California Energy Commission awards more than $2.6M for natural gas vehicles
12 April 2012
The California Energy Commission approved funding of $2,604,000 to help bring more buses and trucks powered by natural gas to the state’s highways. The awards are expected to support the purchase of more than 125 new natural gas vehicles; funding comes from the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program.
The Energy Commission previously awarded approximately $29 million to help buyers afford new, alternative-fueled passenger vehicles, buses, and trucks. These awards help to pay the difference between the cost of conventional gas- or diesel-powered vehicles and new ones that use propane or natural gas. Eligible vehicles meet all the emission requirements of the Air Resources Board and are fully warranted by their manufacturers.
The Energy Commission’s buy-down incentives are reserved in blocks for vehicle manufacturers or their designated dealers. The incentives are passed on to buyers in California at the time of sale. To receive the incentives, purchasers must agree to register and operate these alternative fueled vehicles in California at least 90 percent of the time for three years. Applications from manufacturers to participate in the program are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The newly approved incentive go to the following companies:
Tom’s Truck Center is awarded $400,000 for the buy-down of 20 natural gas-powered vehicles in the 14,001-to-26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range. The vehicles are manufactured by Anaheim-based Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc.
Nations Bus Corp. is awarded $320,000 for the buy-down of 16 vehicles built by Krystal Enterprises, based in Brea, Calif. The natural gas-powered vehicles are in the 14,001-to-26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range.
Nations Bus Corp. is also awarded $280,000 for the buy-down of 14 vehicles manufactured by Champion Bus Inc. The natural gas-powered vehicles are in the 14,001-to-26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC is awarded $884,000 for the buy-down of 34 natural gas-powered vehicles in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range. Daimler is the manufacturer of the vehicles.
West Coast Bus Sales Inc. is awarded a total incentive reservation of $280,000 for vehicles built by Tiffany Coachworks Corp., based in Corona, Calif.: $80,000 for the buy-down of 10 natural gas-powered vehicles in the 8,501-to-14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range; and $200,000 for the buy-down of 10 natural gas-powered vehicles in the 14,001-to-26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range.
West Coast Bus Sales Inc. is also awarded a total incentive reservation of $440,000 for vehicles manufactured by Federal Coach Corp.: $40,000 for the buy-down of five natural gas-powered vehicles in the 8,501-to-14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range; and $400,000 for the buy-down of 20 natural gas-powered vehicles in the 14,001-to-26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range.
Assembly Bill 118 (Núñez, Chapter 750, Statutes of 2007) created the California Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. The statute, amended by Assembly Bill 109 (Núñez, Chapter 313, Statutes of 2008), authorizes the Energy Commission to develop and deploy alternative and renewable fuels and advanced transportation technologies to help achieve the state’s climate change policies.
The California Energy Commission is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency.
Products rely on subsidies and incentives would not be sustained. In early 2000's, a lot of tax payer's money poured into NGVs, how many of them are running today?
Posted by: hc | 12 April 2012 at 07:53 AM
Trucks and buses make sense, we have city buses and trash trucks that run on CNG, we could have delivery trucks run on CNG and big rigs to super markets run on LNG.
Sometimes it takes incentives for the spreadsheets to indicate that it could be done. This gets the whole operation moving, brings the costs down and the incentives can go away. It is good for everyone to have cleaner air and less imported oil.
Posted by: SJC | 12 April 2012 at 08:34 AM
Gas is 5.80$/gal where i live and the goverment, the gas stations and nat gas compagnies and car makers and specialty garages do not sell nat gas for cars and trucks that is cheaper, local and non-polluting. They also ban nat gas wells in my region. All that to promote and sell costly gasoline and diesel that come from abroad. This land is managed by wall streets dealers and local residents pay them instead of taking the business for them.
Posted by: A D | 12 April 2012 at 10:43 AM
This is why it is better for trucks and buses, where they have parking lots for the fleet and they can refuel at night.
Business owners, cities and counties all like the money they save on fuel using natural gas. It is cleaner so the engines run longer with less maintenance.
Posted by: SJC | 12 April 2012 at 12:15 PM
If business owners, cities and counties all like the money they save on fuel using natural gas why does California have to give them money?
Only the politions know how to do the cost analysis?
Or maybe politions don't have to do no stinking cost analysis.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 28 April 2012 at 03:16 AM