Apply Soon for Charging Infrastructure Incentives in California

The deadline for California’s Zero Emission School Bus and Infrastructure (ZESBI) incentive project is quickly approaching; applications are due by 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, Sept. 30.

The ZESBI program provides $5 million appropriated from Senate Bill (SB) 114 from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), with charging infrastructure incentives through the California Energy Commission (CEC). For fiscal year 2023-24, $375 million is reserved for the replacement of ICE buses with zero-emission school bus purchases, while $125 million is set for infrastructure cost incentives.

Funding Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must be from a California public school district, public charter school, California Joint Power Authorities, or California County Offices of Education, they must serve students in K-12 grades, as well as own their own school buses.

To receive funding, be ready to part with your old ICE buses! Participation requires the scrappage of an old school bus for each new zero-emission school bus awarded. It does not need to be a like-for-like replacement, as any fuel type qualifies, including gasoline, diesel, propane, or CNG.

Other requirements include:

• The chassis must be a 2010 model or older.
• The school bus must be applicant owned.
• The must have a GVWR larger than 10,000 pounds.
• The bus must have a current California Highway Patrol Safety Certification at the time of submission.
• Buses that are diesel-fueled and greater than 14,000 pounds GVWR must be compliant with the California Truck and Bus Regulation to receive a full voucher amount.

Applicants should have ready a letter of intent, current copy of DMV registration for each old bus, and a current copy of the CHP 292 for each old bus.

Applicant tiers and prioritization, funding caps, infrastructure types, FAQs and more resources can be found on ZESBI’s web page. More information on the incentive program can be found in their online implementation manual.

Applications initially opened on May 14.

GreenPower's Type D BEAST and Type A Nano BEAST is eligible.