Heavy-duty off-road equipment eligibility applications now being accepted. Apply now

What is CORE?

How to Participate

Submitting a Voucher

What is CORE?

The California Air Resources Board (CARB), in partnership with CALSTART, launched the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) to accelerate the purchase of zero-emission off-road equipment in California.

CORE, analogous to the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), is a project intended to encourage California companies to purchase or lease currently commercialized zero-emission off-road freight equipment by providing a streamlined voucher process to offset the higher cost of such technologies.

CORE voucher amounts are based on the incremental cost difference between traditional equipment and new zero-emission alternatives. Additional funding is available for charging infrastructure, equipment deployed in pollution overburdened communities (DACs), and equipment purchased by small businesses.

How to Participate:
Choose your role in the purchase process

Criteria for Eligibility:

Any original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that meets California CORE Project technology eligibility requirements can become a CORE-eligible Manufacturer.  

Application acceptance is continuous throughout the funding cycle period. To learn more about the application process and the CORE Project, please visit https://californiacore.org/how-to-participate/ 

Steps for Participating in CORE:

  1. Read and understand the CORE Project Implementation Manual.
  2. Compile documents outlined in Attachment A. 
  3. Send the complete application package to [email protected]  
  4. Advise Dealers to become CORE-approved. 

Telematics Reporting:

  1. OEMs must submit monthly telematics for the first three months.
  2. After the initial three-month period, OEMs must submit the telematics data quarterly until the 3-year project participation period ends.
  3. Telematics data must include the following:
    1. Cumulative Time in Use (hours)
    2. Cumulative Energy Used (kWh)
    3. Percent of Time Operating in:
      • SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities;
      • AB 1550 Low-income Communities;
      • SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities and AB 1550 Low-income Communities;
      • AB 1550 Low-income Communities within a 1/2 mile of a SB 535 Disadvantaged Community;
      • Potential Low-income Households within ½ Mile of Disadvantaged Community
      • Average Energy Discharge Rate During Non-Idle Operation (kW).

Telematics Reporting Documents:

Criteria for Eligibility:

The information below is intended for Heavy-Duty equipment dealers. If you are looking to apply to become a CORE Professional Landscape Service Equipment Dealer, please click HERE.

Any Dealer affiliated with a CORE-eligible Manufacturer can become an approved CORE Dealer. Manufacturers can also fill the role of a Dealer for their own equipment. Note: OEMs acting as Dealers cannot make self-purchases.

Steps for Participating in CORE:

Dealers interested in participating in CORE must complete the following steps:

  1. Email a CORE Project Administrator expressing your interest in becoming a CORE-approved Dealer at [email protected]; attach the Dealer Registration Form, Dealer’s Terms & Conditions, and IRS W-9 Form.
  2. After confirmation, a CORE Project Administrator will provide the link to the CORE Dealer Enrollment Learning Module, a learning module based on the Implementation Manual that provides programmatic basics, insights on participation requirements, and a weighted quiz. Completion of the Dealer Enrollment Learning Module is mandatory. Prospective Dealers must score 80% or higher to meet the minimum standards for Dealer approbation. Allocate at least 60 minutes to complete this requirement. You must download and email the Certificate of Dealer Approbation (available upon completion of the module) to confirm you have completed the course.
  3. Once confirmation is verified, a CORE Project Administrator will provide Voucher Processing Center login credentials and add the newly CORE-approved Dealer to the Eligible Equipment Catalog.

Voucher Request Form Examples:

Below are examples of the information required to successfully submit a voucher request form through the online Voucher Processing Center (VPC). Note: The fields on the sample forms may not accurately reflect the required information on the online VPC. 

Criteria for Eligibility:

Any off-road equipment Purchaser in California is eligible. If you want to participate, the purchased equipment must be domiciled and operated for at least three years in California after the voucher redemption date. Equipment Purchasers must also submit activity reports for three years. 

The fleet size does not affect voucher amounts, and equipment Purchasers are not limited to the number of vouchers they can apply for. 

Steps for Participating in CORE:

  1. Select equipment that suits your needs from the Eligible Equipment Catalog.
  2. Contact a CORE-approved Dealer. The Dealer will submit the voucher request on your behalf.
  3. Provide the dealer with equipment domicile location, small business designation, and other information.
  4. Purchase your CORE-discounted equipment.

Review the CORE Implementation Manual for additional information.