The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) have announced the expansion of the NYC Clean Trucks Program.

The expansion will reportedly be backed with US$20 million (c. £14.71m) from the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ) tolling program. NYC DOT stated that the funds will enable it to clean the city’s air by beginning to accept new applications to replace hundreds of older diesel trucks with new electric, hybrid, compressed natural gas, or clean diesel vehicles today, April 22, using additional rebate incentive funding.

Funding for the NYC Clean Trucks Program was included as part of the more than $330m (c. £242m) mitigation plan in the Congestion Relief Zone Tolling Program’s Environmental Assessment. This was created to reduce diesel exhaust emissions by replacing older, heavy-polluting diesel trucks with new battery-electric, clean diesel trucks, or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-emission-compliant alternative fuel.

The program so far has replaced 714 diesel trucks since 2012, resulting in a 97% reduction of fine particulate matter (24.3 tons/year) and an 89% reduction in nitrogen oxides (418.6 tons/year).

NYC DOT also stated that the rebate incentive program eases the financial burden of purchasing new trucks and helps to accelerate the deployment of medium- and heavy-duty Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Plug-In Electric Vehicles (PHEV), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or diesel-fuelled trucks.

Rebate incentives range from $12,000 to $340,000 (c. £8835 to £250,26)per truck replacement, depending on fuel type and truck class size. The incentive funds provide point-of-sale rebates to reduce the cost for commercial fleets that want to purchase new trucks with advanced and clean fuel technologies.

New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, said: "Another win for congestion pricing on the books.

"This $20m (c. £14.71m) investment to replace polluting diesel trucks with clean, battery-electric alternatives is an investment in our lungs, in our neighborhoods, and in New Yorkers who deserves to breathe clean air. I’m grateful for the close collaboration with our City and State partners as we continue to deliver safer streets, healthier communities and a greener future for New York City."