Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP)

A hybrid-electric vehicle typically uses an electrical motor and a gasoline- or diesel-powered engine, which work in tandem to reduce emissions and fuel consumption.  Hybrid vehicle technology reduces criteria pollutant, air toxic, and greenhouse gas emissions – particularly in urban delivery vehicles, refuse trucks, work trucks, buses, and other vehicles with high stop-and-go or idling duty cycles.  Hybrid vehicles also provide significant fuel economy benefits and fuel cost savings to the fleet owner and therefore, have the potential to be self-sustaining with some reductions in the upfront vehicle cost.  Large scale market penetration of hybrid trucks and buses will help California meet its long-term SIP and climate change goals.  

ARB's Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), provides vouchers to help California fleets purchase hybrid and zero-emission trucks and buses. The State’s investment in HVIP at this time plays a critical role in accelerating early market penetration of hybrid technology with the goal of significant fleet penetration of these vehicles into California by 2020.  Production capacity has substantial growth potential, but current low production volumes result in a $30,000 to $70,000 hybrid vehicle cost premium.  ARB expects production costs to decline as hybrid driveline production volumes increase.  When this occurs, the fuel economy payback period should shorten to the point where a hybrid truck purchase is economical without incentives and the technology is self-sustaining.  ARB envisions the HVIP as a multi-year project to bridge this gap.  At the federal level, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have proposed national greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks for the first time, providing further impetus for investments in hybrid truck technology. 

ARB has teamed with CALSTART to implement this streamlined, first-come, first-serve program. The HVIP Implementation Manual defines the roles and responsibilities of ARB, CALSTART, vehicle dealers, and vehicle purchasers in project implementation.  ARB must approve hybrid truck and bus models for them to become eligible for the program.

For more information, please visit www.californiahvip.org or contact Joe Calavita of ARB at tel. (916) 445-4586.