California Supports Green Technology with Hybrid Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project

November 9, 2011 in Green Business, Green Business News, Green Stories with 12 Comments

California State Flag

California State Flag

Once again the State of California is showing its commitment to fueling cleaner green technology on our roads by providing $18 million for the Hybrid Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) which is funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The HVIP program provides vouchers valued from $10,000 to $30,000 for each new hybrid truck or bus purchase and is open to all dealers and fleets (including small business) that sell or operate hybrid medium and heavy-duty trucks or buses within California.

This progressive incentive is intended to support and speed up the entry of alternative vehicle transportation use specifically for the commercial and government sectors. Voucher values are determined by vehicle weight and type: hybrid versus zero-emission. What makes this incentive particularly appealing is the additional $7500 Federal Tax Credit that can also be applied to these vehicle sales.

Due to the unique program terms and conditions, interested dealers must complete training to become fully knowledgeable and engaged in the processes and responsibilities required by CARB and CALSTART as well as the fleets and dealers themselves. This program was founded to help offset the initial higher costs for purchasing these newer green vehicles so that return on investment (ROI) can be seen much sooner.

Commercial companies like Hertz Rent-A-Car and FedEx are already driven to add electric vehicles and are rapidly greening their fleets. Currently Hertz offers consumers regular passenger hybrids and electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf and Altima hybrid, Smart EV, Toyota Prius, and Chevy Volt; Hertz plans to be renting all-electric or hybrid trucks and vans that will qualify for this sweet incentive program.

FedEx has a large section of its website devoted to showing the company’s innovative approach toward driving green technology and is a role model for green technology where US jobs can be more plentiful. Their vision for environmentally friendly transportation began back in 2000 when they partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund to green their fleet. HVIP should be most helpful in continuing these efforts.

When meeting Azure Dynamics’ West Coast Director of Sales Chris Abarca at this year’s annual AltCar Expo, he explained how this HVIP is designed to make it more affordable for public and private organizations to see rewards sooner for adopting green technology transportation. Since 2001 Azure Dynamics Corporation has been a leader in the green transportation technology sector, developing and producing hybrid and electric components and powertrain systems specifically for commercial applications.

As proof of their dedicated slogans “part of the solution” and “driving a world of difference”, Azure Dynamics has teamed with Ford Motor Company and Johnson Controls to create the Transit Connect Electric, a van which is now on international roads and qualifies in California for the HVIP. This is exactly the kind of innovation the transportation sector needs to move forward not only for consumers but for industry and commerce.

We at US Green Technology certainly hope many if not all other states will adopt similar measures to create incentives for more green technology (and the jobs fueled by these incentives) as California has done to fuel the change toward US energy independence.

Links for more details about the HVIP program and other companies mentioned in this post are as follows:

http://www.californiahvip.org/

http://about.van.fedex.com/corporate_responsibility/the_environment/alternative_energy/cleaner_vehicles

About U.S. Green Technology

U.S. Green Technology was established in January of 2009. U.S. Green Technology‘s mission is to share news and information about the latest advancements in green technologies and green jobs. U.S. Green Technology‘s areas of coverage include providing information on green social media campaigns, changes in green business, spread of the green movement throughout entertainment, green technological invention, new green start-ups, green manufacturing, green building, and green jobs. U.S. Green Technology recently launched a new free business directory for companies to promote their products and services. U.S. Green Technology also offers a green jobs board, powered by Simply Hired, for employers to post green jobs for job seekers interested in careers in the green jobs industries such as clean energy, renewable fuels, information technology, green building and green transportation.

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About Trudee Lunden: Trudee Lunden is a Freelance Writer, Green Biz Guru and Electric Vehicle Advocate who also creates cause- and brand-oriented music. As a well-traveled Renaissance woman with a diverse professional background she's handled Marketing, Events and Sales for Environmental Motors, Business Development for LOHAS-based Clean Agency, plus research, communications and social media. Trudee’s passion for cleaner alternative fuels inspired two motivating Rock songs to charge up the masses: “Let’s Get Wired” and “Electricity”. You can find her on Twitter @GreenMusicLady.

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