The California Energy Commission (CEC) Tuesday rolled out a $50 million competitive program to advance electric vehicle (EV) and hydrogen transportation technologies for truck fleets. 

Natural gas vehicle (NGV) funding was not included in the funding, which in part is focused on mitigating emissions in poor communities.

“Only battery-electric or hydrogen technologies will be eligible,” said CEC spokesperson Michael Ward. “Ultimately, where the funding goes will depend on the applications received once the program launches in the fall.”

The CEC’s 2019-20 Clean Transportation Plan shifted investments to focus on zero-emission technologies. The move was driven by a combination of “market needs and the wide commercial availability of natural gas technologies,” Ward...