Mecklenburg County GRADE Program

In 2007,  Mecklenburg County Air Quality  launched an innovative air quality improvement program called Grants to Replace Aging Diesel Engines or GRADE. GRADE is designed to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx), an ozone forming air pollutant, by providing businesses and organizations funding incentives to replace or repower heavy-duty diesel equipment with newer, cleaner, less polluting engines. 

 Click here to visit the GRADE website 

Since the 1950s, the United States government recognized the need to address the national environmental problem of air pollution. Its charge was the prevention and control of air pollution, which was declared a danger to public health and welfare. GRADE funds the replacement of heavy-duty diesel-powered, equipment and vehicles that operate in the eight-county Charlotte-Rock Hill, NC-SC Ozone Maintenance Area, which is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as an “area of poor air quality”. Mecklenburg County’s most recent emission inventory shows that 92% of ozone-forming emissions come from mobile sources. Of which, heavy-duty diesel emission sources have a disproportionate impact due to their lengthy lifecycle. 

Counties impacted: Anson, Cabarrus, Chester, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lancaster, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union, and York

In a global drive for more efficiency and sustainability, engine and fuel technologies are gradually moving away from carbon-based fossil fuels towards a zero emissions future!

Propane (Autogas): When propane (LPG) is used to fuel internal combustion engines, it is often referred to as autogas. It has been used since the 1940s as a petrol alternative for spark ignition engines. Its advantage is that it is non-toxic, non-corrosive and free of lead or any additives, and has a high-octane rating. It burns more cleanly than petroleum-based fuels and is especially free of the particulates present in the latter.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): Compressed natural gas (CNG) is an alternative fuel that is used to power vehicles. Energy is released by the combustion of methane gas fuel with oxygen from the air to form carbon dioxide and water vapor. Methane is the cleanest burning hydrocarbon and is absent of the many contaminants present in petroleum fuels. CNG is also renewable energy when mixed with biomethane derived from landfills or anaerobic digestion. Thus, offering net carbon neutrality in mobility. 

Hybrid Electric: The term hybrid vehicle most often refers to a petroleum-electric hybrid which commonly uses internal combustion engines (using a variety of fuels) and electric motors to power the vehicle. The plug-in-hybrid-electric-vehicle (PHEV) is becoming more common. The batteries can be plugged in for charging, as well as being charged while the combustion engine is in operation.

Battery Electric: A battery electric vehicle (BEV) is a type of vehicle that exclusively uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs, with no secondary source of propulsion (such as internal combustion engines). BEVs are becoming more attractive with the advancement of new battery technology that have higher power and energy density.

To find answers to Frequently Asked Questions and for additional resources visit the  Get Started with GRADE  site or click the link below for the FAQs.