The US Public Interest Research Group is urging state and local officials to use part of the $2.9 billion that Volkswagen has agreed to pay as a result of its diesel cheating scandal settlement to fund the purchase of more electric school buses. Companies like Motiv, Blue Bird, and Daimler now offer them for sale to bus transportation companies.
Where can I find information on the Kentucky VW settlement program?
Information can be found on the Kentucky VW Settlement web site. The solicitation for $8.5 million the school bus replacement program began on September 9, 2020 and a total of 93 school districts were approved for funding, replacing 163 school buses with model years 2001 and older.
What are the Volkswagen settlement funds being obliged for?
The Volkswagen funds have been obligate for the following: Developing Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Charging Infrastructure in the State Of the $8.125 million, obligated expenditures total $4.194,936, leaving $4,011,890 DC DOEE finalized the District’s Spending Plan for Volkswagen Settlement Funds (Beneficiary Mitigation Plan) in July, 2018.
How many school buses have been replaced with Dera and VW funds?
DNREC and DoEd replaced 57 state owned school buses using DERA and VW Settlement funds in year 1, a total of 24 school buses were replaced under Phase 1 year 2 with Volkswagen funds, and 34 school buses were replaced under Phase 1 Year 3 using VW funds.
Where can I find out more about the VW grant?
The plan is available on the website. The state announced a first round of VW grant funding on November 15, 2018. $4,900,000 total was made available with $3,150,000 for Class 4-8 School Bus, Shuttle Bus, and Transit Bus; $1,050,000 for Freight Trucks and Port Drayage Trucks; and $700,000 for Non-Road Transport and Equipment mitigation actions.
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What is the Volkswagen settlement fund?
The Volkswagen (VW) Environmental Mitigation Trust provides about $423 million for California to mitigate the excess nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions caused by VW's use of illegal emissions testing defeat devices in certain VW diesel vehicles.
How much money did Volkswagen lose in a recent settlement for violating the Clean Air Act?
Under the third partial settlement, Volkswagen has paid a $1.45 billion civil penalty for the alleged civil violations of the Clean Air Act.
How much was the VW settlement?
LONDON, May 25 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) will pay 193 million pounds ($242 million) as part of an out-of-court settlement to around 91,000 British drivers over a diesel emissions scandal that engulfed Europe's largest carmaker in 2015.
Who is eligible for VW settlement?
Who is Eligible? You may be able to join the Claim if your car was manufactured by Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Skoda or Porsche and: It is a 1.2, 1.6, 2.0, or 3.0 litre diesel vehicle with engine EA189, EA288 or EA897. It was manufactured between 2009 and 2019.
Is it too late to claim against VW?
Claims could take up to five years – or even longer As an example, in the original VW Group case, claims were first grouped together by the court in May 2018, but the case was only due to go to trial in January 2023, before a settlement was reached in May 2022.
How much will VW claimants get?
In an official statement this week, the Volkswagen Group has confimed that it will pay £193 million to the 91,000 claimants in an out-of-court settlement.
Are VW paying compensation?
More than 90,000 people will receive a share of £193million following a court settlement related to the VW emissions scandal. The Volkswagen Group will pay out a share of £193million to around 91,000 drivers in England and Wales following a high-profile lawsuit relating to the 'Dieselgate' scandal.
Is it too late to claim for VW dieselgate?
Unfortunately, the Volkswagen Dieselgate claim is now finished and closed for any new claimants. The case was settled by Volkswagen in May 2022. This means you cannot begin your VW emission claim for compensation.
How much did Volkswagen pay for emissions scandal?
Volkswagen will receive around $350 million as part of a settlement with executives who ran the company during the Dieselgate emissions cheating scandal, after claiming they breached their “duty of care.”
What are the effects of Volkswagen emission scandal?
Software detected when cars were being tested for compliance with emissions rules; the software then adjusted the engines so that they passed. But in normal use, the engines emitted far more pollution, including up to 40 times more nitrogen oxide, which contributes to asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.
