The Electric Bus Journey : Grant Funding and Beyond
By IC Bus
WHERE ARE YOU ON THE FLEET ELECTRIFICATION ON-RAMP ? Has your organization already developed a comprehensive strategy to convert a portion or all of its fleet to electric school buses ( ESBs )? Or , conversely , have you already received one or more grants yet still have significant research , planning and consensus building to accomplish a seamless transition to a low- or zero-emissions future ? Regardless of your present status , the transition to ESBs and other clean-vehicle technologies is accelerating across North America thanks in part to rapidly growing awareness of the safety , environmental and operational benefits of replacing older , dieselpowered buses . Of course , the most meaningful catalyst for change has been recent government policy , which has led to an exponential increase in funding – both from national and local sources – available to school bus operators . The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ( 2021 ) allocated $ 5 billion to districts and other school bus operators investing in zero emission or alternative fuel vehicles , while the Inflation Reduction Act ( 2022 ) earmarks more than $ 1 billion in additional grants for class 6 and 7 vehicles . State-level funding also is on the rise : In 2021 , California spent more than $ 110 million to support fleets in the transition to ESB . While Florida recently authorized funding for seven school districts to purchase a total of 218 zero-emission buses .
‘ WE ’ VE SECURED A GRANT ! NOW WHAT ?’ Transitioning to ESBs or any other transformational technology is indeed a journey comprising several incremental steps that contribute to the ultimate outcome . While your organization might have received funding very early in the process – perhaps even before selecting an ESB supplier – this does not eliminate the need to complete each step in the journey . In short , implementation of a safe , reliable , environmentally friendly , and cost-efficient new transportation platform that will serve your needs far into the future . An essential step in this journey is to establish your goals and develop a clearly defined vision for the role of ESBs within your fleet . This is vital not only in understanding how to develop a strategic plan but to gain buy-in from important constituents , from school district leadership to fleet operations personnel to the community at large . Once you have achieved a consensus among key decision makers , it ’ s time to conduct a high-level needs assessment . Your needs assessment should encompass both current , mid-term and long-term needs . For example , if your district is located in a fast-growing area , consider how your fleet would need to scale over the next several years and the impact of changing bell schedules to your operation .