The California Air Resources Board (CARB) launched a new $242-million effort, the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP), which will prioritize low-income Californians who need grants and loan assistance to get a zero-emission vehicle.

With nearly 2 million zero-emission vehicles sold in California and clean cars representing 25% of total new car sales, the new program focuses on providing incentives for low-income Californians. DCAP will largely benefit communities in parts of the state that do not already have assistance programs, including many tribes and rural communities. Imperial County will be the first to roll out the program.

In exchange for scrapping an older vehicle, eligible participants can receive up to a $12,000 grant to purchase or lease a new or used zero-emission vehicle, in addition to $2,000 for electric charging costs. The assistance can be used to purchase zero-emission cars, motorcycles or e-bikes, and low-interest loans will also be available.

DCAP will offer tailored assistance to priority participants to ensure that the application process does not impose a barrier. Applicants must be at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.

Purchase assistance of $7,500 is available to eligible participants who either do not have a vehicle to scrap or wish to use it toward other mobility options such as carsharing. Eligible applicants also have access to vehicle loans capped at 8% through partnerships with a variety of credit unions.

DCAP expands access to areas of the state that are not currently eligible for air district programs such as Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A). Started in 2015, CC4A has provided more than $165 million to help 20,000 Californians purchase cleaner vehicles, while removing older polluting vehicles from the state’s roadways. Those older vehicles were scrapped and replaced with cleaner alternatives such as new and used zero-emissions, plug-in hybrid, or hybrid cars.

The average vehicle retired through CC4A is about 25 years old with an estimated fuel economy of 22 miles per gallon, while the average replacement vehicle obtained through the program has an equivalent fuel economy of 80 mpg.

Five of the state’s air districts—San Joaquin Valley, South Coast, Bay Area, Sacramento and San Diego—that administer the individual programs under CC4A report that participation in the program has continued to rise despite higher loan interest rates.

Additional counties not being served by a CC4A program will launch DCAP through early 2025.