Updated May 10, 2023
Why do we want electric school buses in Red Hook?
- They're 3x cheaper to operate than gas or diesel buses and have half the maintenance costs per year
- They have zero direct emissions or pollution, which is important for students' health
- They're practically silent
- They can act as mobile batteries and be used to power events or buildings—or even send electricity back to the grid for extra revenue when not in use
- They set an example for other districts and serve as a teaching tool for students interested in energy
For even more info on electric school buses, check out the The Electric School Bus Initiative website.
What grants can offset the up-front cost of electric school buses and infrastructure?
It's still very expensive to buy electric buses (2-3x the cost of gas or diesel) and install the necessary charging infrastructure. But there are two promising programs to cover the difference in cost.
New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program (NYTVIP)
- This program is administered by NYSERDA and offers vouchers to cover 100% of the difference in cost between a gas/diesel school bus and an electric one
- The school district would receive $200k per Class 7 electric bus and $150k per Class 6 electric bus, as long as we retire a gas or diesel bus from 2009 or older at the same time
Joint Utilities of NY EV Make-Ready Pilot
- This program is administered by Central Hudson and is intended to cover 90% of the utility-side costs of building charging infrastructure
- School districts that participate in the NYTVIP program may be eligible for support
Both of these grants are first-come-first-served. The NYTVIP program has had to limit their eligibility because of high demand, and there is $2m left in Central Hudson's EV Make-Ready fund. As of now, Red Hook is still able to apply for the NYTVIP grants, but there's no guarantee that if we postpone purchasing electric buses that the funds will still be available down the road.
How long does Red Hook have to electrify school buses?
The State of New York has made two commitments regarding school buses:
- As of 2027, all new school buses purchased will have zero direct emissions
- As of 2035, all school buses in operation will be electric
So Red Hook has 12 years to entirely electrify our bus fleet. We should make the most of the funding available now to offset the purchase price of electric school buses and charging infrastructure.
What electric buses are available now and eligible for vouchers?
Here is a list of buses that are also on NYSERDA's list of eligible buses for the NYTVIP funds.
- Blue Bird Vision Electric - Class 7
- Lion C Electric School Bus - Class 7
- Navistar IC Bus CE School Bus - Class 7
- Thomas SafT-Liner C2 Jouley - Class 7
- UES International PC105 School Bus - Class 7
- BYD Type A - Class 6
What is the 15-year cost of an electric bus vs a gas one?
Here is a comparison of two bus options. The estimate assumes the bus will be driven 10k miles per year and that the electric purchase price is offset by vouchers.
Here’s the detailed breakdown for a new gas bus:
- Purchase price: $160k
- Annual fuel: $7.3k (5 miles per gallon efficiency, gas at $3.68 per gallon)
- Annual maintenance: $4k
- 15-year total cost: $329.5k
And here’s the same breakdown for a new electric bus:
- Purchase price: $380k
- NYTVIP voucher: $200k
- Annual fuel: $2.3k (2.02 kWh per mile efficiency, electricity at $0.11/kWh)
- Annual maintenance: $2k
- 15-year total cost: $244.5k
Would a leasing program make sense?
Another route to consider is a leasing program for electric buses, like Highland. Highland will take care of purchasing the buses, installing chargers, training drivers, and maintenance for a 10-15 year subscription. It makes the up-front switch to an electric fleet much easier and more predictable, and working with Highland may allow us to benefit from some of the 2023 EPA Clean School Bus Program Grants.
One potential downside is that while Highland offers 10% savings compared to our current bus expenses, that may still be more expensive than if we own the buses ourselves. But it still may be a great option.
What other school districts are transitioning to electric buses?
- Beverly, MA and Montgomery County, MD - both administered by Highland.
- 397 school districts received grants from the EPA as part of the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates. Explore all the grantees here.