Benefits of Electric School Buses
Healthier for Kids
- Replacing 5 diesel school buses with electric reduces the risk of pediatric asthma for 1,500 students.
- Children riding electric school buses are exposed to 16% less air pollution.
Clean Energy
- Achieve cost savings with Vehicle-to-Grid technology, a bidirectional charging technology that allows the batteries in EVs to provide power back to the utility grid.
- Electric buses can provide emergency power during outages or natural disasters, supplying energy to schools, hospitals, and shelters when it matters most. Electric buses are an asset beyond student transportation.
Quieter Rides
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- Electric buses are 4x quieter than diesel buses, and therefore less overstimulating, improving focus and comfort, specifically for children with special needs.
- Research suggests that children who did not have daily exposure to diesel bus pollution prenatally were less likely to develop attention problems by age nine.
Support Memo for Amendments to the Virginia Electric Vehicle Grant Fund
The Virginia Electric Vehicle Grant Fund, also known as the Clean Vehicle Fund (“CVF”, “Fund”), was established in the Virginia State Statute during the 2021 General Assembly session, with the bill, patronized by former Delegate Keam, passing both the House and Senate and being signed into law by then-governor, Ralph Northam. However, it has not been funded in the four years since its establishment due to the lack of a funding mechanism. Various attempts in the General Assembly to allocate funds to the CVF have been unsuccessful to date. The CVF directs the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to manage the grant fund. However, without a proper financing mechanism, this goal cannot be achieved—leaving benefits on the table, such as protecting vulnerable Virginians' health, cost savings for school districts and fleet operators, and resilience tools unavailable with today’s traditionally fueled fleet.
Support for Electric School Buses
Support for Electric School Buses
As of today, Virginia has more than 280 ESBs either in operation or delivered, less than 2% of the state's total fleet of over 15,000 school buses. States such as California, Maryland, and New York, which offer incentives for ESBs, have all surpassed Virginia in either adoption or commitments. For example, the State of Maryland allocated $17 million to the Maryland Electric School Bus Program, administered by the Maryland Energy Administration, in FY2025 alone. The State of New York has allocated over $500 million for ESBs. The Commonwealth of Virginia has not yet invested in supporting ESBs- the only time funding was available was a one-time $24 million allocation from the Volkswagen emissions cheating settlement, which was distributed by the state five years ago.
Support for the Electrification of Other Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Support for the Electrification of Other Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Support for public, private, and nonprofit entities in Virginia to replace commercial motor vehicles, heavy equipment, and other machinery will help increase the number of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles on Virginia roads. This initiative provides numerous benefits for Virginians, including cost savings for retail and trucking companies, as well as environmental and public health advantages for everyone.