedley. Partner match: $3.3 million.”

The other $50 million will be invested following the October board meeting. The programmes considered focus on freight and clean transportation, but also take factors such as service to disadvantaged communities or potential to act as a “showcase” technology for industry. Whether or not the technology will have potential for market penetration also plays a factor in the investment programme.

Finally, the investment will be matched by private and public partners, which may bring the total investment sum up to more than $400 million.

greencarcongress.com, arb.ca.gov