- The US Environmental Protection Agency announced funding worth $875m for 3,400 school buses across the country, across 530 separate school districts, of which 92% will be electric.
- 45% of the school districts selected are located in low-income, rural, and tribal communities.
- The EPA has already spent just under $3bn to fund 8,500 clean buses across over 1,000 schools, with this recent funding boosting that number further.
The US accelerates its electric bus transformation
The funding is part of the Clean School Bus Program, originally introduced in 2022, running until 2026 and providing over $5bn of investment. This marks the third round of funding from the EPA. It’s not the first time we’ve seen a heavy level of investment, with the organisation already allocating an additional $1bn to the total in January of this year, which allowed for another 2,700 electric and low-emission school buses on the roads. This additional funding will bring that total figure over the $3bn mark, but that means that additional rounds of significant funding for electric school buses are still on their way.
Katherine García, Director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign, commented on the development:
We’re thrilled that 530 school districts will receive awards for clean school buses. The EPA’s Clean School Bus program continues to deliver relief to schoolchildren across the country, as well as their dedicated school bus drivers… Breathing in health-harming toxins should not be a reality for our families and communities. The Clean School Bus program is improving the lives of so many students of our youngest generation. The school districts will receive awards for over 3,000 electric school buses – the cleanest and healthiest option. The EPA has earned an A+ for this program, which will achieve massive public health, climate, and clean energy benefits.”
Not only will electric school buses help improve air quality in the areas they operate, and contribute to reducing climate change for future generations, but also help introduce children to electric mobility from a young age. The US now clearly has a comprehensive plan in place for the future of electric school buses, with the Electric School Bus Initiative also outlining sustainable recommendations for operators to take once electric school buses reach end of life, such as second-life battery use.
