Alliance for Electric School Buses For Kids

Electric school buses will make kids healthier and our communities less polluted.

We believe that electric school buses can help protect children’s health (and even boost their academic performance) while helping the United States reach its climate and environmental justice goals. Together, organizing our communities and calling for change, we can provide our children a cleaner ride to school.
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Electric School Bus Progress

See how electric school buses are doing in your state!

Read case studies, school district testimonials and news articles about electric school bus progress across the country.
School Bus Progress in Your State

Our Latest News

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States Drive Forward in 2025
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Beyond Bandaids: Electric School Buses: Driving Cleaner Air and Healthier Students
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Beyond Bandaids: Electric School Buses Part 2 – Clean Rides, Clear Impact
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Back to School Toolkit for Advocates
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States Drive Forward in 2025
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Beyond Bandaids: Electric School Buses: Driving Cleaner Air and Healthier Students
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Beyond Bandaids: Electric School Buses Part 2 – Clean Rides, Clear Impact
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Latest Blog Posts

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November 3, 2025

States Drive Forward in 2025

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August 25, 2025

Letter to Senate EPW Committee

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April 5, 2025

In Case You Missed It: 530 School Districts Still Can’t Access Their 2023 Clean School Bus Awards

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Our Story

We are a diverse partnership of nonprofit organizations united by our commitment to fully transition the nation’s school bus fleet to electric models that will clean up the air for 25 million U.S. children and the communities these buses travel through -- starting in the communities most harmed by air pollution. Our coalition represents environmental, equity, community, and labor advocates who work throughout 34 states and at the federal and municipal levels.
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Michigan

Successfully Operating in Cold Weather in Three Rivers, Michigan
2023
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Watch: Michigan School Bus Driver Shares Her Love For Electric
2023
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Deploying Electric School Buses in Zeeland, Michigan
2022
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Comstock Public Schools debuts electric buses ahead of new school year
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Pontiac School District to launch 40 electric school buses next school year
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Electric school buses roll into rural Michigan
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School district adds electric buses to its fleet
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Michigan Utility Helps School Districts Add Electric Buses
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Successfully Operating Electric School Buses in Cold Weather in Three Rivers, Michigan
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Three Rivers weighs the pros and cons of electric buses, battery replacement
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Calculating Efficiency: In fuel efficiency equivalency, electric comes out ahead
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Biden poured money into public works. But will that help Harris in Michigan?
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In Rural Michigan, New Electric School Buses Get Top Grades
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School buses start shifting to electric
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Brown City Schools’ electric bus on the road
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Hear From School Districts Themselves

  • “Excitement around the EV buses has spread past administrators to bus operators and students eager for their first rides, Johnny Hart, technician in charge for Pontiac bus service First Student, told The News.

“I actually took this job because I wanted to make sure that this fleet was successful with the EVs because I know how important it is for the world to move away from fossil fuels,” Hart said. “As far as training and preparation for maintaining, we’re on good tracks.”” 

  • “She continued that after driving an electric bus for four years, the decrease in fumes from a diesel engine has made her “feel better than I ever have.” Rea stated she has a roughly 90-mile route, and that the ride has been noticeably smoother.”
  • “Rea also addressed how electric buses performed in colder Michigan weather. When the temperature drops below 20 degrees during the day, she said she plugs in the bus to maintain the current internal temperature. She said she is always amazed by how her electric bus handles ice, snow, bridges, and any other inclement weather.”  
  • “Pellston Public Schools in Michigan are estimated to save 80 percent in energy use, saving the 461-student district about $33,000 annually. The estimated reduction in maintenance costs is about 60 percent, which would offer another $23,812 in annual savings.”  
  • “As the bus drivers put the new electric bus to the test, officials said there has been no issues with the snow or cold during the winter.”
  • “The couple drivers that have been running them every day seem to really like them. They’re smooth riding, and they handle nice. So, until I get all four of them out and all of the drivers give me their opinions that’s what I’ve got so far. They enjoy them, they’re nice, and they’re quiet,” said Lee Minzey, Transportation Director for Pellston Schools.”
  • “School leaders said the electric buses will save the district somewhere in the ballpark of $60,000 a year on gas alone.” 
  • “In just four weeks, the district reduced its bus operating costs by 45 cents a mile and saved over $1,300.” 
  • “The Three Rivers transportation department also shared that the district has saved approximately $44,000 in fuel costs and $45,000 in maintenance and repair costs… These operational savings have been returned to the district’s General Fund and are being used to purchase instructional materials for students.” 
  • “The end of what we are saving, in the maintenance repair and fuel costs, we are able to see that money go back into the classroom of the students,” Schrader said.” 
  • “Operating two Lion electric buses saved Three Rivers Community Schools in Southwest Michigan $34,000 in fuel between January 2020 and October 2023, explained Brian Leonard, director of facilities and operations. It costs $12,034 to charge the buses to drive an average 72,066 miles per month, compared to about $46,000 it would have cost diesel buses to fuel for those same trips.” 
  • “Three years after its initial deployment, Schrader happily reports that the buses have driven exceptionally and, in fact, often outperform their diesel counterparts in cold weather.” 
  • “Pellston expects to save $50,000 a year as the electric buses reduce fuel and maintenance costs. For a district where 22% of children under 18 years old live in poverty, that kind of money is “huge,” says Mr. Seelye, as he leans against the hood of one of his new yellow buses, glittering in the afternoon sun. “That’s close to the cost of a teacher.” 
  • The criticism has died down now that Pellston has seen the buses in action, says Mr. Seelye. Drivers rave that their new vehicles handle the wintry roads far better, and they appreciate how the buses can be programmed to preheat ahead of time. 
  • Stephen is pleased he moved Pellston from diesel to electric school buses. “Our job is to make sure the kids graduate ready for life, but it’s also my job to teach them to be great human beings and good stewards of the environment. So to have them graduate from a school where they rode electric school buses and had a solar array on their roof—when I retire, I’ll look back and feel pretty great that I showed them that that’s possible, even in rural Northern Michigan.” 
  • “We’re still doing a much better job than we have been for the past 80 years,” said supervisor Kenni Jean Shrader. “At this point, five years in now, we have not seen any battery degradation…with that being said, I have two more coming and I’m applying for four more.” 
  • “This allows us to add money to the classroom and to the kids,” said Kohler. “At the end of the day, it’s about the kids.” 
Here’s how many electric school buses have been funded or delivered thanks to the EPA Clean School Bus Program, based on the original awards made. Data was graciously provided by the WRI Electric School Bus Initiative.
State
MICHIGAN
Number of EPA-Funded Electric School Buses
296
Number of EPA-Funded Electric School Buses on the Road (Delivered or Operating)
69
Approximate Total Number of Students Riding ALL Electric School Buses
(Not Exclusive to EPA-Funded Buses)
3,158

