FONTANA - Today, the State of California, San Bernardino Council of Governments (SBCOG) and partners Daylight Transport and BYD Motors celebrate the arrival of the first of 27 next-generation, zero-emission electric yard and service trucks in three disadvantaged communities in San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Fontana.

The demonstration truck project is funded by $9 million from the State’s climate change-fighting cap-and-trade program and another $10.2 million in cash and in-kind matching funds. The project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.

“It’s exciting to see the first of these ultra-clean trucks roll off the manufacturing line in Lancaster and get to work moving cargo in Fontana,” California Air Resources Board Chair Mary D. Nichols said. “Electric trucks mean cleaner air for all Californians, especially those who live in neighborhoods close to freight transfer facilities and rail yards.”

The project represents a step toward the commercialization of heavy-duty, advanced, zero-emission technologies. The two types of trucks funded by the grant are the most common at every major freight location in the U.S., providing a model for truck electrification that could be scaled to any facility. CALSTART, a Pasadena-based clean transportation not-for-profit, will be evaluating the future potential for commercialization and job creation.

The project demonstrates 23 battery-electric 80,000-pound (GCVWR) Class 8 yard trucks and four 16,100-pound (GVWR) Class 5 service trucks. Three yard trucks and a service truck will operate at Daylight and the other 23 will operate at two BNSF Railway rail yards in San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties. BNSF will take delivery of the electric trucks this summer.

“Daylight Transport is excited to participate in the rollout of zero-emission yard trucks. We are committed to clean energy and sustainability,” said Daylight Transport Executive Vice President Greg Steele. “The collaboration with CARB, SBCOG and BYD will help us toward reducing our carbon footprint and operating in a continuously more environmentally conscious manner. This is an outstanding way to introduce ourselves to the Fontana community.”

“With this project, California is proving to critics that clean air and job creation are not mutually exclusive,” said Stella Li, president of BYD Motors. “BYD is proud of its role in this project as the provider of 27 zero-emission, all-electric trucks that are coming from our manufacturing facility in the city of Lancaster, Los Angeles County. Our electric trucks are safe and reliable, and every purchase of a BYD electric truck in California helps support local job creation.”

Over the two-year duration of the demonstration project, the zero-emission trucks are expected to reduce emissions of about 3,500 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent, 3,250 pounds of nitrogen oxide and 170 pounds of diesel soot. The Daylight Transport Service Center is a newly constructed, state-of-the-art, environmentally conscious facility. Power for the electric-vehicle chargers at the center will be generated by a 600-kilowatt solar system through net metering, which covers nearly the entire roof of the 60,000-square-foot warehouse. The electric trucks are provided by BYD, whose North American headquarters are in Los Angeles.

The California Climate Investments cap-and-trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are made in disadvantaged and low-income communities. For more information, visit https://arb.ca.gov/caclimateinvestments