About the Formula Hybrid Grant

Grant Funded by the California Air Resources Board

In May 2007, Plug In America received a grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to support the participation of teams from California in the Formula Hybrid competition. Formula Hybrid challenges teams of college and university students to design, build, and race formula racecars with electric-gas hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains.

Plug In America was one of just forty grant recipients out of 200 applicants for $25 million allocated in 2006 by the California legislature to encourage the early adoption of alternative fuels in California.

In addition to sponsoring Formula Hybrid, Plug In America will be making direct grants of up to $15,000 to teams from four California universities and colleges so that they can design, build, and enter the Formula Hybrid competition next year. Use this application form to apply. All grant applications are due no later than October 21, 2008.

Formula Hybrid Grant Rules

• Must be an accredited California university or college.
• Teams must raise equivalent matching funds and/or in-kind donations.
• Teams and vehicles must abide by all Formula Hybrid rules and regulations.
• All money granted to school must be used for designing, building, testing, or transporting a Formula Hybrid vehicle. Travel expenses for team participation at the Formula Hybrid competition in New Hampshire, May 2009 are also considered acceptable expenditures.
• Teams may not divert Formula Hybrid grant funding toward any other projects.
• Teams and schools must keep detailed records of how grant funding was used, and grant funding usage may be audited by Plug In America. Teams will provide an accounting of expenditures within 15 days of a written request.
• Teams will email Plug In America with detailed bi-monthly progress reports based on the project schedule submitted as part of the grant application.
• Teams must complete the Formula Hybrid registration process prior to the registration deadline or they will be required to return the grant funding.
• As a major team sponsor, the Plug In America logo should be displayed prominently on the vehicle, no smaller than any other sponsor logo. The California Air Resources Board logo should also be displayed at a similar size on the vehicle.
• Plug In America and the California Air Resources Board should be listed prominently as sponsors in any team or vehicle marketing or display materials and on the team website with the appropriate links.
• Teams will make their vehicles available for events and demonstrations at a limited number of Plug In America events, when and where possible.
• Plug In America accepts no liability for any claims, losses, or accidents based on a vehicle created under this grant program or any team participating in any Formula Hybrid event. Schools should make sure that all parties involved (students and faculty) have signed the appropriate liability waivers required for participation in all phases of the competition. Schools will be required to sign a Plug In America liability release form prior to receiving grant funding.