CORE — Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project

CORE Vouchers

Funds zero-emission off-road equipment pilots through California vouchers to strengthen real-world implementation.

The Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE), administered by the California Air Resources Board, provides point-of-sale voucher discounts for the purchase or lease of commercially available zero-emission off-road equipment in California. No scrappage of existing equipment is required to qualify. The program is funded through Cap-and-Trade / GGRF proceeds as part of the California Climate Investments framework. The current funding round was fully subscribed and placed applicants on a waitlist; the next round is scheduled to open in August 2025.

CORE covers equipment in construction, earthmoving, lawn, garden, and landscape categories, with the eligible equipment catalog having expanded approximately fifteen-fold since the program's inception, reflecting ongoing additions of commercially available zero-emission models. A dedicated set-aside of approximately $6–7 million has been designated for professional landscape service equipment serving small-business landscapers and sole proprietors. Eligible applicants include for-profit businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and individuals who will operate the equipment in California; applications are submitted through participating dealers via californiacore.org.

The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis within each funding round, so preparation before a round opens is critical. Applicants should identify target equipment in the CORE catalog, confirm dealer participation in the program, and be ready to submit immediately when the August 2025 window opens. There is no competitive scoring process; eligibility and equipment approval determine voucher access.