The investments support a wide range of next-generation vehicles, including electric school buses in Sacramento, electric yard trucks in Fontana, hydrogen-powered buses in the Coachella Valley, and a fleet of electric delivery trucks for Goodwill Industries in the Bay Area. More than 65% of the investments are for projects or vehicles that are in, or benefit, disadvantaged communities.

• Cars: 115,000 Light-duty ZEVs and PHEVs (plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles), comprising 71,000 BEVs; 43,000 PHEVs and 1,000 FCEVs.

• Heavy-duty trucks: 46 class 7+8 heavy duty zero-emission trucks.

• Delivery, utility and refuse trucks: 950 trucks comprising 107 utility trucks; 732 hybrid delivery and refuse trucks; and 111 battery-electric delivery trucks.

• Transit and light rail: 407 zero-emission transit buses (309), shuttles (68) and light rail cars (30).

• School buses: 29 electric school buses.

• Off-road, cargo-handling: 46 zero-emission yard trucks, fork lifts, cargo-handling equipment.

One major focus of these investments is to accelerate the market for the next generation of clean, heavy-duty trucks and buses, both those that run on electricity and on hydrogen. Several are demonstration projects, such as putting newly built zero-emission trucks to work side-by-side with existing diesel trucks in rail yards or distribution centers to fully determine their benefits and capabilities in those demanding work environments.

In many cases, it is estimated that the overall operating costs of the zero-emission trucks and buses will be less than fossil-fuel powered trucks over the life of the vehicle because of lower fuel and maintenance costs. The California Climate Investments are designed to help drive down the upfront purchase price of the cleaner zero-emission trucks, and as their numbers increase, that cost will drop even further due to economies of scale.

Another goal of these investments is to support the market for zero-emission cars throughout the state, and making them available to residents of low-income communities. As a result of the state’s zero-emission regulation and incentives, California—with 283,000 zero-emission and plug-in vehicles to date—represents more than 40% of national zero-emission car sales, even though the state has only 10% of the nation’s population.

Many of these cars, trucks and buses are built in California. Tesla, which manufactures electric cars in the Bay Area; BYD, which builds buses in Lancaster; and Proterra, which builds zero-emission vehicles in the City of Industry, together employ more than 12,000 workers.

The cap-and-trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more. At least 35% of these investments are made in disadvantaged and low-income communities.