10 Highlights from Alt-Fuel School Transportation in 2023

The push to transition school transportation fleets to cleaner fuel alternatives continued in 2023, with the Environmental Protection Agency offering about $1 billion in grant and rebate opportunities for school districts to take older diesel buses off the roads and states like New York and California marching onward with mandates to electrify their school buses.

But propane, biodiesel, and natural gas remain in the mix when it comes to the effort to provide more environmentally friendly school transportation in fleets across North America.

Check out these 10 stories that made the headlines on School Bus Fleet this year.

Closer Look: What School Transportation Leaders Need to Know About the EPA’s 2023 Rebate Program

What’s different this time? Who qualifies as prioritized? What about repowers? We take a deeper dive into the latest Clean School Bus Program funding opportunity.

Enhancing School Transportation with Biodiesel: One Company’s Green Journey

Cook-Illinois Corporation, among the largest family owned and operated school-bus contractors in the U.S., has relied on biodiesel to transport children safely and affordably to and from school for more than 15 years.

NASDPTS 2023: State Transportation Leaders Urge Measured Approach to Electrification

The cleaner school bus technology has its appeal, helped by federal funding opportunities. But transportation directors recommend caution in the conversion.

Evolving the Yellow Bus While Keeping Faith with the Core Mission

The technology that goes into the school bus and makes it run may change, but the goal remains the same: safe and reliable transportation between home and school for children.

Contemplating Repower? ChatGPT Has Some Suggestions

Can ChatGPT help you make informed decisions for revamping your school transportation fleet with eco-friendly retrofits?

California Governor Signs 2035 Zero-Emission Mandate

Gavin Newsom wants all newly purchased or contracted school buses to be zero-emission vehicles, with potential extensions for districts meeting certain conditions.

New York Rolls Out Roadmap for Electric School Bus Transition

The resources provided by state energy leaders are expected to help school districts and bus operators move away from fossil-fuel powered vehicles while reducing transportation emissions.

Propane Could Be Key to Reliable School Buses and EV Charging

After decades of reliably providing energy as a school transportation fuel, propane now also reduces emissions as an electric charging solution.

New Joint Venture Forms to Advance U.S. Battery Cell Production

Accelera by Cummins, Daimler Trucks, and PACCAR are joining forces to create a 21-gigawatt hour (GWh) EV battery factory in the United States. If the partnership is approved, production might begin in 2027.

Nate Thacker of DEMI on How a Silly Name Can Mean Serious Business

In this interview with School Bus Fleet, Nate Thacker of Utah-based DEMI discussed the CowFartBus and how renewable natural gas could be school transportation's fuel of the future.