As the growing popularity of zero-emission vehicles reaches school districts around the United States, fleets of yellow buses have begun to “go green” – and to teach a few important lessons of their own to students and administrators.

Federal funding is accelerating the shift to electric.

Today, more than 21 million U.S. children are depending on buses for transportation to and from school. More than 90% of those buses run on diesel fuel, which produces a carcinogenic exhaust that’s harmful to both people and our planet – but things are looking up.

As of June 2024, 12,164 electric school buses have been adopted for use in the United States. According to industry experts, the rise in popularity may increase, with a growth rate of nearly 34% predicted over the next few years.

Why this surge? One big reason is the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program, which awards millions of dollars in federal grant funding to eligible applicants.

Designed in part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, the program is also intended to help qualified school districts save money.

Districts that receive funding are required to decommission at least one of their non-electric buses for each electric bus they purchase through the grant. In addition, the district must keep the electric bus in its fleet for at least five years to fulfill grant requirements.

What advantages do electric buses carry?

For school districts seeking cost-effective transportation options, electric school businesses offer considerable benefits in fuel efficiency and dependability. According to the National School Boards Association, an electric school bus can save districts an average of $6,000 a year in operational expenditures.

The quiet operation of electric buses also makes them a benefit to drivers, who can be more aware of what’s happening in and around their vehicles.

Electric buses also offer benefits to students. Besides eliminating harmful exhaust fumes, they educate their riders on the importance and practicality of renewable energy and sustainability.

Interestingly, electric school buses can also be used as battery storage for energy that can be transferred back to the grid. The buses could even operate as alternative power sources during extended power outages (although anyone thinking of doing that should consult with their local co-op first).

Who gets to ride?

The EPA’s Clean School Bus Program prioritizes rural and low-income districts, whose budgets are typically smaller. Co-ops in several states (including Indiana, Oregon, and North Carolina) now have school districts in their areas that have qualified for federal grant money to acquire electric or propane-powered buses.

In Indiana, for instance, the Fulton County REMC alerted officials of the Caston School Corporation to the existence of EPA Clean School Bus funding and helped school district officials with the application process. After receiving $395,000 in EPA Clean School Bus funding, the district acquired a new Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 electric bus and a charging station. Since December 2023, the bus has transported students to and from Caston Elementary School and Caston Jr./Sr. High School, with occasional trips to nearby schools for athletic competitions.

So, what’s the next stop?

If you’re not a school district, you can just take pleasure in knowing that many districts are now getting the benefit of zero-emission transportation while helping the kids on board realize the capabilities of clean energy.   

If, however, you do know someone who works at a school district, you might want to alert them to this post, let them know about the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, and encourage them to apply for grant money themselves. And if their efforts succeed – well, more (electric) power to them!