9 December 2024

Electric school buses (ESBs) represent a cleaner, quieter and more cost-effective future for student transportation. They eliminate harmful emissions and reduce maintenance costs. This benefits student and driver health while helping the bottom line. However, accessing the funding to transition to electric can feel overwhelming.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program offers substantial grant and rebate opportunities to help schools make the switch. With rebate applications due on January 9, 2024, now is the time to act—preferably with expert guidance to ensure a complete and right-sized submission.

Why act now to get Clean School Bus Rebate help?
The EPA’s Clean School Bus (CSB) Program has allocated roughly $1 billion in grants and rebates with each of the past three rounds of funding. After this current round, there is only one more round remaining – if the EPA sticks to the previously announced five rounds.

The funding supports ESB purchases, infrastructure improvements and fleet electrification. Zenobē currently supports over 2,000 electric buses and shuttles through its many global projects and has electrified more than 80 depots through its fleet electrification services. We also offer in-house grant management to make CSB applications easier and more effective for our U.S. customers.

While the CSB funds can significantly offset the upfront costs of ESBs, making them more accessible to schools, many states and utilities offer similar programs to help accelerate the transition to clean transportation for students.

We understand that navigating the funding process can be complex, especially for districts without dedicated resources or experience with federal, state, local and utility application requirements. So, we’ve assembled some tips below.

The value of partnering with Clean School Bus Program experts
Engaging with experts in grants and rebates as well as EPA compliance can save your team time and ensure your application has the best chance of success. Here’s how we can help:

1. Grant strategy development
   • Our experts can align your district’s specific needs with the CSB program’s criteria, ensuring eligibility and maximizing the requested funds.
   • We can also combine multiple funding sources to stretch your budget further.
2. Application preparation
   • Our grant team streamlines the process by gathering necessary data, calculating cost savings and crafting complete applications.
   • They help avoid common pitfalls, like missing documentation or unclear project scopes.
3. Technical support
   • Pairing Clean School Bus rebate help from our grant team with our technical team’s capabilities ensures that your application is realistic, right-sized for your fleet’s needs and has the utility interconnection or incremental power source required. This could include a second-life battery or onsite solar system required to power your chargers, if a boost in power is needed. (For more tips, see: School Transportation News June 2024 issue, “(Micro)Grid Economics.”)
   • Not only does this result in a stronger, future-ready CSB or state-level program application, but it ensures that the project can actually be built, commissioned and operated reliably if funded
4. Post-award guidance
   • As mentioned above, the journey doesn’t stop with approval. Our experts can support planning, financing, design, implementation, operations training, regulatory compliance, utility interconnection and more.

The benefits of going electric with EPA funding
The switch to ESBs not only supports environmental goals but also offers tangible benefits for students and communities:

• Cost efficiency: Over their lifetime, ESBs are more affordable to operate than diesel buses, saving districts an estimated $100,000 per bus according to an analysis conducted by the Electric School Bus Initiative. The savings only go up with grants and rebates.
• Healthier air quality: ESBs eliminate diesel emissions, reducing respiratory risks which helps students stay healthier and miss fewer school days while also improving academic performance.
• Quieter rides: A smooth, noise-free experience enhances the commute for students, especially those with sensory sensitivities.

How to get started
Time is short to meet the January 9th CSB application deadline. To get Clean School Bus rebate help, connect with our Zenobē North America team via Maggie Clancy, EVP Business Development (Fleet), at maggie.clancy@zenobe.com.

If we can’t help you make the 2024 EPA CSB Rebate Program deadline, we can help you with future funding opportunities.

Make the most of this round of CSB
Electrifying your school bus fleet is a powerful step toward sustainability, health equity, and long-term savings. The Clean School Bus Program is the premiere program nationally making this transition possible, but with the clock ticking, expert assistance can make all the difference or help you tap other funding sources. Learn more about our capabilities here.