Students in dozens of school districts across the country will soon be breathing cleaner air thanks to $490 million in EPA grants to purchase 1,634 electric school buses nationwide.

The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program will fund electric school buses and trucks across the country in response to millions of dollars in applications from local entities. The program has awarded approximately $735 million in grants for zero-tailpipe-emission heavy-duty vehicles and related charging infrastructure which includes electric school buses.

The demand for electric school bus funds shows the continued enthusiasm for clean, reliable, heavy-duty vehicles across the country.

So far, 8,000 electric school buses have been funded through the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program.

Director of World Resources institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative Sue Gander said:

“The dirty fumes of diesel school bus exhaust will soon be in the rearview mirror for more kids across the country. This new funding from the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program means thousands more children will be breathing cleaner air on their way to and from school.

“We know that diesel exhaust pollution is tied to asthma, which is a leading cause for absenteeism and is a concern for parents, teachers and communities. But with an electric school bus, kids can come to school ready to learn. This is especially important in underserved communities which already face higher levels of on-road air pollution.

“When you consider the health benefits, the thousands of dollars in operational cost savings and the potential for these buses to serve as a source of backup power in emergencies, it’s not surprising to see so many school districts, states and towns raise their hands for electric school buses.

“School districts and governments in states across the country — from North Carolina and Indiana to Utah and Washington — all applied for electric school bus funding. Now, they’ll be bringing clean rides to more children.”