Bay Area Air District offers incentives for electric cars
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is ramping up its “clean car” incentive program. The district offers grants to residents who choose to trade in their older gas-powered cars to purchase hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or all-electric vehicles. Grants could be as much as $9,500.
The “Clean Cars for All” program was originally limited to a few Bay Area communities. However, it will now include San Mateo County as well as the other eight counties that come under the air district’s purview. The program began in March of 2019, and so far, more than 100 residents have participated with more than $1 million being granted so far.
The district has set a few basic qualifications for program participation. Those are:
- Residents’ household income must be within specified limits.
- The cars being traded in must be at least 15 years old, functional and currently registered in the applicants’ name.
The grant amount is based on an applicant’s income, household size and choice of replacement vehicle.
Some residents who received the full $9,500 grant have been able to buy used electric cars without paying anything out-of-pocket. Additionally, residents who choose not to buy a vehicle in exchange for their trade-in cars can receive funding toward public transportation instead.
Organizations behind the program
The Bay Area Air District, which is spearheading the clean cars program, was established by the California legislature in 1955, and was the first regional air pollution management agency in the the country. Its mission was regulating the stationary sources of air pollution, such as industrial plants, in the nine Bay Area counties.
California Climate Investments is the organization supporting the district’s “Clean Cars for All” program. Climate Investments uses proceeds from California’s Cap and Trade program. These proceeds generally come from auctions for emission allowances.
To find out to participate in the “Clean Cars for All” program, click on this link.
