Zenith Motors' electric shuttles and cargo vans have been added to the list of vehicles eligible for a voucher fund through the Chicago-based Drive Clean Truck program.

The voucher program is designed to encourage fleet owners to convert their fleets from diesel to zero-emission commercial vehicles. Fleet owners that operate Class 2 to Class 8 vehicles in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake & Will, and McHenry counties can apply for funding to purchase an all-electric Zenith Shuttle or Cargo Van.

The voucher now makes Zenith electric cargo and passenger vans comparable in price to traditional gasoline powered vehicles. Factoring in the Chicago Truck Voucher and federal tax incentive of $7,500, a Zenith Electric Shuttle Van can be purchased for $39,400.

Zenith vans have a range from 90-120 miles per charge (depending on the battery options chosen). The average charging time is 6.5 hours, but can be reduced to four hours with an upgraded on board battery charger. The shuttle van seats up to 11 passengers, while the cargo van sports a payload capacity of 3,000lbs. Zenith electric vans are saving fleet operators an estimated $100,000 over 300,000 miles.     

BYD Motors, AMP Workhorse, and Smith Electric Vehicles are few of the other companies with vehicles eligible for the voucher program. Including Zenith Motors, there are 11 OEMs on the approved vendor list.