Minnesota

Electric school bus pilot project: Can battery-powered school buses replace diesel vehicles in Minnesota?
2024
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Cleaner and quieter electric school buses start to hit the road
2024
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Electric school bus pilot in Lakeville shows early results
2022
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Read Q&A
Minnesota schools testing electric buses find benefits and barriers
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Minneapolis rolls out electric school buses, and students who pushed for them get test ride
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BACK TO SCHOOL: Electric school buses
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Dispatch: Greener Grounds
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Minnesota schools to add electric buses with $22 million from EPA
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Minnesota Districts Get $5.5 Million for Electric School Buses
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Hear From School Districts Themselves

  • “Right now we’re paying over $3 a gallon for diesel, and for electricity we’re paying about $1.05 or $1.10 per ‘gallon’ (equivalent),” said Martini. 
  • In Red Lake, some students are riding to school on brand-new electric buses, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program, which allotted the Red Lake School District $790,000 to purchase two electric buses as a trial that could lead to more e-buses. 

Red Lake Superintendent Tim Lutz says students in the district, many of whom are underserved, deserve the latest technology like any other student demographic. “Why not be cutting edge and give the kids something to feel proud about?” he says.

  • “Roper saw her son, CJ, suffer an asthma attack when he was four years old. She wanted to mitigate its impact, and happened upon information about electric school buses in her research. She was enthralled by the potential of electric buses, which motivated her to run for Hopkins School Board. She was elected last year, and the district is now applying for electric school bus funding, she said.”  
  • Districts are eager to lower operational costs while maintaining efficient transportation.

“We want to keep costs in the classroom and not out on the school buses,” said Troy Schreifels, director of transportation, security, and emergency management for Osseo Area Schools.  

Here’s how many electric school buses have been funded or delivered thanks to the EPA Clean School Bus Program, based on the original awards made. Data was graciously provided by the WRI Electric School Bus Initiative.
State
MINNESOTA
Number of EPA-Funded Electric School Buses
83
Number of EPA-Funded Electric School Buses on the Road (Delivered or Operating)
1
Approximate Total Number of Students Riding ALL Electric School Buses
(Not Exclusive to EPA-Funded Buses)
362

Washington

Four Key Lessons Learned for School Bus Electrification
2023
Read Case Study
WWPS receives $4.7M in grants for 15 new electric buses
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Generating buzz: electric school buses have arrived in Walla Walla
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Learning as they go: Walla Walla commits to a greener future with electric school buses
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Electric school buses to earn extra credit in 2025
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Hear From School Districts Themselves

“Things are going very well with the electric buses,” said WWPS Transportation Director John Griffith. “They’re saving the taxpayers about $500 each month through the difference between diesel and electric costs — even through the wintertime.”

That difference includes major cost savings — each electric school bus saves the school district about $400 per operational month.

“When you multiply that by 15 buses, that’s $50,000 a year we can spend on other things, or that can help offset the cost of future electric buses if we’re able to secure more grant funding,” said Smith.

“These buses are very dependable and have run every single day,” she said. “And if there’s a problem that the district’s mechanics can’t fix, the bus or charger manufacturers will send someone out.”

School officials said even in cold weather, the electric buses work great, despite some common misconceptions. 

“It gets pretty darn cold in Walla Walla, and we’ve had no problems running our fleet during the wintertime,” said Wade Smith, superintendent of public instruction for Walla Walla Public Schools. “In fact,” Smith said, “the electric buses have better all-around traction because the battery pack is in the middle of the bus, as opposed to an engine in the front or rear of a diesel-powered bus.”

“They work well. Our bus drivers absolutely love them, our kids love them,” added Smith. “Very rarely do you come across this win-win-win scenario that you have right now with the electric fleets.”

“When Washington’s first electric school bus entered service back in 2019, no one was sure how it would perform,” Watson said. “Five years later, these electric buses have demonstrated that they can deliver the same level of service that school districts get from diesel buses – without the noise or pollution.”

“Our drivers and students both love the electric buses because they offer a much cleaner and quieter ride,” said Nancy Brown, transportation director for Everett Public Schools. “These buses are beneficial on special needs routes with some of our most vulnerable and noise sensitive students.”

Here’s how many electric school buses have been funded or delivered thanks to the EPA Clean School Bus Program, based on the original awards made. Data was graciously provided by the WRI Electric School Bus Initiative.
State
WASHINGTON
Number of EPA-Funded Electric School Buses
145
Number of EPA-Funded Electric School Buses on the Road (Delivered or Operating)
5
Approximate Total Number of Students Riding ALL Electric School Buses
(Not Exclusive to EPA-Funded Buses)
2,593
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