SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Guide Lays Out Electric School Bus Transition Steps

For schools interested in shifting to electric school buses, a new guide is here to help. A new 19-page publication is now available, with research on bus manufacturers and information on health, costs, funding, and more.

by SBF Staff
March 31, 2022
Guide Lays Out Electric School Bus Transition Steps

A new guide to help schools transition to electric school buses was developed using research from sources of accurate and up-to-date information including bus manufacturers, federal government agencies and non-profit groups advocating for the transition.

Photo: Secure Futures

2 min to read


Secure Futures, a clean energy and educational services for K-12 schools, has published a free guide to help schools transition to electric school buses. The guide is titled The Electric School Bus Revolution: Start Going EV Now, Find Funding and Avoid Pitfalls, according to a press release.

The 19-page, fully illustrated guide, was developed using research from sources of accurate and up-to-date information including bus manufacturers, federal government agencies and non-profit groups advocating a transition to electric school buses.

Ad Loading...

According to Secure Futures, cost remains the biggest barrier for schools to get clean buses, since an electric school bus can cost three times more to purchase than a diesel bus.

The guide covers everything that people who run and care about schools need to understand the case for electric school buses, whether they are practical for their school, and how to overcome barriers like the high cost of electric vs. traditional diesel buses. Topics include:

  • The rapid spread of electric vehicles including cars along with transit and school buses

  • The dangers of diesel school buses for kids' health

  • Are electric school buses practical? Do they have enough range for your school's bus routes?

  • Alternatives to electric school buses like propane and CNG buses

  • Grant funding and new types of financing such as service agreements to acquire electric school buses with zero upfront cost

  • How parents, students and community members can help their schools get electric school buses sooner rather than later

To download the guide, click here.

More Alternative Fuels

Mark Childers of Thomas Built Buses stands in front of a large yellow electric school bus at ACT Expo while discussing the company’s new Type D EV school bus platform. Overlay text reads “The Big New EV School Bus” with School Bus Fleet at ACT Expo branding.
Alternative Fuelsby Amanda HuggettMay 19, 2026

Wattson: Thomas Built’s Largest EV School Bus Yet

Check in with Mark Childers on the new Wattson Type D electric school bus, featuring faster charging, expanded passenger capacity, and advanced safety technology.

Read More →
Russell Vare of The Mobility House sits at the company’s ACT Expo booth discussing vehicle-to-grid technology and smart EV charging for school bus fleets. Overlay text reads “V2G Goes Mainstream” alongside School Bus Fleet at ACT Expo branding.
Alternative Fuelsby Amanda HuggettMay 15, 2026

The New Era of Electric School Buses: V2G, Bidirectional Chargers & More

The Mobility House discusses AI-powered charging, vehicle-to-grid technology, smart energy management, and the next phase of school bus electrification.

Read More →
Workers assemble a large Proterra EV battery pack inside a manufacturing facility, using an overhead crane to position the battery module onto a chassis frame. American and South Carolina state flags hang above the production floor, with additional battery packs stacked nearby.

Now Made in America: Proterra Turns to U.S.-Built EV Batteries

Proterra announced a new U.S.-sourced battery cell option for its Onyx platform, boosting domestic content by more than 600% and strengthening EV supply chain resilience for commercial vehicle OEMs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Promotional graphic from School Bus Fleet at ACT Expo featuring a Proterra representative standing beside a battery display booth. Large text reads “Proterra” and “Safer EV Bus Batteries.” The background shows battery components and attendees at the ACT Expo trade show floor.
Alternative Fuelsby Amanda HuggettMay 15, 2026

A Look at the Battery Technology Powering Electric School Buses

Check in with Proterra on next-generation EV battery technology for school buses, including safety innovations, predictive diagnostics, EPA 2027 readiness, and the future of transportation from ACT Expo.

Read More →
Thumbnail image for a School Bus Fleet video at ACT Expo featuring a Ride/BYD representative standing in front of a yellow electric school bus. Overlay text reads “RIDE/BYD” and “Ride’s EV Bus Strategy,” with School Bus Fleet and ACT Expo branding in the top left corner.
Alternative Fuelsby Amanda HuggettMay 13, 2026

A Look at RIDE’s Push to Scale Electric School Buses

Let’s talk EV school bus demand, battery safety, V2G technology, and the future of electric student transportation at ACT Expo 2026 with leaders from RIDE.

Read More →
Thumbnail image for a School Bus Fleet video at ACT Expo featuring an IC Bus representative standing beside a yellow electric CE Series school bus. Overlay text reads “IC Bus” and “1,500 EV School Buses,” with School Bus Fleet and ACT Expo branding in the top left corner.
Alternative Fuelsby Amanda HuggettMay 12, 2026

Inside IC Bus’ Next-Gen Electric CE Series School Bus

In this video from ACT Expo, IC Bus EV sales director Alec Borror discusses next-generation electric school buses, driver feedback, and the future of bus electrification.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Thumbnail for a School Bus Fleet video at ACT Expo featuring Tellus Power executive Srikanth Kanaparthi discussing large-scale vehicle-to-grid technology for electric school buses, with on-screen text reading “School Bus V2G at Scale.”
Alternative Fuelsby Amanda HuggettMay 11, 2026

Can School Buses Power the Grid? Tellus Power Says Bet on V2G

In this ACT Expo video, Tellus Power’s Srikanth Kanaparthi discusses large-scale vehicle-to-grid charging, EV infrastructure growth, and why school buses are the ideal platform for fleet electrification.

Read More →
Two Blue Bird executives stand in front of a school bus at ACT Expo while discussing propane and electric school bus technology, infrastructure, and alternative fuel options.

Propane vs. EV School Buses: Blue Bird Execs Talk Alt-Fuel Progress

Check in with Blue Bird's alternative fuel managers as they discuss school bus options, infrastructure challenges, district fuel choice, EPA 2027 regulations, and the future of alt-fuel student transportation.

Read More →
An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of electric Thomas Built Buses and text reading "Alt-Fuel Moves: Racking Up Miles & Scaling Up Fleets."
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesApril 27, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: Racking Up Miles & Scaling Up Fleets

Electric school buses are hitting the road in greater numbers as fleets expand, infrastructure catches up, and mileage accumulates.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Image of the outdoor vehicle expo at Virginia Clean Cities' Rally at Richmond event.
Alternative Fuelsby StaffApril 13, 2026

Virginia Clean Cities Celebrates 30 Years, Highlights Award Winners in School Bus Innovation

At its annual rally, the organization spotlighted propane and electric school bus advancements while recognizing leaders driving forward-looking student transportation.

Read More →