The Oregon Department of Transportation is launching a $4 million new electric truck buyer incentive program.

The funds, from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program, are aimed at encouraging the purchase of zero-emission urban delivery trucks in CMAQ-eligible communities in Oregon.

The Commercial Electric Truck Incentive Program will be offered in the form of $20,000 vouchers per eligible, all-electric vehicle over 10,000 pounds, regardless of manufacturer. The vouchers will be available to qualified purchasers to encourage mass adoption and support fleet conversion from diesel to electricity throughout Oregon.

By replacing the average diesel truck of this size with a zero emission alternative, more than a half million gallons of diesel fuel will be saved annually. In addition, vouchers used to purchase up to 200 electric trucks in the first year will result in an estimated reduction of 5,800 tons of greenhouse gases.

"The diesel emissions eliminated by this program may be worth as much as $1.2 million a year in avoided direct and indirect public health and environmental costs," says Dick Pedersen, director of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

ODOT made the announcement at the EV Roadmap 5 workshop Friday in Portland, along with partners including Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities Coalition, Energizing Oregon, Portland State University and Portland General Electric.

CMAQ funding provides for projects in areas of the state that are in need of improving air quality for ozone, carbon monoxide and particulate matter; in Oregon, that includes the Portland metro area, the Rogue Valley, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, La Grande, Lakeview and Oakridge.

For more information about the CETIP program, go to ODOT's website.