Electric school buses are experiencing rapid growth in the United States, with a nearly 10-fold increase inby school districts and fleet operators in the past year. Thirty-eight states have now committed to procure more than 12,000 electric school buses.
In addition to setting transition timelines, several states continued to appropriate dedicated funding for electric school buses, seeking to leverage the federal funds available through the new $5 billion Critically, advocates were able to secure robust state funding to accompany the state’s ambitious transition target. As part of the final fiscal year 2023 budget, Governor Hochul and state lawmakers committed $500 million for electric school buses and incorporated this funding into a broader environmental bond act that will go before New York voters in November.
California should aim to replace all of its school buses with electrics in 5 years. Our skies need it. Our kids need it. We have the money and the technology. Let’s do this! And let’s build solar canopies in every school parking lots while we’re at it!