Website: http://californiacore.org/
Funding: Total: $44,000,000. Maximum vouchers: $500K, depending on technology.
Dates: Vouchers continually given upon availability of funds
Summary:
Created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 2017, the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) provides point-of-sale discount vouchers that reduce the purchase cost of equipment operated in the State of California. The goal of CORE is to accelerate and facilitate the adoption of zero-emission off-road equipment. This equipment is relatively new technology and is therefore more expensive than traditional equipment, especially in the early market years when production volumes are low. CARB recognizes that this equipment has the proven ability to reduce criteria and greenhouse gas (GHG) pollutants in California and aims to accelerate the penetration of these cleaner equipment to help meet state clean air regulations and climate change goals. CORE is part of the California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that invests Cap and Trade dollars.
CORE is intended to encourage California freight equipment users to purchase or lease currently commercialized zero-emission off-road freight equipment. This streamlined voucher incentive project helps offset the higher cost of zero-emission technology with a point-of-sale discount. There is no scrappage requirement, and additional funding is available for charging and fueling infrastructure and for equipment deployed in disadvantaged communities.
Project Topic Areas:
CORE was created to reduce price barriers, enabling equipment users to adopt more zero-emission freight-handling equipment. CORE vouchers make zero-emission equipment as affordable as their traditional fossil-fueled counterparts at point of sale. Funded equipment includes off-road equipment used at ports, airports, rail yards, distribution centers and freight facilities. Conversions of certain equipment can be funded through CORE. Additional funding is available for charging infrastructure and equipment deployed in pollution overburdened communities (DACs). The size of the fleet does not affect voucher amounts, and equipment users have no limitation on the number of vouchers for which they can apply.
Funding:
Vouchers are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. This means that there is no uncertainty regarding securing funding, and no lengthy application or bid process. CORE is a streamlined funding mechanism that is set up for ease of use by end-users. Dealers, not purchasers, are responsible for securing CORE funding – equipment users do not need to gain an understanding of the voucher process to receive the full benefits of CORE funding.
CORE voucher amounts are based on the incremental cost difference between traditional equipment and new zero-emission alternatives. Base voucher amounts vary based on equipment type, battery or hydrogen fueling, and battery capacity. Equipment deployed in Disadvantaged and Low-Income Communities (DAC) are eligible for a 10% enhancement of the equipment’s base voucher amount.
In order to promote broad application of CORE funding, individual equipment types have been grouped into one of the six funding categories listed below. No one category can receive more than 25% of the total CORE funding within the first six months after program launch (i.e., February 3rd until August 3rd), and voucher approval in that category will be determined on a case-by-case basis. This was instituted to allow potentially less commercial-ready equipment an opportunity to get their equipment approved before funding runs out. After six months, no such limitations will be in place.
Once the funding for a particular category has reached its cap, new voucher requests for that equipment type (including conversions of that equipment type) will be placed on a contingency list until the cap is lifted. However, there is no guarantee that funding will be available for the voucher requests on the contingency list.
| Equipment Type | Base Voucher Amounts |
| Terminal tractors (both on- and off-road) | $ 50,000 – $ 200,000 |
| TRUs (both truck- and trailer-mounted) | $ 50,000 – $ 65,000 |
| Large forklifts and container handling equipment | $ 15,000 – $ 500,000 |
| Airport ground support equipment (airport cargo loaders, wide-body aircraft tugs, and aircraft GPUs) | $ 50,000 – $ 200,000 |
| Railcar movers | $ 225,000 – $ 500,000 |
| MPUs and mobile shore power cable management systems | $ 300,000 – $ 500,000 |
Topic Area Requirements:
Equipment users do not apply for CORE vouchers. CORE-eligible dealers are responsible for securing CORE voucher funding through the online Voucher Processing Center. A purchaser should connect with a CORE-approved dealer to acquire their equipment and the dealer will take it from there to acquire the voucher. If there is a trusted dealer relationship or already have a piece of equipment in mind, the dealer should connect with CORE for assistance in becoming CORE-eligible. Dealers must be CORE-certified to be able to submit voucher requests on behalf of their customers. To submit a voucher request, an eligible dealer needs only a Purchase Order that makes clear that CORE funding would be applied. All manufacturers that have sold equipment through CORE are required to submit telematics reports QUARTERLY. Equipment users must also submit activity reports for 3 years.
Eligible Applicants:
Any manufacturer of equipment that meets California CORE technology eligibility requirements can become a CORE-eligible manufacturer. Manufacturers can also fill the role of dealer for their own equipment. Any vendor that has an affiliation with a CORE-eligible manufacturer can become a CORE-certified dealer. Any off-road equipment user in California is eligible. To participate, the equipment you purchase must be domiciled and operate for at least 3 years in California after the voucher redemption date.