Bay Area grants pay up to $12,000 to trade an old car for an electric one
The Air District's Clean Cars for All program is open to income-qualified residents with cars from 2007 or earlier.
The Bay Area Air District, the regional agency that regulates air pollution, is taking applications for Clean Cars for All, which pays income-qualified residents to scrap an old gas car and replace it with a cleaner one, according to the agency.
Grants are $9,500 for a plug-in hybrid and $10,000 for a battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell car, $2,000 more for people in state-designated disadvantaged census tracts. A zero-emission motorcycle gets $4,500 to $6,500. Or take $7,500 on a prepaid card for transit and e-bikes. Up to $2,000 more is available for home charging.
What the cars are: A battery-electric car runs only on a battery charged from the grid. A plug-in hybrid has a smaller battery for short trips plus a gas engine. A fuel cell car makes electricity from hydrogen. A regular hybrid, which cannot be plugged in, is not on the program's list.
Who qualifies: Santa Clara County is included. The car must be a 2007 or older model, in working order, registered in California and titled to you. Household income must be at or below $47,880 for one person, $99,000 for four or $150,120 for seven. Buy only after you get an award letter, and only from a participating dealer, or the car will not be funded.
Program administrator GRID Alternatives answers questions at 855-256-3656.
Source: Bay Area Air District, Clean Cars for All overview and eligibility.