Electrifying Student Transportation
Washington’s school districts are facing a game-changing opportunity to add electric school buses (ESBs) to their fleets. The Green Transportation Program (GTP) offers resources and guidance to help districts decide if this is the right time to pursue available funding.
Why electrify?
Health and environmental benefits of replacing diesel-fueled school buses with ESBs are clear. Diesel exhaust, a known carcinogen, is linked to serious physical health issues and cognitive development impacts. Students in some neighborhoods are disproportionately exposed to the dangers of diesel exhaust pollution. Electrifying school bus fleets can help address these health and environmental concern. Studies on health impacts from fossil-fueled buses are included in Webcasts and Case Studies.
Questions? GTP can help!
We invite school districts to contact us for free technical assistance about your projects and challenges.
EPA Priority School District map for Washington
The GTP team developed this interactive map to assist school districts in Washington that are applying for EPA’s 2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Program. Check it out: EPA Priority School District map for Washington.
What do you want to learn about?
- Electric School Bus Business Case Worksheet will help you get a handle on financial benefits and available incentives to help your school district transition to electric buses.
- Successful Deployment of Electric School Buses (PDF) describes the types of questions we can answer for you, including calculating charging needs, determining where to install EV charging stations, which bus routes to electrify first, ESB models that could work well for your district, and working with your electric utility to assess electrical capacity.
- ESB Tax Incentives (PDF) describes new rules that will help school districts and other qualifying entities claim tax credits when they invest in commercial clean vehicles (including electric school buses) and charging equipment.
- Electric School Bus Technical Workshop (Oct. 25, 2023) covers ESB and charging technologies, lessons from school districts among the first in Washington to deploy ESBs, and cold weather and range concerns.
- Reports from the real world
- EV Bus Handbook Guide for District Planning & Career and Technical Education Programming
- ESB resources
- Student transportation website from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction includes resources for school district transportation managers, including details about the bidding process for school buses.
- Electric School Bus Initiative from the World Resources Institute presents resources and tools that support ESB adoption, organized under the themes Tools, Engage, Evidence, and Resource Library. Their page Electric School Bus Market Study and Electric School Bus U.S. Buyer's Guide provides links to ESB type definitions and miles per charge by ESB type.
- Electrification Coalition supports widespread adoption of EVs by providing policy, advocacy, consumer education, and electrification planning.
- Alliance for Electric School Buses supports adoption of ESBs using funds from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust.
- Electric School Bus Coalition advocates for increased funding and policies that support the transition to ESBs.
- Electric School Bus Network works to accelerate school bus fleet electrification nationwide by offering peer-to-peer networking and forum meetings so people can enhance their understanding of market trends, funding opportunities, and real-world experiences of fleets as they electrify.
- Electric School Bus Newsletter offers insights and case studies supporting the electrification of buses with a focus on equity.
- Conversations with ESB manufacturers and distributors