Cities, school districts and private companies with aging work trucks can tap a regional pool of rebate money to replace them with battery-electric or hydrogen models, and the next deadline to apply is Friday, Nov. 20.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments says it has up to $54.8 million available through its North Texas Zero Emissions Vehicles call for projects.
The money pays part of the cost of retiring Class 6 and Class 7 vocational vehicles that run on diesel, gasoline, natural gas or propane, a category that includes box trucks, step vans, garbage trucks, street sweepers, utility and bucket trucks, dump trucks, fire trucks and transit buses.
The program is on the agenda of a council of governments transportation public meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, at its offices at 616 Six Flags Drive in Arlington, which the City of Princeton has posted on its community calendar. The city's listing gives the available amount as $55.4 million, slightly more than the figure on the agency's program page.
How the rebates work
Each rebate is capped at a share of the cost or a dollar limit, whichever is lower. For battery-electric replacements, the agency lists 65% or $190,000 for a box truck, 50% or $260,000 for a refuse hauler and 33% or $265,000 for a transit bus.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles get larger shares, from 80% or $400,000 for a box truck up to 80% or $720,000 for other vocational vehicles.
