The Port of Los Angeles (Port of LA) and Port of Long Beach will make US$60 million in Clean Truck Fund Rate funding available through the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) for vouchers toward the purchase of zero-emission, Class 8 drayage trucks that operate at the San Pedro Bay ports complex. 

In the announcement, North America's busiest ports said each of them is providing US$30 million through the Clean Truck Fund (CTF) Rate, which collects US$10 per twenty-foot equivalent unit 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% zero-emission drayage trucks by 2035.

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

HVIP — launched by the California Air Resources Board — 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, particularly in disadvantaged communities similar to those adjacent to the ports.

The ports said funding is administered by CALSTART, the current HVIP administrator, on a first-come, first-served basis.

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

The highest potential voucher amount is US$250,000 per truck.

"This funding will support the purchase and deployment of up to 800 new zero-emission trucks," the ports of LA and Long Beach said.

The announcement noted that the funds will be available starting November 14.