How was the Volkswagen scandal resolved?
On June 28, 2016, Volkswagen entered into a multi-billion dollar settlement to partially resolve alleged Clean Air Act violations based on the sale of 2.0 liter diesel engines that were equipped with software designed to cheat on federal emissions tests, known as “defeat devices.” The settlement was formally entered ...
How much will VW pay for buyback?
VW owners who had their vehicles when the scandal erupted in September 2015 have two options. They are generally eligible for a vehicle buyback ranging in value from $12,500 to $44,000. Or they can get their car fixed to make it legal and receive a payout ranging from about $5,000 to $10,000.
Who can benefit from VW settlement?
Allow local transit agencies and members of the general public who use mass transit to benefit directly from VW Settlement trust funds.
What happens if you get settlement funds for an electric vehicle?
If Settlement funds are awarded for a new all-electric vehicle, charging equipment associated with that vehicle may also receive trust funds.
How to accelerate the adoption of ZEVs?
Accelerate the future adoption of ZEVs by demonstrating to transit fleet operators and the public that these vehicles are viable and by allowing transit fleet operators to gain familiarity and expertise with them .
What does CDOT evaluate?
CDOT will evaluate your request for Settlement funding of alt-fueled replacements based on the merits and viability of your agency’s alternative fuel vehicle plan, your methodology for implementing that plan, and your technical capability and preparedness for implementation.
What type of fuel is used in Colorado transit buses?
Conventional-fueled (gas, diesel) Model year 2009 and older Class 4-8 transit vehicles may be replaced with new original equipment manufacturer (OEM) alternative-fuel (all-electric, hydrogen fuel cell or renewable natural gas (RNG)). Eligible buses must of age and/or accumulated mileage to warrant replacement and must be destroyed following delivery of the replacement vehicle to ensure they are no longer used. If you are applying for funds to replace an existing bus with an electric bus, charging equipment associated with that vehicle may also receive funds. See Colorado's 2019 Beneficiary Mitigation Plan on CDPHE's website for further details.
Where is the VW diesel impacted?
Improve air quality in areas that have historically borne a disproportionate share of the air pollution burden within Colorado and areas that were disproportionately impacted by the violating VW diesel emissions, including the Denver, North Front Range, and Pikes Peak regions.
Does Transit Bus replace engines?
The Transit Bus Replacement Program is limited to vehicle replacements and will not fund engine repowers or non-QVM conversion kits. Repowers and non-OEM conversions can lead to warranty and maintenance concerns. Requiring new vehicle purchases will enhance vehicle safety and invest trust funds in projects with longer service lives.
Ohio
New York
- New York hasn’t yet released its beneficiary mitigation plan, but the state has indicatedthat it will include the replacement of old, high-emitting school buses, among other vehicles. In all categories, New York will prioritize replacement of diesel vehicles with electric vehicles. The state’s share of the VW settlement mitigation funding is $127.7 million.
Georgia
- School transportation advocates are bound to be disappointed by Georgia’s final mitigation planfor its VW funding. The state announced that it intends to allocate 100% of its $63.6 million share to replace older, higher-polluting transit buses in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
California
- California is doubling down on electric vehicles with its VW funds. The state’s proposed beneficiary mitigation plan, released on Friday, would earmark $130 million to replace eligible school, transit, and shuttle buses with new “zero-emission technologies” (in other words, electric vehicles). The California Air Resources Board is proposing to prov...
Illinois
- Illinois’ plans for its VW mitigation fundsfavor off-road projects (including freight switcher locomotives, ferries/tugs, and passenger locomotives), which would account for up to 65% of the state’s initial allocation of $108 million. However, up to 10% (about $10.9 million) would be tabbed to replace diesel school buses with all-electric school buses and charging infrastructure.
