California Center for Sustainable Energy

CCSE will continue giving rebates for plug-in electrics

The California Air Resources Board has renewed its contract with CCSE to administer the statewide Clean Vehicle Rebate Project ( CVRP) for 2011 and set aside $4.7 million in second-year funding for rebates for plug-in electric hybrids and zero emission vehicles.

According to David Almeida, associate program manager of CCSE’s transportation program, the new funds will be added to the $2.3 million left from 2010. He said that $1.4 million in rebates were distributed in 2010 for 213 vehicles ranging from motorcycles to commercial trucks.

In a separate development, the California Energy Commission announced Jan. 11 that it will put an additional $2 million into the CVRP this year. According to Almeida, the commission is restricting their funds for highway-approved vehicles capable of carrying four passengers, such as the Nissan LEAF, Honda Clarity (fuel cell) and other zero emission cars due to come onto the market in 2011 if they meet program requirements. The $2 million from the commission provides enough money for 400 more buyers of four-passenger zero emission vehicles to receive refunds.

Almeida gave the breakdown of 2010 rebates by vehicle type:

• 108 zero emission vehicles
• 38 commercial zero emission vehicles
• 30 neighborhood electric vehicles
• 37 zero emission motorcycles

For a complete list of eligible vehicles and rebate amounts, visit the CVRP website.

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