The California Air Resources Board has approved a $373-million funding plan for fiscal year 2015-16 for investments in a wide range of vehicle technologies, from zero-emission heavy-duty trucks and buses to rebates for low- and zero-emission passenger vehicles.

The budget for the annual Funding Plan for Low Carbon Transportation Investments and the Air Quality Improvement Program, which must still be approved by the state legislature, is up by $150 million over last year.

The Funding Plan dedicates 50% of the low-carbon transportation funds to benefit disadvantaged communities.

Highlights of the latest plan include:

• $163 million for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, which offers up to $5,000 in rebates to buyers of zero-emission and plug-in hybrid light-duty vehicles. This allocation is expected to meet demand projected for the upcoming year and includes an income eligibility cap to exclude high-income consumers.
• $20 million to expand air district-administered retire-and-replace pilot programs that help low-income residents afford the cleanest cars.
• $12 million for the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), to encourage commercial deployment of hybrid and zero-emission trucks and buses.
• $20 million for pilot deployment of zero-emission trucks and $45 million for pilot deployment of zero-emission buses, including $5 million for school buses in rural school districts.

Source: Green Car Congress
Image: Nicolas Raymond/Flickr