California to fund e-truck charging infrastructure
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved the first project looking into charging infrastructure for zero-emission trucks, buses, and equipment. The plan is to use what CEC calls a “concierge model” to help applicants plan and fund e-truck chargers through EnergIIZE.
Administered by CALSTART, the EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles (Energy Infrastructure Incentives for Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles) project has a 50-million-dollar budget distribute over the next few years. As with other California initiatives, the project aims at players in “communities most impacted by transportation-related pollution,” says the CEC.
“As the state’s lead agency for zero-emission infrastructure, the CEC is proud to fund the EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles project to provide fleet managers with technical and financial assistance as well as operational assurance that they are planning accurately for charging and refuelling needs,” said CEC Commissioner Patty Monahan.
California’s State Senator Lena Gonzalez pointed to air pollution has already taken “a heavy toll on the health of our communities.” She added, “Our communities cannot wait, and that is why I am fully supportive and excited that we are taking bold steps toward cleaner technologies for truck and bus fleets in our state.”
CALSTART, as the administering agency said it was looking into “fast-track funding” to help operators install charging infrastructure to the growing fleets of battery-electric and fuel cell trucks and buses. There has been no further information on actual grant money or conditions.
The effort builds on state investments into demonstration and deployment projects that brought this technology to the market. Funding comes through the CEC’s Clean Transportation Program, which invests more than $100 million annually in greener transportation and fuel technologies.
CALSTART will receive an initial $17 million to design and launch the EnergIIZE scheme with additional funds subject to the annual approval of both the state budget and allocations from the CEC. Onboard to support administration is CALSTART’s long-term voucher incentive programme administrator, Tetra Tech and equity partner GRID Alternatives, a non-profit organization that manages clean energy programs in low-income communities.
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