The benefits of electric school buses are many: reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved health, and quieter rides. However, transitioning to them can be difficult. That’s why Massachusetts’ Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is stepping up to provide a guide for districts looking to make the switch.

Making Electrification Easier

While schools across the state are already making the transition thanks to support from technical assistance and funding programs, several challenges remain for districts to navigate.

"After conducting a study on electrifying school bus fleets across 22 Massachusetts school districts two years ago, we saw the need to broaden our outreach," said Alison Felix, principal planner from MAPC. "In response, we developed the Electric School Bus Roadmap, which is designed for municipalities and school districts to start planning for an effective and efficient transition to electric school buses. Fleet electrification requires involvement from a variety of stakeholders across organizations, and the guide provides a technical and practical base of knowledge for all parties involved.”

MAPC’s Electric School Bus Roadmap is intended to guide districts and municipalities in starting to plan an effective and efficient transition to electric school buses. It highlights key steps for this transition and includes additional links for decision-makers to learn more.

The roadmap starts by highlighting the benefits of electric school buses, discussing what it is like to own one, and what operation models are commonly used. With the basics covered, the roadmap discusses the steps needed to take to make the switch, including:

• Conducting a fleet assessment.

• Working with utilities.

• Selecting Charging Infrastructure.

• Choosing and planning a site for the buses.

• Workforce training needed for electric vehicles.

• Operation, maintenance, and safety considerations.

• Funding and financing.

• Procurement of the buses.

The guide also breaks down the cost of ownership (TCO) for an electric school bus.

Other Helpful Resources

Beyond guiding decisionmakers on how to make the switch, other resources are included in the roadmap, including ways to connect with peers and experts on electric school buses, a summary of the MetroWest School Fleet Electrification study, and future considerations to remember.

MAPC has also released a social media and communications kit to help districts communicate about the Electric School Bus Roadmap with the public and project partners.

Check out the full roadmap here.