The Department of Environmental Protection will begin accepting applications for its Alternative Fuels Incentive Vehicle Grants on April 26 and will continue to accept applications through December 13.  (formal notice)

DEP will make decisions on applications in hand as of July 12 and again on December 13.

Approximately $6 million in grants will be available for school districts, municipal authorities, political subdivisions, nonprofit entities, corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships incorporated or registered in this Commonwealth to support:

-- Incremental cost expenses relative to retrofitting vehicles to operate on alternative fuels as a bi-fuel, dual-fuel, hybrid or dedicated vehicle;

-- Incremental cost expenses to purchase bi-fuel, dual-fuel, hybrid or dedicated vehicle;.

-- The cost to purchase and install the necessary fleet refueling or workplace, home or intermediary refueling equipment for bi-fuel, dual-fuel, hybrid or dedicated vehicles; and

-- The cost to perform research, training, development and demonstration of new applications or next-phase technology related to alternative fuel vehicles.

Changes to the program for 2019 include:

-- For innovative technology projects, the maximum grant award has been increased to $600,000;

-- Standard hybrid vehicles are not eligible for an AFIG award, only plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are eligible;

-- For new compressed natural gas, liquified natural gas, propane, biodiesel vehicles using a blend greater than B20, electric vehicles with a battery system capacity equal to or greater than 30 kWh, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, applicants may request 100 percent of the incremental costs for all vehicle classes but no more than $7,500 for Class 1 and Class 2 passenger vehicles, and no more than $40,000 per vehicle for all other vehicle classes;

-- For electric vehicles with a battery system capacity between 10 kWh and 30 kWh, applicants may request a maximum of 75 percent of the incremental costs for all vehicle classes but no more than $5,000 per vehicle for Class 1 and Class 2 passenger vehicles, and no more than $30,000 for all other vehicle classes; and

-- For electric vehicles with a battery system capacity of less than 10 kWh, applicants may request a maximum of 50 percent of the incremental costs for all vehicles but no more than $1,000 for Class 1 and Class 2 passenger vehicles, and no more than $20,000 per vehicle for all other vehicle classes.

For more information, visit DEP’s Alternative Fuels Incentive Vehicle Grants webpage.

[Posted: April 19, 2019]

4/22/2019