SchoolBus logo in red and orange
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

School Bus Electrification Bill Heads to Mayor in New York City

Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign the bill, which mandates all-electric school buses in New York City by 2035, into law.

by SBF Staff
October 9, 2021
School Bus Electrification Bill Heads to Mayor in New York City

New York City previously mandated that non-emergency fleet vehicles must be electric by 2040 and parking facilities need chargers for at least 20 percent of spaces.

Photo by Jannis Lucas via UnSplash.

2 min to read


New York City Council on Thursday passed a bill mandating that the city’s school bus fleet go fully electric by 2035.

In a statement, Mac Dressman, a transportation associate for U.S. PIRG, praised the bill’s passage:

Ad Loading...

“Kids in New York City will soon be able to breathe a little easier. New York City’s commitment to a 100 percent electric bus future shows that the city is serious about securing clean air for our children and a livable climate for our future. We applaud the City Council for making this important commitment – now it’s time to make cleaner air for all a reality by installing charging infrastructure, coordinating with utilities on vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, and ensuring that all new buses ordered are electric.”

The city previously mandated that non-emergency fleet vehicles make the conversion to electric by 2040 and required all parking facilities to include electric vehicle chargers for at least 20 percent of parking spaces.

The office of Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is expected to sign the bill into law, estimates that emissions from all cars, buses, and trucks accounts for 30 percent of New York City’s carbon emissions. It’s also estimated that traffic-caused air pollution contributes to 320 premature deaths and 870 emergency visits each year, according to U.S. PIRG.

In an April statement, Ben Furnas, the director of New York City’s Office of Climate and Sustainability said: “Electrifying our school buses will give our schoolchildren cleaner air to breathe while confronting the climate crisis and accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels.”

More Alternative Fuels

An orgnge, white, and black graphic with a black and white image ofpropane school buses.
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesJanuary 30, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: Product Innovations & Funding Outlooks

Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including electric and propane bus deployments, new EV products, and an update from CARB.

Read More →
SponsoredJanuary 19, 2026

3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers

Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.

Read More →
An orgnge, white, and black graphic with a black and white image of electric school buses.
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesJanuary 14, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: Manufacturing Growth & Energy Storage Expansion

Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including manufacturing expansions, major funding awards, and energy storage strategies.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A man connecting a Zenobē charger to a school bus.
ManagementDecember 12, 2025

Electric School Bus Financing: Making Fleet Transitions Operationally Sustainable for the Long Haul

Electric school bus success hinges on long-term planning, which means smart financing, battery management, and service-based models that keep fleets reliable for years.

Read More →
An orgnge, white, and black graphic with a black and white detail shot of lights on a school bus.
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesDecember 8, 2025

Alt-Fuel Moves: New V2G Tech and Electric Bus Rollouts

Check out some of the latest moves where alternative fuels and school buses intersect, including new product announcements and bus deployments across the U.S.

Read More →
Row of yellow school buses parked in a lot with the Nuvve logo and an electric charging icon overlaid in the foreground.
Alternative Fuelsby News/Media ReleaseDecember 1, 2025

Nuvve Strikes Deal to Electrify N.M. District School Buses

Nuvve’s latest partnership in New Mexico aims to help districts transition to electric school buses while strengthening local grid reliability.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A black and white image of a Thomas Built Wattson bus with text reading "Electric Buses: Progress, Promise, and the Practical Road Ahead."
Alternative FuelsNovember 21, 2025

Electric School Buses: Progress, Promise, and the Practical Road Ahead

The push for electric school buses grows, but real-world hurdles mean districts are adopting EVs slowly and mixing them with diesel and propane.

Read More →
South Coast AQMD logo alongside a school bus driving on a roadway, representing new funding to replace diesel buses with zero-emission models for Southern California school districts.
Alternative Fuelsby News/Media ReleaseNovember 20, 2025

California Agency to Fund $78M in New Clean School Buses

South Coast AQMD plans to replace 286 older buses with newer models, plus accompanying infrastructure, across 35 districts in the South Coast Air Basin.

Read More →
Christine Koester from the EPA speaks at a podium with the NASDPTS logo during a conference. A bold graphic reads “EPA Update” with megaphone and lightning bolt icons around her.
Alternative Fuelsby Amanda HuggettNovember 20, 2025

Where EPA School Bus Funding Stands: CSBP, DERA, and Heavy-Duty Grants Update

One program ends, another looks to be reimagined, and the Clean School Bus Program is in a holding pattern — here’s where each EPA program stands and what to expect moving forward.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Front view of an all-electric Blue Bird school bus.
Alternative Fuelsby StaffNovember 19, 2025

West Aurora District 129 Launches 27 Electric School Buses Backed by Nearly $1M in ComEd EV Rebates

The Illinois district’s new electric bus fleet, supported by EPA grants, ComEd incentives, and Highland Electric Fleets, advances its commitment to sustainable school operations.

Read More →