New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced a $19 million New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program to encourage the purchase of battery-electric commercial trucks as well as other energy-efficient transportation, including hybrid and compressed natural gas trucks.

The truck voucher program will include two voucher funds: $9 million for battery-electric truck vouchers offered in 30 counties around the state that did not meet federal clean air standards, primarily downstate New York, the Capital Region and Western New York; and a $10 million alternative fuels voucher fund for New York City, which also includes compressed natural gas, hybrid-electric vehicles and retrofitting diesel engines with emission control devices.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is administering the program, with funding from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program and in partnership with the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York City Department of Transportation.

The program is directed toward class 3 to 8 trucks, which include large pick-ups, delivery vans, box trucks, buses, tractor-trailers, garbage trucks, and construction vehicles such as cement and dump trucks. Under the terms of the program, NYSERDA approved vehicle manufacturers, dealers and retrofit providers which will receive the vouchers, allowing them to pass on the full incentive in a lower vehicle price to buyers.

The electric truck vouchers will be available beginning immediately with vouchers accepted for purchases of eligible vehicles meeting program guidelines. The alternative fuels voucher and diesel retrofit funding for NYC will be rolled out in late August and September, respectively.

The transportation sector is responsible for three-fourths of petroleum consumption in this country, and 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in New York, so reducing emissions through alternative-fueled vehicles and improving the performance of diesel trucks can have a significant impact. NYSERDA estimates that this program could encourage the purchase or retrofit of up to 1,000 low-emission trucks in areas of the state with the poorest air quality.

Program details:

• $9 million is now available in vouchers up to $60,000 that can be used by companies, non-profits and state and local government entities toward the purchase of electric trucks and buses. This incentive is available in 30 counties around the state which do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and is for class 3-8 battery-electric trucks only. NYSERDA approved electric equipment manufacturers participating in the Truck VIP include AMP Trucks Inc., Boulder Electric Vehicle, Electric Vehicles International and Smith Electric Vehicles,

• $6 million will be available in vouchers up to $40,000 for the purchase or lease of compressed natural gas, hybrid-electric or battery-electric trucks in New York City. This incentive also includes repowering a diesel truck with CNG. The funding is open to all private and non-profit fleets based in and operating 70% of the time in New York City, and will be available starting in August. A list of participating manufacturers will be available at the launch of the program.

• $4 million to cover up to 80% of the purchase and installation of emission reduction equipment on medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks such as diesel particulate filters. The funding is open to all private and non-profit fleets based in and operating 70% in New York City, and will be available starting in September.

• CALSTART, a national non-profit organization focused on the growth of the clean transportation technology industry, was competitively selected to assist NYSERDA in managing the voucher program.

For more information on the New York Truck-Voucher Incentive Program, visit https://truck-vip.ny.gov/.