Four Steps to Prepare for Volkswagen EMT Funding
The Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust settlement continues to move forward. Most recently, an agreement was filed with the courts, which is a good indication that we are coming closer to a trustee effective date. Once the trustee date is established, then a beneficiary for each state will be named, and mitigation plans can be developed for how the funding will be allocated and dispersed.
Are you prepared to take advantage of the funding? We recommend the following steps to be in the best position to request funding from your state.
Step 1: Define your fleet’s needs, and know how many pre-2007 diesel engines you have in your fleet. The Environmental Mitigation Trust defines the exact types of vehicles for this funding, which includes Class 4-8 school, shuttle or transit bus replacement, and Class 4-7 medium-duty truck replacement. All of our vehicle platforms would be eligible, including the Blue Bird Vision Propane school bus and the ROUSH CleanTech Ford E-450 paratransit shuttle bus.
Step 2: Reach out for help to frame the project for your state’s beneficiary. We have a number of resources and information to help build the case for propane autogas vehicles to be included in your state’s plan.
Step 3: Review our propane autogas NOx reduction effectiveness calculations that were recently updated with the latest AFLEET data set. You will see that propane autogas provides the best value in NOx reduction per dollar spent by a wide margin in class 4-7 trucks and school buses.
Step 4: Respond and participate in meetings that will help your state develop their mitigation plan. Although this process has been in the works for almost a year, you can still get in on the early stages of plan development. Don’t assume that your state has finalized their plans — even if you’ve heard rumors on how it will be allocated. Don’t let that funding go somewhere else because your state’s beneficiary wasn’t well informed. There is still time to make your case for propane known.
For more information about the Environmental Mitigation Trust, please click here. And, if you need any help, please contact Chelsea Jenkins at Chelsea.Jenkins@roush.com.
Enjoy the last few days of summer and talk to you in October.
Sincerely,
Todd Mouw
