Nikola Corporation has received a California Air Resources Board (CARB) Zero Emission Powertrain (ZEP) executive order that is a requirement for Nikola’s Tre hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) to be eligible for CARB’s Hybrid and Zero Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) program. Following receipt of this executive order, Nikola has submitted an application for eligibility of the Nikola Tre FCEV as an authorized vehicle under the HVIP program for a base incentive amount valued at $240,000 per FCEV truck.
Upon final HVIP approval, purchasers of the Nikola Tre FCEV in 2023 will be able to qualify for a base incentive valued at $240,000 per truck; $270,000 per truck for drayage fleets; or up to $288,000 per truck for fleets with either 10 trucks or less; performing drayage operations; or located within a disadvantaged community area. Eligible non-drayage fleets may secure up to 30 HVIP vouchers and drayage fleets may secure up to 50 vouchers.
In addition to the funding provided by HVIP, purchasers of Nikola’s Tre battery-electric vehicle (“BEV”) and FCEVs will also qualify for an additional $40,000 in clean commercial vehicle tax credits in 2023 from the federal government due to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
CARB’s ZEP executive order is a certificate of compliance with CARB regulations for zero-emission powertrains determined to meet specific emissions standards required for sale in California. Obtaining this certification is also a requirement for vehicles to qualify for HVIP. HVIP intends to advance commercialization and to help reduce the total cost of ownership of advanced commercial vehicles in the state of California. HVIP is unique among incentive programs and is viewed as more powerful than other incentive programs in accelerating the adoption of zero tailpipe emission commercial vehicles. That is because it is a first-come, first-served incentive program that does not require the retirement and scrappage of an existing diesel vehicle.
