On December 11, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced 70 tentatively selected applications to receive a total of approximately $735 million in Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles (CHDV) Grant Program funds under the Inflation Reduction Act. The selected applications are projected to fund an estimated 2,400 new Class 6 and Class 7 zero-emission school buses and vocational vehicles, as well as eligible infrastructure, in 27 states, along with three Tribes or Tribally-controlled schools, and one U.S. territory. Proposed replacement vehicles include battery-electric box trucks, cargo trucks, emergency vehicles, refuse/recycling haulers, school buses, shuttle buses, step vans, transit buses, utility vehicles, and other vocational vehicles, as well as a small number of hydrogen fuel cell transit buses.
Over three million Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles are currently in use in the United States, many of which are non-zero-emission vehicles powered by internal combustion engines that pre-date recent EPA emissions standards. These vehicles emit harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxide (NOx), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and greenhouse gases. Since heavy-duty engines can operate for 30 years or more, legacy vehicles disproportionately contribute to harmful tailpipe emissions from the transportation sector. Replacing existing Class 6/7 vehicles with new zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles will result in cleaner air and better health outcomes for communities across the country.
Fairfax County Public Schools, Henrico County Schools, and Roanoke County Schools all identified for awards for 103 vehicles.
The CHDV Grant Program will reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the deployment of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles and associated infrastructure. These emission reductions are expected to be particularly impactful in areas designated as in nonattainment with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards since, per the Inflation Reduction Act, more than $400 million will be awarded to vehicle projects that serve one or more communities in nonattainment areas. This award strategy is also consistent with the White House’s Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities to promote environmental justice. Selected vehicle replacement projects will result in cleaner air and improved health for the communities in which they operate, the children and other passengers on the vehicles, and the drivers and maintenance staff who work closely on these vehicles.
[Content courtesy of the US EPA.]