EPA to double funding for environmentally clean school buses

EPA to double funding for environmentally clean school buses

The U.S. EPA is preparing a near doubling in funding for clean school buses this year following increased demand, with school districts from all 50 states applying for the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates. This is the first round of funding from the EPA Clean School Bus Program created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with a $5 billion investment for low-emission school buses over the next five years.

The EPA previously announced the availability of $500 million. Still, given “overwhelming demand” from school districts across the country, the EPA says it is nearly doubling that to $965 million. Through future funding rounds, the EPA will make another $1 billion available for clean school buses in the 2023 fiscal year.

The EPA says it received around 2,000 applications requesting nearly $4 billion for over 12,000 buses in August. More than 90% of requests were for zero-emission electric buses. Almost 9% of applications were for propane buses and 1% were for compressed natural gas buses.

The applicant pool includes submissions from all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and federally recognized Tribes.

The EPA is reviewing submitted applications to determine eligibility and final selections. The agency anticipates notifying rebate applicants of their selection status in October 2022. Once notified, selected school districts can proceed with purchasing new buses and eligible infrastructure. After the selectees submit the proper forms, they will be eligible to receive rebate funds.

This funding allocation is the first of several multi-year Clean School Bus Program funding opportunities. The EPA anticipates running a grant competition and another rebate program in 2023.

You May Also Like

UL Solutions opens Illinois EV charging laboratory

The facility will supply EV charging OEMs and their suppliers with shorter development cycles.

UL-solutions-ev-lab-1400

UL Solutions has officially opened its North America Advanced Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Laboratory in Northbrook, Illinois. The company says the facility will help enable EV charging original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers with shorter development cycles, faster time-to-market and the ability to be more competitive in the global marketplace.

GM, Samsung SDI to invest $3B in U.S. EV battery manufacturing

The companies say they plan to jointly operate the new facility, which will go live in 2026.

GM-Samsung-SDI-EV-battery-1400
Liqui Moly develops liquid thermal manager for EV batteries

The technology found in electric and hybrid vehicles functions optimally in certain temperature windows, Liqui Moly says.

Liqui-Moly-liquid-thermal-manager-electric-car-batteries-1400
Bosch developing automated EV battery-discharging plant

Bosch estimates EVs will account for around 70% of all newly registered passenger cars in Europe by 2030.

Bosch-Developing-Europes-First-Automated-Battery-Discharging-Plant-1400
WAE says new software can improve EV battery life, safety

The company hopes that “Elysia” will allow OEMs to develop batteries that are lighter, cheaper and more sustainable.

Elysia-WAE-EV-1400

Other Posts

U.S.-Canada EV Corridor will stretch from Michigan to Quebec

The EV corridor will begin in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and will end in Quebec City, Quebec.

Us-Canada-EV-Corridor-1400
Tesla to recall over a million vehicles in China

Tesla says it plans to repair the vehicles via an over-the-air software update.

Tesla-Model-Y-1400
WattEV Long Beach HD truck charging depot goes public

On opening, WattEV’s charging plaza will feature 26 charging bays providing power at up to 360 kilowatts.

wattev-electric-charging-station-port-1400
Boston Public Schools to change full 750-bus fleet to electric

BPS recently took delivery of its first 20 Blue Bird electric buses, which are now in operation.

Blue-Bird-Boston-Public-Schools-EV-Buses-1400