It marks the first in a series of incentive programs that will be funded by the port’s recently enacted Clean Truck Fund (CTF).

The voucher program uses California’s existing Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) funding application process to provide incentive funding of $150,000 toward eligible zero-emission truck purchases servicing the San Pedro Bay port complex.

Los Angles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the port isn’t solely an economic driver but must also show environmental stewardship and prosperity go hand-in-hand.

He said, “As we continue to move record cargo, the need for zero-emission solutions has never been more clear – and working in partnership with the California Air Resources Board, we will continue to forge ahead with our work to clean our air and accelerate our transition to zero-emission technologies.”

Investment in the Clean Truck Fund started in April and it is expected to generate $45m annually , said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. It is the first of many funding initiatives the port is planning.

Last November, the Los Angeles Harbor Commission authorised the collection of $10 per Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) from cargo owners on loaded containers from diesel-powered drayage trucks entering and exiting the port.

The CTF Rate is a key component of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan goal of 100% zero-emission drayage trucks by 2035.

Launched by the California Air Resources Board, HVIP is part of California Climate Investments. Funding is administered by CALSTART, the current HVIP administrator, on a first-come, first-served basis through the existing HVIP voucher request process.

Voucher requests for the $5m will follow HVIP requirements, including the eligible trucks and dealers listed at californiahvip.org.

Additional allocations from the Clean Truck Fund are expected to be made available later this year.

The busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere, the Port of Los Angeles is North America’s leading trade gateway and has ranked as the number one container port in the United States for 22 consecutive years.

In 2021, the Port facilitated $294bn in trade and handled a total of 10.7m container units, the busiest calendar year in the Port’s 115-year history.

San Pedro Bay port complex operations and commerce facilitate one in nine jobs across the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura.

Southern California Gas Co. recently announced a ‘multi-million-dollar collaboration’ with Landi Renzo USA for 200 new Ford F-250 service pickup trucks to join the utilities fleet. The trucks will be converted to run on renewable natural gas (RNG).

Transportation (27%) is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, with light duty vehicles (57%) and medium- and heavy-duty trucks (26%) the largest sectors by source.