https://cleantechnica.com/2020/02/07/44-million-zero-emissions-freight-project-launched-by-california-air-resources-board/
$44 Million Zero-Emissions Freight Project Launched By California Air
Resources Board
February 7th, 2020 by Jake Richardson
The California Air Resources Board recently launched a $44 million
voucher project at the Port of San Diego to help support the purchasing
of zero-emissions off-road freight equipment to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. The equipment is for use at rail freight yards, distribution
centers, ports, and airports. Electric vehicles used for personal
transportation like the Teslas, Chevy Bolts, and the Ford Mach Es get a
lot of press, but sustainable transportation goes far beyond personal
vehicles. Commercial and industrial vehicles produce greenhouse gas
emissions as well, so that problem needs to be addressed. CALSTART, a
national non-profit accelerating the transition to clean transportation,
answered some questions about the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher
Incentive Project (CORE) for CleanTechnica.
For terminal tractors, railcar movers, and transport refrigeration units
running on diesel at goods-movement hubs, like ports, airports
distribution centers, and rail freight yards, are most or all of these
forms of transportation running currently on diesel? Are forklifts
running on gas or diesel also candidates for replacement by all-electric
versions?
Most freight handling equipment is either diesel or propane-fueled.
Forklifts with a lifting capacity greater than 8,000 pounds are eligible
for funding. Additionally, CORE does not require buyers to ‘replace’ or
destroy their old equipment; instead they can add zero-emission
equipment to their fleet as we begin to transition the entire industry.
Is the point of the project to reduce or eliminate all greenhouse gas
emissions and toxic air pollution from these vehicles?
California has set forth stringent greenhouse gas reduction goals. We
expect CORE to result in air quality improvements for local communities
and overall greenhouse gas reductions. However, CORE’s primary goal is
to make these new technologies attractive and accessible. It is expected
that CORE will grow demand and make zero-emission equipment prices more
competitive. Projects like CORE are intended to accelerate this process,
by growing the industry, transforming the goods-movement and
transportation sectors by transitioning them away from conventional
polluting equipment and vehicles. These efforts will lead to a
transformation with impacts far beyond California but around across the
nation.
Point-of-sale vouchers of up to $500,000 per vehicle/piece of equipment
are available for businesses that buy zero emissions vehicles. What is
the cost of a zero emissions terminal tractor or railcar mover, on
average? What is the cost of one that is diesel-powered?
Based on the data collected, a conventional terminal tractor might cost
$100,000 whereas an electric one could cost around $300,000 but can
widely vary, based on configuration. Conventional railcar movers vary
greatly in size and power with some having a price tag in the range of
$500,000, while the zero-emission configuration can be significantly
greater. The goal of the project is to make zero-emission vehicles
comparable in price, with the value of the voucher varying, based on the
type of equipment and its configuration.
Electricity obviously costs much less than diesel fuel. Over the life of
a zero emissions vehicle, how much might an owner/operator save in
diesel fuel costs?
Fuel costs drop significantly from the first day of use. In addition,
the industry has shown that electric vehicles require half as much
maintenance, creating even greater cost savings for fleets over time. By
managing the cost of power with charging software, local utility
programs, and Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits (LCFS) from the State of
California, the business case for zero-emission technology becomes very
compelling. Depending on hours of use, a user might save $30,000 per
year in fuel and maintenance. To learn more about calculating total cost
of ownership, please visit the HVIP calculator at www.calforniahvip.org/tco
About how many zero emissions vehicles might the project help purchase
for industrial use? Is all of the $44 million for vehicle vouchers, or
are there other aspects of the project it will be used for?
Depending on what types of requests are submitted for funding, it should
be able to deploy 100-500 units. The entire $44 million is intended for
off-road equipment, some supporting infrastructure pieces (e.g., EVSE or
hydrogen fueling connection infrastructure), and management of the program.
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