Financing & incentives
Pay for it without the guesswork
Lease, finance or buy, and which incentives are actually still open. We checked every program below on September 28, 2026.
ZET Lease
ZET Financial offers a fair-market-value walk-away lease for battery-electric Class 8 trucks. It names Tesla Semi as its primary truck, "and other models".
- $0 down as its standard structure, with 100% financing available
- No residual obligation: at the end, return the truck, extend or upgrade (depending on the lease)
- Starts with a total-cost-of-operation review of your routes, charging and duty cycle
What ZET doesn't publish
The lease term, mileage allowance, rates and credit criteria aren't on ZET's site. ZET sets and approves its own leases; ask them, or ask us to help you prepare.
ZET SCALE
ZET SCALE (Zero-Emission Truck Shipper-Carrier Alliance Leading Electrification) brings shippers, carriers, truck makers, charging providers and finance together to deploy electric Class 8 trucks at scale.
- Run by Catalyst Mobility (formerly CALSTART) and Smart Freight Centre, with ZET Financial as finance partner
- On September 22, 2026 it announced an order for 2,500 battery-electric Class 8 trucks, with Tesla as primary maker and Kenworth, RIDE and Volvo as secondary makers
- First freight hubs include Houston, Dallas and San Antonio
- Bulk truck pricing, help with charging and grants, and introductions to shipper freight, which depend on each shipper's needs and location
Is it for you?
The program says it isn't only for large fleets, and carriers join through ZET Lease. We can tell you whether your routes fit before you apply.
Financing through Oliver Truck Center
For used Class 8 trucks and trailers, Oliver Truck Center finances all credit types, with multi-truck packages for fleets.
Incentives: what's still open
The big federal credits for electric trucks and chargers have ended. What's left is mostly state programs and general tax rules. Checked September 28, 2026.
Open or opening
Texas VW settlement: TxVEMP All-Electric
Replaces older Class 8 local freight and port drayage trucks with all-electric ones.
Taking applications first-come until August 31, 2029 or until funds run out (about $26.7M left as of September 17, 2026).
Official page: Texas VW settlement: TxVEMP All-ElectricTexas TERP Seaport and Rail Yard Areas (SPRY)
Up to 80% of eligible costs for drayage trucks working at listed Texas seaports and rail yards.
Taking applications until March 12, 2027, while funds remain.
Official page: Texas TERP Seaport and Rail Yard Areas (SPRY)Texas TERP Clean Fleet Program
For fleets of 75+ vehicles in Texas replacing at least 10 diesel vehicles.
Closed now; the state projects it reopens January 2027.
Official page: Texas TERP Clean Fleet ProgramCalifornia HVIP
Point-of-sale vouchers for trucks operating in California; the Tesla Semi Long Range is listed.
Standard funding closed (expected to reopen by the end of 2026); drayage and public-fleet categories open.
Official page: California HVIP
Still applies
100% bonus depreciation (federal)
Write off qualifying trucks and chargers in the first year. Not specific to electric trucks.
Permanent for property acquired after January 19, 2025.
Official page: 100% bonus depreciation (federal)12% federal excise tax on new heavy trucks
Applies to diesel and electric trucks alike, including the battery.
Still in force; repeal bills have been introduced but not passed.
Official page: 12% federal excise tax on new heavy trucksCanada: 100% first-year write-off (CCA Class 55)
For zero-emission heavy vehicles.
For vehicles acquired after 2024 and available for use before 2030.
Official page: Canada: 100% first-year write-off (CCA Class 55)
Ended
Federal commercial clean vehicle credit (45W)
Up to $40,000 per new electric truck.
Ended for trucks acquired after September 30, 2025 (unless a binding contract and payment were in place by then).
Official page: Federal commercial clean vehicle credit (45W)Federal charger credit (30C)
Up to $100,000 per charger in eligible areas.
Ended for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026.
Official page: Federal charger credit (30C)EPA Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Grants for Class 6 and 7 zero-emission vehicles (never Class 8).
Closed, with no new funding.
Official page: EPA Clean Heavy-Duty VehiclesCanada iMHZEV
Up to $150,000 per electric Class 8 truck.
Ended March 31, 2026, with no successor announced.
Official page: Canada iMHZEV
Programs change often and have their own eligibility rules. This is general information, not tax or legal advice: confirm with the program and your tax adviser before you rely on it.