Colorado
- Colorado’s planprovides about $18 million — 26% of the state’s initial allocation of trust funds — to replace around 400 to 450 medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school and shuttle buses, railroad freight switchers, airport ground support equipment units, and heavy forklifts with alternative-fuel vehicles (e.g., compressed natural gas, propane, or hybrid) or electric vehicles.
Louisiana
- Louisiana hasn’t yet released a mitigation plan for its roughly $18 million share of the VW funds, but the state is proposingto target the replacement of eligible diesel school buses with “electric, alternative fuel or high-efficiency diesel vehicles.”
Stay Up to Date with Your State
- The VW settlement was a topic of discussion during an alternative-fuel roundtable at the 2018 School Bus eXchange last week. Randy Ray of IC Bus summed up the VW funding picture neatly: “Some states are doing an excellent job of including school transportation; some are not,” he said. Ray, along with Rusty Mitchell of Blue Bird and Jim Crowcroft of Thomas Built Buses, encourage…
Evaluation Criteria
- CDOT will evaluate your request for Settlement funding of alt-fueled replacements based on the merits and viability of your agency’s alternative fuel vehicle plan, your methodology for implementing that plan, and your technical capability and preparedness for implementation.
Available Funds
- Approximately $16 million remains to be awarded of the $30 million total Settlement Transit Bus Replacement budget. These funds are anticipated to be available for awards over the next two to three subsequent annual award cycles. Exact funding amounts to be awarded through the 2019 and future years' award cycles will be determined by the scoring co...
About The Process
- The CDOT Division of Transit and Rail (DTR) will implement this program through its existing awards processes. DTR currently conducts an annual competitive process known as the Consolidated Call for Capital Projects (CCCP) as a means to identify, evaluate, and select transit capital projects for grant assistance. Instead of conducting a separate application process for e…
Applications
- The application period is expected to open on September 30, 2019. The deadline for applications is Nov. 15, 2019. All applications must be submitted through DTR's awards management system (COTRAMS). Applicants that are new to COTRAMS or are first-time DTR applicants must contact Ken Mooney at [email protected] to request a COTRAMS agency and user profile b…
Matching
- DTR may use a combination of existing state or federal funds and Settlement funds to incentivize the purchase of zero-emission transit vehicles. Applicants may request awards of DTR's existing program funds for an amount equivalent to 80% of the cost of a new diesel replacement bus. The Settlement funds may also be awarded in an amount equivalent to 110% of the incremental cos…
Program Criteria Include
- An identified vehicle must be scrapped (cut the vehicle’s frame rails completely in half and cut a minimum 3-inch hole in the engine block) for each new vehicle that is funded.
- Vehicles identified for replacement must be drivable and must have been registered, operated and insured in Colorado for the previous two years. This ensures the program achieves real emission redu...
- An identified vehicle must be scrapped (cut the vehicle’s frame rails completely in half and cut a minimum 3-inch hole in the engine block) for each new vehicle that is funded.
- Vehicles identified for replacement must be drivable and must have been registered, operated and insured in Colorado for the previous two years. This ensures the program achieves real emission redu...
- Public, private, for-profit and non-profit fleets used only for the delivery of public transit services that meet all other applicable eligibility requirements.
- The Transit Bus Replacement Program is limited to vehicle replacements and will not fund engine repowers or non-QVM conversion kits. Repowers and non-OEM conversions can lead to warranty and mainte...
Program Goals
- Colorado's overall goal for the use of funds is to achieve the maximum long-term air quality benefit for the state of Colorado by stimulating demand for new classes and types of ZEVs. As such, some of the following principles for administering the funds are as follows: 1. Incentivize transformational projects that promote a broader shift in fleet technology and operations, thereb…
More Information
- Visit CDPHE for more information on the Volkswagen Settlement and additional funding programs. Access the 2019 Colorado Beneficiary Mitigation Planand further details about administration of the Transit Bus Replacement Program. (see pages 13 and 14 specifically). DTR's page regarding the Consolidated Call for Capital Projects If you have more questions, contact Ke…