The program, which is funded with $10 million from the federal government, will offer companies vouchers worth up to $20,000 each for the purchase of EVs over 10,000 pounds.

Today, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the beginning of a five-year incentive plan for buyers of electric trucks. The program, which is funded with $10 million from the federal government, will offer companies in the Empire State vouchers worth up to $20,000 each for the purchase of all-electric vehicles over 10,000 pounds.

The feds estimate that each EV that replaces a diesel truck could save over 2,000 gallons of fuel per year. Over the five years of the plan, around 13,000 tons of greenhouse gases could be eliminated.

One of the winners under the new plan will surely be Smith Electric Vehicles, which announced a few days ago that it will open a new factory in the South Bronx to manufacture its Newton™ all-electric medium-duty truck. The Newton, which comes in several configurations, has a range of up to 150 miles, and claims to offer fuel savings of as much as 75% compared to similarly-sized diesel trucks.

"We applaud the governor's leadership and that of the numerous state and local officials who have come together to support a program that encourages fleets to accelerate their conversion from diesel to electric," said Smith CEO Bryan Hansel.

Image: Smith Electric Vehicles