The state has set aside a further $30.2 million for infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles. The money will support projects involving freight transport, ports, public fleets and school buses. Hydrogen refuelling will receive $15 million, with another $2 million going towards workforce training and development.
There is also a geographical and social component. At least 50 per cent of the programme’s money must go to projects that benefit or serve low-income residents and disadvantaged or low-income communities.
“Tailpipe emissions from transportation account for roughly 50% of the pollution dirtying our air and harming the climate,” said California Energy Commissioner Nancy Skinner. “The faster California can build out ZEV infrastructure, giving drivers the confidence they need to get off of gas-powered vehicles, the quicker we can clean the air and improve public health.”
The new infrastructure funding comes shortly after California introduced another incentive for zero-emission vehicles. Earlier in August, the state launched its MyFirstEV programme, which offers Californians buying their first ZEV an instant rebate of $3,500.
The Clean Transportation Program has been funding the expansion of California’s ZEV infrastructure since 2008 and has awarded more than $2.7 billion in grants to date. While the latest decision covers $95.2 million for the current fiscal year, the investment plan also sets out projected allocations through the 2028-2029 fiscal year.
