The Energy Commission already has awarded nearly $20.5 million to help buyers afford new, alternative-fueled passenger vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty buses and trucks. The on-road vehicles meet all the emission requirements of the Air Resources Board and are fully warranted by the original equipment manufacturer.

To make the Energy Commission’s buy-down program as efficient and simple as possible, the incentive reservations are awarded in blocks to vehicle manufacturers or their designated dealers. The incentives are passed on to the individual buyers at the point of sale. Applications from manufacturers for the program are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. To benefit from the incentives, purchasers must agree to operate the vehicles in California on the alternative fuel at least 90% of the time for three years.

The approved incentives go to these companies:

• Crane Carrier Company (Tulsa, Oklahoma) is awarded $884,000 to help buy- down 34 natural gas vehicles in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range. The company is the original equipment manufacturer of heavy-duty, custom-built, specialty vehicles including refuse collection trucks, terminal tractors, airport refueling vehicles and custom chassis for construction and agricultural use.

• Kenworth Truck Company (Kirkland, Washington) is awarded $884,000 for the buy-down of 34 natural gas vehicles of 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range. Kenworth is the original equipment manufacturer of the vehicles.

• Navistar, Inc. (Lisle, Illinois) is awarded $400,000 for the buy-down of 20 of its natural gas-powered vehicles in the 14,001-to-26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight category, and $884,000 for the buy-down of 34 natural gas vehicles in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range. Total reservation amount for this original equipment manufacturer is $1,284,000.

• Arata Equipment Company (San Carlos, California) is awarded $884,000 for the buy-down of 34 vehicles manufactured by American LaFrance. The vehicles must be powered by natural gas and are in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range.

• Peterbilt Motors Company (Denton, Texas), is awarded $884,000 for 34 natural gas vehicles in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight category. Peterbilt is the original equipment manufacturer of the trucks.

• Autocar, LLC (Hagerstown, Indiana), is awarded $884,000 for the buy-down of 34 natural gas vehicles of 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range. The company is the original equipment manufacturer of heavy-duty specialty vehicles including refuse collection trucks, crane trucks and other custom vehicles for construction and agricultural use.

• Greenkraft, Inc. (Santa Ana, California), is awarded $400,000 for the buy-down of 20 natural gas vehicles of the 14,001-to-26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range. Greenkraft is a manufacturer and distributor specializing in commercial forward cab trucks.

• Towne Ford (Redwood City, California), is awarded $80,000 for the buy-down of 10 natural gas vehicles in the 8,501-to-14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight category. The original equipment manufacturer will be Ford Motor Company.

• A-Z Bus Sales, Inc. (Colton, California) is awarded $384,000 for the buy-down of 12 natural gas vehicles in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range, and $500,000 for the buy-down of 25 propane-fueled school buses of 14,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight category. The dealership’s total reservation amount is $884,000 for buses manufactured by the Blue Bird Corporation.

• A-Z Bus Sales, Inc. (Colton, California) is awarded $500,000 for the buy-down of 25 propane-powered school buses built by the Collins Bus Corporation. The buses must be in the 14,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight category.

• A-Z Bus Sales, Inc. (Colton, California) also is awarded $200,000 for the buy-down of 10 natural gas buses manufactured by ARBOC Specialty Vehicles. The 10 low-floor buses will be in the 14,001-to-26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight category.

• Big Valley Ford (Stockton, California), is awarded $84,000 for the buy-down of 14 propane-powered vehicles in the 8,501-to-14,000 pounds weight range. The original equipment manufacturer is Ford Motor Company.

• Hansel Ford, Inc. (Santa Rosa, California), is awarded $56,000 for the buy-down of 7 natural gas vehicles, in the gross weight range of 8,501 to 14,000 pounds, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company.

• Serramonte Ford (Colma, California), is awarded $64,000 for the buy-down of 8 natural gas Ford-manufactured vehicles in the 8,501-to-14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight category.

• Galpin Motors, Inc. (North Hills, California), is awarded $96,000 for the buy-down of 16 propane-powered vehicles in the 8,501-to-14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range, and $80,000 for the buy-down of 8 propane vehicles in the 14,001-to-26,000 pounds weight range. The dealership’s total reservation amount for the vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company is $176,000.

• Tuttle-Click Ford (Irvine, California), is awarded $18,000 for the buy-down of 3 propane-powered Ford vehicles in the 8,501-to-14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range.

• Bonander Buick GMC (Turlock, California) is awarded $190,000 for the buy-down of 19 propane vehicles manufactured by General Motors. The vehicles will be in the gross weight range of 14,001 to 26,000 pounds.

• American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Torrance, California) is awarded $198,000 for the buy-down of 66 natural gas-powered Honda Civics – vehicles of up to 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight.