California Air Resources Board

What Does it Fund?

Formerly known as Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects, the Sustainable Heavy-Duty Initiatives for Future Technology (SHIFT) program funds pre-commercial demonstrations and large-scale pilots of advanced technology and typically includes eligible project types such as on-road heavy-duty truck pilots, locomotives, rail, commercial harbor craft, port vehicles and equipment, aviation and ground support equipment, ocean-going vessels, cargo-handling equipment, off-road construction and agriculture equipment, infrastructure support, and green zones. These projects primarily demonstrate zero-emission vehicles and equipment that help California to meet its goals to reduce criteria pollutants, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and petroleum use.

Who is Eligible

An eligible applicant is needed to apply and administer any funding and can include local air districts, other public agencies, and California-based non-profit organizations. Privately owned companies, such as manufacturers and consulting firms, are not eligible applicants.

Privately owned companies are eligible to receive funding as part of a project team lead by an eligible applicant, regardless of where they operate, but any funded project needs to have a practical field demonstration in California.

How it’s Administered

The Program will be administered and implemented through a partnership between the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Grantee, selected via a competitive Solicitation. CARB also frequently partners with other agencies; the fiscal year 2021-22 and fiscal year 2022-23 Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Project Solicitation was jointly funded by CARB and the California Energy Commission. Up to eight percent of a projects award can be used for day-to-day project administration by the Grantee.

Where and When it’s Offered

Solicitations for funding are released on a semi-regular basis when funding is appropriated by the legislature and described in CARB's annual Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives (Funding Plan).

Project Funding or Participation Requirements

Each fiscal year, CARB staff submits a proposed Funding Plan to the Board for approval that serves as the blueprint for expending GGRF, AQIP, and other funds appropriated to CARB in the State budget for Low Carbon Transportation and related investments. The annual Funding Plan establishes CARB’s priorities for the funding cycle, describes the projects CARB intends to fund, and sets funding targets for each project. Once the Funding Plan is approved, CARB staff can develop and release a solicitation with the available funding, eligible project types, and guidelines for the projects. Funding is provided for projects that support evolution through three phases of technology advancement: demonstration, commercialization, and transition to widespread deployment.

Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives

Low Carbon Transportation Investments and AQIP Grant Solicitations