Get Plugged In: 21 Questions About Clean School Bus Program Funding
10 Highlights from Alt-Fuel School Transportation in 2023
From EPA electric school bus funding to serious tech with a silly name, check out this collection of School Bus Fleet news related to alternative fuels in school transportation.
December 15, 2023
Check out these articles about alternative fuels and their potential benefits for school transportation fleets.
Image: Canva
3 min to read
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
School transportation contractor Cook-Illinois Corporation has spent 16 years running diesel buses on biodiesel fuel.
Photo: Cook-Illinois Corporation
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
Some school districts are exploring renewable propane as a "drop-in" option for propane-powered school buses.
Photo: ROUSH CleanTech
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
Can domestic battery cell production help create manufacturing jobs and improve efficiencies in building new school buses?
Image: Daimler Truck/PACCAR/Acclera by Cummins
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
Renewable natural gas fuels the CowFartBus, created by Utah-based DEMI to focus on alternative-fuel school transportation.
Photo: DEMI
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.
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More Alternative Fuels
Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Extend Clean School Bus Program Through 2031
The proposed legislation would renew federal support for cleaner school buses as districts navigate funding uncertainty, rising fuel and infrastructure costs, and fleet replacement needs.
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Alt-Fuel Moves: Electric Bus Rollouts, Bidirectional Charging & Propane Growth
See which fleets are adding electric and propane school buses as districts and operators invest in charging infrastructure, bidirectional technology, and alternative-fuel expansion.
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Nobody Told Diesel Prices They Were Supposed to Come Down
With diesel prices surging, school bus fleets have new reason to stress-test fuel costs, consider diversification, and calculate what each route really costs to operate.
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Why Gasoline School Buses Are Making a Comeback
Gasoline is gaining ground in full-size school buses. See how today’s options stack up against diesel on cost, maintenance, emissions, performance, and more.
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EPA Opens $180M DERA Funding Round for Diesel Upgrades
The 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program seeks applications from eligible organizations to accelerate the retirement of legacy diesel vehicles.
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The Secret Life of an Electric School Bus Battery
Batteries change throughout years of daily routes, but degradation doesn’t necessarily mean the end. Here’s what operators should know about performance, safety, and second life.
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CALSTART and Forth Combine to Form Catalyst Mobility
The new name represents a renewed vision for the nonprofit focused on advancing clean, equitable, and affordable transportation solutions that move people and goods.
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Alt-Fuel Moves: New Buses, Charging Hubs & Real-World EV Testing
Propane and electric school bus deployments continue to grow as districts add new vehicles, expand charging infrastructure, and gather more real-world operating data.
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Fewer Electric School Bus Models Reshape the U.S. Market
WRI’s latest buyer’s guide points to a consolidating electric school bus market, but fewer options may reflect a maturing industry rather than fewer meaningful choices for school bus operators.
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The Fuel Budget You Can Actually Predict: How Propane Autogas Keeps Money in the Classroom
Learn how propane autogas helps school districts manage fuel costs with predictable pricing, lower maintenance, and reduced emissions from former transportation director Joel Stutheit.
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