How to Participate

Heavy-Duty Funding Segment Opens August 19, 2025

Heavy-Duty Funding Segment Opens August 19, 2025 LEARN MORE

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) in 2020. Designed to encourage California businesses to purchase or lease cleaner off-road equipment, CORE offers a streamlined voucher process through which purchasers can receive funding to help offset the higher cost of zero-emission off-road equipment. Vouchers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, CORE provides enhanced incentives for small businesses and those located in priority populations, including disadvantaged communities.

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.

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. All equipment must have drive and power motors that add up to at least 19 kilowatts of power to be eligible to participate in CORE. Mobile Power Units (MPUs) must have at least 40 kilowatt-hours of energy storage.

Manufacturer Eligibility Applications are accepted continuously during the funding cycle. Applications submitted after June 18 aren’t guaranteed processing by opening day. 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 and Attachment E (for commercial harbor craft Manufacturers).
  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:

OEMs must submit a telematics report semiannually (twice per year) until the 3-year participation period ends.

  1. Telematics data must include the following:
  2. Cumulative Time in Use (hours)
  3. Cumulative Energy Used (kWh)
  4. 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:

Any dealer affiliated with a CORE-eligible manufacturer can become an approved CORE dealer. Manufacturers may also serve as dealers for their own equipment. Note: OEMs acting as dealers cannot make self-purchases.

Dealer applications submitted after July 22nd are not guaranteed to be processed by opening day (anticipated August 2025).

Steps for Participating in CORE:

Each staff member at a dealership interested in participating in the CORE Project must individually complete the following steps outlined below:

  1. The dealership must sell CARB-approved equipment featured in the Eligible Equipment Catalog.
  2. Submit a CORE Dealer Registration Form
    1. Be prepared to accept dealer terms and conditions
    2. Provide a copy of your dealership’s signed W-9
  3. Allow up to 30 days for your Dealer Registration Form to be reviewed. After review, you will be sent a link to the CORE Dealer Training Module. You must complete the training and receive a minimum score of 80% on the final weighted quiz.

Voucher Processing Center credentials will be issued within 30 days of approved status.
For additional assistance, contact a CORE Project Administrator at [email protected].

Steps for Previously Enrolled CORE-Dealers Participating in the CORE Project:

If you were previously enrolled and approved as a CORE dealer, you do not need to re-register as a new dealer. Please use your Voucher Processing Center (VPC) login credentials to access the VPC “Resources” page and review the updated materials.

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 small business or public agency 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. 

Small Business

A small business is an independently owned and operated business that is not dominant in its field of operation, the principal office of which is located in California, the officers of which are domiciled in California, and which, together with affiliates, averages annual gross receipts of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) or less over the previous three years.

Public Agency

A public agency or government entity means and includes every public office, public officer or official, institution, board, commission bureau, council, department, authority, or other unit of government of the State or any county, unit, special district, or other political subdivision of government.

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 and other information.
  4. Purchase your CORE-discounted equipment.

Review the CORE Implementation Manual and Attachment E (for commercial harbor craft purchasers) for additional information.

Compliance

The purchaser must show proof of business operations in the State of California for a minimum of one year prior to voucher request. This must include proof of valid registration with the Secretary of State for the business entity.

Purchasers are required to be in full compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements prior to submitting a voucher request application. If the Project Administrator requests documentation to verify compliance or a valid exemption, and the purchaser fails to provide such documentation within 30 calendar days, the voucher request may be subject to cancellation. Purchasers may submit a new voucher request for CORE funding once compliance is demonstrated.