Dallas is moving to swap out diesel rigs for cleaner models, and UPS is right there with the city at the front of the line. Both are among the first to chase a new pot of regional rebate money aimed at getting electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks on North Texas roads. The city has applied for three electric dump trucks, and UPS has requested 17 electric vehicles for its North Texas fleet. Local officials say the incentives are meant to cut smog-forming pollution and speed adoption in a sector where steep price tags and limited charging infrastructure have slowed things down.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments is running the North Texas Zero Emissions Vehicles Call for Projects and is offering roughly $58.6 million in rebates for eligible Class 6 and Class 7 replacements, according to NCTCOG. Applications have to be delivered in person to NCTCOG offices, with the next submission window closing May 15, 2026, at 5 p.m. Central. The program can cover both vehicles and supporting infrastructure, with specific eligibility rules and funding caps that vary by vehicle type.
The rebate pool traces back to the EPA’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles grant program, which tentatively awarded about $60 million to the North Texas project in early 2025, per EPA. That federal award was structured to support vehicle purchases along with infrastructure and workforce development tied to the transition. EPA officials said selectees will work with the agency on final awards and implementation timelines.
In the first review cycle, six applications were processed, and only the city of Dallas and UPS were approved, leaving about $55 million still on the table for future rounds, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. The city’s request covers three electric dump trucks, while UPS is seeking 17 vehicles, and neither applicant has yet received a contract authorizing the purchases. "There is no cap, no minimum, no maximum," Lori Clark, NCTCOG’s senior program manager, told The Dallas Morning News about application sizes.
Costs and infrastructure hurdles
Medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks are still pricey, which is a big part of why these rebates matter. The average Class 6 or Class 7 battery-electric vehicle can cost roughly $100,000 to $300,000, and that sticker shock has been a major obstacle. The EPA and NCTCOG allow award dollars to be used for charging or hydrogen fueling infrastructure and related training, giving fleets options beyond a straight vehicle rebate, according to EPA.
What fleets should know next
Fleets that operate primarily within the 16-county NCTCOG region and that can document how and where vehicles are used are eligible to apply. NCTCOG staff are offering office hours and publishing workshop materials to help applicants navigate the process, per NCTCOG. The next application deadline is May 15, 2026, and the council says it will keep considering projects on a rolling basis until the funds run out or the end of the year, whichever comes first.
