Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program: Applicant Resources

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This page includes many resources for applicants to the EPA’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles program.

Electric School Bus Resources

Under the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, EPA is offering one sub-program for projects replacing eligible Class 6/7 school buses (the School Bus Sub-Program), under which only applications seeking to replace eligible school buses will be considered.

For more information on electric school bus technical assistance, please visit EPA’s Clean School Bus Technical Assistance page.

For more information on electric school bus charging and fueling infrastructure, please visit EPA’s Clean School Bus Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Resources page.

Zero-Emission Class 6 and 7 Heavy-Duty Vehicle Resources

Under the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles NOFO, EPA is offering one sub-program for projects replacing eligible non-school bus Class 6/7 heavy-duty vehicles (the Vocational Vehicles Sub-Program), under which only applications seeking to eligible replace non-school bus Class 6/7 heavy-duty vehicles will be considered.

For more resources, please see the EPA’s SmartWay Heavy-Duty Truck Electrification Resources page.

Workforce Development

EPA is taking several steps in the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program to support the creation of high-quality jobs and expand economic opportunity through these federal investments. In the 2024 Clean-Heavy Duty Vehicles grant competition, applicants will be evaluated based, in part, on the extent to which the project will develop a workforce impact assessment, prepare their workforce to operate and maintain the new vehicles and infrastructure, prioritize worker safety, and incorporate worker engagement into project implementation. In addition, EPA will require electricians installing, operating, or maintaining electric charging infrastructure to be certified from the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program, or another program approved by the EPA in consultation with the Department of Labor and the Department of Transportation. This will protect worker safety when installing electrical equipment and ensure school districts have trained professionals installing their equipment. Note, workforce development and training expenses are allowable uses of 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program funding.

Workforce Development Resources for Electric School Buses and Vocational Vehicles:

Workforce Development Resources for Zero-Emission Class 6 and 7 Heavy-Duty Vehicles:

  • Workforce Development Resources (Joint Office of Energy and Transportation)
    The Joint Office has collated example resources to support workforce development activities for an electrified transportation system.
  • Webinar: Workforce Development for the EV Charging Sector (Joint Office of Energy and Transportation)
    The Joint Office hosted a webinar focused on workforce development for the electric vehicle charging sector. The webinar included discussion on how to build a diverse and skilled workforce within the electrified transportation industry to support the operation and maintenance of EV charging infrastructure.

Inflation Reduction Act Tax Credits

  • Selectees may be eligible for Inflation Reduction Act tax credits applicable to their vehicle and infrastructure purchases; namely, the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit provides up to $40,000 for qualified commercial clean vehicles and the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit provides up to $100,000 for qualified charging and refueling infrastructure. Please see the Internal Revenue Service  website for more information on these credits. Any additional information regarding these credits will be shared on that website. If you have any questions, please refer to the  IRS Complex Tax Topics  page. The helplines listed on this page are also able to provide general information but are not able to provide specific tax advice.
    • IRS Helpline for Tax Paying Entities (private fleets, OEMs, bus dealers, eligible contractors, etc. 800-829-4933
    • IRS Helpline for Non-Tax Paying Entities (school districts, nonprofit school transportation associations, Tribal applicants, local government entities, etc. 877-829-5500
  • The IRS opened a free Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Pre-filing Registration Tool for organizations to register for an elective payment or the transfer of certain clean energy tax credits. Qualifying businesses, tax-exempt organizations or entities such as state, local and Indian Tribal governments can register to take advantage of these new tax mechanisms, due to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and CHIPS Act.
  • More information can be found on the EPA Tax Credits page.

Technical Request for Information

EPA announced a technical Request for Information on zero-emissions heavy-duty vehicles and port equipment to inform the development of the new Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles and Clean Ports Programs in the Inflation Reduction Act. The EPA invited manufacturers, fleets, ports, municipalities, school districts, utilities, and other stakeholders with zero-emission technology experience or understanding to respond to this RFI, by June 5, 2023 (closed).

EPA specifically requested information on the following technologies:

  • Zero-emission class 6 and 7 heavy-duty vehicles (e.g., electric or fuel cell delivery trucks, refuse trucks, utility trucks, school buses, and day cab tractors).
  • Zero-emission port equipment (e.g., electric or fuel cell dray trucks, harbor craft, locomotives, and cargo handling equipment).
  • Associated charging and other fueling infrastructure.

For these different zero-emissions technologies, the EPA requested information on:

  • Availability including manufacturer production capacity.
  • Performance including durability and maintenance requirements.
  • Pricing including payback period and lifecycle costs relative to those operating on conventional fuels.
  • Practical considerations for program design including project development best practices and workforce training needs.

Respondents were also requested to explain if equipment and components are currently manufactured in the United States or expect to be in the near future. Responses will help the EPA understand the availability of U.S. manufactured equipment and components to better create targeted funding programs and address Build America Buy America requirements.

This information will also help inform the EPA in discussions with other federal, state, and private sector stakeholders in helping determine approaches in supporting different funding opportunities.

Update: EPA’s Request for Information on the Development of Guidance for Zero-Emission Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Port Equipment, and Fueling Infrastructure Deployment under the Inflation Reduction Act Funding Programs is closed.

Public Engagement

The EPA’s general Request for Information on Inflation Reduction Act Provisions for Office of Air and Radiation Implementation closed on January 18, 2023.  You may view comments the Agency received on Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Program design in the Inflation Reduction Act Transportation Programs Non-Regulatory Docket for Public Input.

Public Listening Session

The EPA hosted a public listening session on how to design the new Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program on December 13, 2022. Watch a recording below.

Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers

EPA has selected 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers that will provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding. Entities eligible to receive TCTAC assistance include:

  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Community-based and grassroots organizations
  • Philanthropic and civic organizations
  • Underserved communities and organizations
  • Rural and remote communities and organizations
  • Educational institutions (e.g., schools, colleges, and universities), including Minority Serving Institutions
  • Individuals of underserved communities
  • Local, Tribal, and state governmental units
  • U.S. Territories

To identify the EJ TCTAC in your area and access grant technical assistance, visit the EJ TCTAC Program.

Climate Resilience Plans

The EPA encourages agencies and fleet owners to assess and implement climate change adaptation considerations to help ensure preparedness and limit negative effects. Adapting to climate change involves actions by individuals, businesses, governments, and others to build resilience and reduce vulnerability of human and natural systems to unavoidable climate impacts. Adaptation also reduces the long-term costs of responding to these impacts.   

The Federal Transit Administration developed the FTA Transit Resilience Guidebook to support transit agencies, local government officials, metropolitan planning organizations, and other entities responsible for operating, funding, or coordinating on public transportation in their efforts to anticipate, adapt to, and recover from service disruptions that current and future extreme weather event and other natural hazards can cause. While the guidebook was developed with a lens for supporting transit agencies, much of the guidebook is broadly applicable across project types. Thus, this guidebook can assist Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle program participants as they plan for and implement project resilience to climate impacts adaptation measures in their zero-emission vehicle replacement projects. 

Related Programs and Resources

Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program

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Last updated on October 29, 2024