Nikola Eligible for Carb Voucher Programme

Nikola has received approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its Tre FCEV truck to be eligible for the Board’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) programme.

 

This approval will now enable customers of Nikola’s fuel-cell electric truck ‘Tre’ to access a point-of-sale incentive starting at $240,000 and ranging up to $288,000 per truck. Customers will also be eligible for a $40,000 clean commercial vehicle tax credit from the federal government due to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.

 

Production of the Tre started with the battery-electric version in 2022, before the fuel cell variant came out later in the same year. 2022 was a tough year for the company, as Nikola struggled to reach production targets, as well as having to issue a recall for all 93 Nikola Tre electric trucks that had been produced thus far.

 

However, orders have kept piling on and the issues with the truck have been fixed. A hydrogen logistics partnership was even launched together with E.On. In January of this year, another major order had been issued for Nikola’s fuel cell version of the Tre. With the new incentive programme in California, the company will likely be able to build on that order over the rest of the year.

 

“The inclusion of the Nikola Tre FCEV in California’s HVIP program is a very exciting development as we continue introducing innovative zero-emission truck technology options in our priority sales market and distinguish ourselves as the only OEM offering both battery-electric and FCEVs this year,” said Nikola president and CEO Michael Lohscheller, before adding: “The combined incentives available to customer fleets through the HVIP program and the Inflation Reduction Act are critical for driving a competitive total cost of ownership and accelerating market adoption of the Tre FCEV, which will be powered by the hydrogen fuel supply and infrastructure implemented through HYLA, Nikola’s recently launched hydrogen energy brand, and with service provided by our national dealer network.”