Funding to replace older diesel vehicles with clean vehicle options
Funded Fleets
across Tennessee
Any entity that owns and operates vehicles in Tennessee for a Tennessee-based fleet or fleet domicile site may apply. This includes contractors that provide transportation or hauling services.
Bledsoe County Schools
Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools
Clean Sweep, Inc.
City of Memphis
FedEx Express
Hancock County Schools
Knoxville Utilities Board
Rhea County Schools
Roane County Schools
Rye Engineering
Sevier County Utility District
Weakley County Schools
Washington County Schools
Waste Management

RDE4HT
at a glance
The funding for the 2021-22 application period opened on December 12, 2021. January 22, 2022 (at 5pm CT) is the deadline for applications to be turned in to ETCleanFuels for the 2021-2022 award year.
Anyone with a fleet that resides in Tennessee can apply for a maximum of 15 new vehicles or engine replacements. Priority will be on new alternative fuel school buses and other trucks over new diesel buses or trucks.
Public and private locations that would like to install TSE (Truck Stop Electrification), electric TRUs or “reefers” (trailer refrigeration units, or eTRU when able to run off of Shorepower-type electricity) may also apply.
- Recipient must put a 3-inch hole in the engine block of the vehicle.
- Recipient must cut both frame rails of the vehicle in half.
Photographic evidence of vehicle disposal must be submitted as a requirement of funding. This includes at least three photos of the engine hole (from receding distances) and two photos of the frame rails, before and after for each rail.
If needed, you can request approval to crush or destroy an vehicle – engine included. You must request this in advance of disposal and receive approval from ETCleanFuels before proceeding, and video evidence will be required that shows the vehicle VIN before destruction.
- The existing vehicle must be fully operational.
- The participating fleet owner must have owned and operated the vehicle during the 2 years prior to replacement or upgrade.
- The existing vehicle must have at least 3 years remaining life at the time of replacement or upgrade.
- The existing vehicle must have traveled at least 7,000 miles/year during the 2 years prior to replacement or upgrade.
- School buses may use mileage from the calendar year (Jan-Dec) 2019.
The total amount of funding available for all applicants in 2021-2022 funding period is $310,000.
Primarily in Tennessee, RDE4HT funding is used by fleets to replace class 5-8 diesel vehicles or engines. Funding comes as a rebate on a certain percentage of your replacement cost that is paid out once all contract requirements have been met. The maximum vehicle funding is based on how well the new vehicle or engine meets or beats current EPA NOx emissions standard. Successful applicants can receive funding up to:
- 25% of the total new vehicle cost that meet the current NOx standard of 0.2 grams per brake horsepower-hour (g/bhp-hr),
- 35% of the total new vehicle cost for vehicles that reach what’s called “low-NOx” emissions of 0.1 g/bhp-hr, and
- 45% of the total new vehicles cost for vehicles that have no tailpipe.
However, there are some other funding options, including a) repowering an old diesel vehicle, b) converting old diesel vehicles to run on alternative fuels, c) installing truck stop electrification (TSE) equipment at travel stops or private trucking terminals, and d) installing electric transport refrigeration units (eTRU) equipment on trailers.
This program is funded by the EPA’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA), and is distributed through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and East Tennessee Clean Fuels (ETCleanFuels). The funds for RDE4HT come from the state of Tennessee’s allotment for state EPA funding.
Eligibility for Applicants
APPLICATION PRIORITY
In 2021-22, the following priority will be assigned to funding projects: (1) Alternative-fuel school buses, (2) Other alternative-fuel vehicles/engines, (3) New diesel school buses, (4) Other new diesel vehicles/engines