EPA Offers Nearly $1 Billion in Grants for Class 6-7 Electric Vehicle Transition – Fuel Smarts

The Environmental Protection Agency launched a new grant program that would provide nearly $1 billion to support the transition of Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles to zero-emissions.

The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program is funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. The program will award competitive grants for projects to reduce climate and air pollution from Class 6-7 vehicles.

“In addition to all the progress we’re making to electrify light-duty vehicles, today’s funding from the EPA will catalyze projects that bring electric school buses, garbage trucks, and delivery vans to neighborhoods across America,” said John Podesta, senior advisor to the president for International Climate Policy.

The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program

The 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program will support the adoption and deployment of eligible Class 6 and 7 zero-emission vehicles while also funding zero-emission vehicle fueling infrastructure and workforce development and training.

Across the nation, over 3 million Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles are currently in use, spanning a wide variety of vehicle types and vocations, including school buses, refuse haulers, and utility and delivery trucks, according to the EPA announcement.

The 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program is designed to help applicants across the country transition to zero-emission vehicles and reduce air pollution.

School Bus and Vocational Sub-Programs

EPA is providing two separate sub-program competitions:

• The School Bus Sub-Program for applicants replacing school buses.
• The Vocational Vehicles Sub-Program for applicants replacing non-school bus Class 6 and 7 vehicles – including box trucks, refuse haulers, dump trucks, street sweepers, delivery trucks, bucket trucks, and utility trucks.

EPA anticipates approximately 70% of available funding will be for projects under the School Bus Sub-Program and approximately 30% of available funding will be for projects under the Vocational Vehicles Sub-Program.

What Vehicles Are Covered Under the Grant Program?

Eligible vehicles under the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program include:

• Class 6 and Class 7 school buses
• Other non-school bus Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles, including (but not limited to):
• Refuse Haulers/Dump Trucks
• Class 6/7 Transit Buses
• Delivery Trucks
• Utility Trucks
• Bucket Trucks
• Other Box Trucks

To be eligible for replacement, existing vehicles must:

• Be a Class 6 or Class 7 heavy-duty vehicle with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating between 19,501 lbs to 33,000 lbs.
• Be fully operational at the time of application submission.
• Be an engine model year 2010 or older diesel-powered vehicle that will be scrapped if selected for funding. (There are also options if a fleet has no eligible EMY 2010 or older diesel-powered vehicles.)

Additional requirements for vehicles being replaced through the Vocational Vehicles Sub-Program include that vehicles must have accumulated at least 7,000 miles/year during each of the two years prior to replacement.

Eligible applicants for both competitions include states, municipalities (including school districts), Indian Tribes, territories, and nonprofit school transportation associations.

The deadline to apply for the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program is July 25, 2024. EPA expects to announce awards by the end of this year.