The California Air Resources Board is offering $3.7 million in rebates for zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles, including commercial medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

Part of an overall $42.3 million program aimed at spurring technological innovation in the transportation sector, CARB will shell out up to $20,000 for the purchase of ARB-certified or approved zero-emission commercial vehicles on a first-come, first-served basis.

"These rebates will make cleaner cars more affordable for California consumers and give businesses and local governments an incentive to add advanced vehicles to their fleets," said Mary D. Nichols, ARB chairman. "The monies get innovative vehicle technologies on the road more quickly so California can meet its clean air and climate change goals."

In October 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 118, which provides approximately $200 million annually through 2015 to the California Energy Commission, the Bureau of Automotive Repair and the ARB to fund air quality improvement projects that will accelerate clean engine technologies. Of that, $42.3 million was allocated to CARB to fund air quality improvement programs that will pay for cleaner equipment such as hybrid trucks and buses, zero-emission and plug-in hybrid cars, and motorcycles. The amount of funding available to pay for these technologies is dependent on the amount of revenues generated from vehicle and smog abatement fees.

The zero-emission vehicles and near-zero emission vehicles are a key element of California's plan for attaining health-based air quality as required in the federal Clean Air Act.

A complete list of eligible vehicles, application and rebate instructions can be found at cvrp.energycenter.org.