Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach commit $60 million to zero-emission trucks

The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach will make $60 million in Clean Truck Fund (CTF) Rate funding available through the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP).

This is for vouchers toward the purchase of zero-emissions, Class 8 drayage trucks that operate at the San Pedro Bay ports complex.

The funds will be available to applicants starting 14 November.

Each port is providing $30 million through the Clean Truck Fund (CTF) Rate, which collects $10 per TEU from cargo owners on loaded containers entering and exiting the port complex.

The CTF Rate is a key component of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan goal of 100 per cent zero-emission drayage trucks by 2035.

The voucher programme utilises the existing HVIP funding application process to provide incentive funding toward eligible zero-emission truck purchases servicing the port complex.

Launched by the California Air Resources Board, HVIP is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment.

Funding is administered by CALSTART, the current HVIP administrator, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Voucher enhancements funded by the ports are $100,000 per truck for fleets with 10 or fewer trucks, and $75,000 for fleets with more than 10 trucks. This comes in addition to the HVIP drayage voucher amount of $150,000 per truck and any other applicable HVIP voucher enhancements.

The highest potential voucher amount is $250,000 per truck. This funding will support the purchase and deployment of up to 800 new zero-emission trucks.

For drayage purchasers who do not meet the HVIP requirements for this specific funding, and for other types of vehicles, funds are still available through standard HVIP and other HVIP categories, including over $100 million in other drayage truck funds.

Just recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $52.6 million grant to modernise critical on-dock rail capabilities and improve several key roadways aimed at speeding the flow of cargo through the Port of Long Beach.