PASADENA, Calif. – Today the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced CALSTART will administer the Clean Off-Road Equipment (CORE) Voucher Incentive Project, a $40 million market acceleration program to advance the deployment of zero-emission off-road freight equipment. CORE provides equipment purchasers and lessees attractive point-of-sale discounts toward the purchase of zero-emission off-road freight equipment making costs comparable to their traditional fossil-fueled counterparts.

“CALSTART has shown a clear commitment to accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles and equipment. Its strong partnerships with technology makers, governments and other key stakeholders are critical to the successful launch of CORE,” said Jack Kitowski, Chief of CARB’s Mobile Source Division. “Once the first point-of-sale discount is made and the equipment is in use, CORE will provide immediate air quality and emission-reduction benefits to California. Communities that suffer the highest impacts from freight operations will benefit, because the program will offer increased incentives for purchasers who operate their equipment in disadvantaged communities.”

“Voucher incentive programs like CORE help drive the marketplace for zero-emission freight off-road technologies including yard tractors, transport refrigeration units, forklifts, ground service and other equipment. By providing purchase discounts, CORE can increase production volumes and drive down the price of technology over time,” said Bill Van Amburg, Executive Vice President of CALSTART, head of the organization’s work in on- and off-road technologies.

CORE will offer purchasers a streamlined process to access discounts of up to $500,000 per equipment technology. In order to access the CORE discounts, purchasers will simply work with project-approved dealers to select eligible CORE technologies and will receive a discount at the point of sale. The dealer then submits a CORE voucher request form on behalf of the purchaser and is reimbursed once all required documents are provided and the zero-emission equipment is delivered to the purchaser. CORE discounts are eligible on a first-come, first-serve basis with additional incentives provided for equipment that will be operated in disadvantaged communities. To learn more about the CORE program, visit CALSTART’s CORE website at www.californiacore.org.

CORE is based on CARB’s successful Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), a project that similarly offers point-of-sale discounts on medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses. Now in its tenth year, HVIP has provided purchase discounts for more than 7,000 trucks and buses including zero-emission, hybrid, and low NOx natural gas technologies. CALSTART administers HVIP and other voucher incentive programs in the states of New York and Illinois.

“Residents in the Inland Empire continue to be directly impacted by some of the worst air quality in the nation. Programs like CORE and HVIP, coupled with achievable clean vehicle policies, help us to not only address pollution, but also ensure that fleets, ports and other users of these technologies have the support they need to meet our nation-leading air quality standards,” said Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino), author of SB 210, a bill to establish ‘smog check’ requirements for heavy-duty diesel trucks in California that is also supported by CALSTART.

CORE will begin offering point-of-sale discount vouchers starting in late 2019. The following types of equipment will be eligible for a CORE discount at that time and additional equipment types may be added in the future:

• Airport cargo loaders
• Container handling equipment
• Forklifts (greater than 8000 lbs. lift capacity)
• On- and off-road terminal tractors
• Railcar movers
• Rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes
• Transport refrigeration units (TRUs)
• Wide-body aircraft tugs

CORE is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities. The cap-and-trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution.

“With its strong air quality policies and incentives designed to support fleets and other users, the California Air Resources Board is playing a major role in advancing zero- and near-zero emission commercial vehicles – not just in California, but globally. With the CORE program, CARB is expanding its support to off-road fleets and helping them and other users procure the newest and best zero-emission vehicles and equipment. As we see the zero-emissions off-road freight equipment sector grow at an accelerating pace in the coming years, we will have CARB to thank for its global leadership,” said John Boesel, President and CEO of CALSTART.

Manufacturers, dealers, customers, and others who are interested in the CORE program are invited to participate in a working group meeting on August 14, 2019 at 10am-2pm at South Coast Air Quality Management District headquarters. Participants may also join the working group via computer, tablet or smartphone. Additional information can be found at www.californiacore.org.

About California Climate Investments

California Climate Investments is a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.  For more information, visit California Climate Investments.

CALSTART | Changing transportation for good

A national nonprofit consortium with offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado and California and partners world-wide, CALSTART works with 220+ member company and agency innovators to build a prosperous, efficient and clean high-tech transportation industry. We knock out barriers to modernization and the adoption of clean vehicles. CALSTART is changing transportation for good.

MEDIA CONTACT: ROXANNA SMITH, [email protected], (626)744-5609 or (510) 326-0390