As part of NAPT’s “Driven Together” initiative and the monthly theme “Greener Miles, Cleaner Future,” School BUSRide spoke with Sue Gander, director of U.S. transportation at the World Resources Institute (WRI), about the current state of the electric school bus industry and the momentum behind WRI’s Electric School Bus Initiative.
Gander discussed the continued rollout of electric school buses nationwide, the role of federal and state funding programs, and the long-term operational and economic benefits districts are beginning to realize. She also highlighted how electric school buses are improving student health and comfort, supporting grid resiliency efforts, and creating new manufacturing and workforce opportunities across the United States.
World Resources Institute
Please give us a general overview of where things stand with electric school buses today. Where do you see the industry right now?
I’d say we’re rolling along nicely. It’s actually been a steady flow of new buses getting on the road, and we are looking ahead to sometime this year when EPA is expected to release the next round of funding under the Clean School Bus Program.
That’s really exciting because, as you may know, it’s the largest source of funding for the electric school buses currently on the road. There are certainly a lot of other funding sources as well, including various state programs that have been active for quite some time, but we continue to see momentum, continued interest in the technology, and more school districts hopping on board.
I think that’s especially important because there have been some headwinds in recent years around various federal funding and incentive programs. But the Clean School Bus Program remains intact, and EPA recently issued a request for information connected to the next funding opportunity. So we’re seeing positive movement there as well.
Tell us more about the Electric School Bus Initiative. What is the mission behind it, and what impact do you hope it has on the industry?
The Electric School Bus Initiative was created nearly five years ago as a partnership between World Resources Institute and the Bezos Earth Fund. Since then, we’ve intentionally added many additional partners across the ecosystem.
That ecosystem approach is really one of the defining elements of our work. Another key focus has been building support within underserved communities and ensuring that communities most burdened by pollution have access to the opportunities and benefits associated with electric school buses.
We work with NGOs, utilities, manufacturers, school districts, operators — really the whole gamut. Those partnerships have been a huge part of the incredible momentum we’ve seen.
Electric school buses first hit the road in 2014 in California, and today we have at least one electric school bus, and often many more, operating in 49 states plus Washington, D.C., along with several territories and tribal nations.
We’re now at more than 14,000 committed electric school buses nationwide. That means buses that are already on the road or have secured funding and are on the way. In 2020, there were fewer than 1,000.
We also like to focus on the students benefiting from the technology. In 2020, an estimated 14,000 students rode electric school buses. Today, that number has grown to more than 275,000 students.
We reached another major milestone last year when 7.5 percent of all school bus sales were electric. For comparison, light-duty EV sales in the U.S. during that same period were around 8 percent.
Beyond the environmental benefits, we hear a lot from parents and districts about how much quieter electric school buses are and how that creates a calmer atmosphere for students. We’ve also heard from schools about how beneficial that can be for students with special needs.
Another area of growing interest is resiliency. Electric school buses are essentially giant batteries on wheels. Utilities and school districts are increasingly exploring vehicle-to-grid applications, where buses can help support the electric grid during periods of high demand. We’re also seeing growing interest in vehicle-to-building applications and virtual power plant programs that aggregate bus batteries as a grid resource.
It’s been an exciting opportunity to help bring these benefits into communities.
You touched on some of the student benefits already, but can you talk more about how electric school buses create healthier and more supportive environments for students?
The health benefits are really at the core of why we’re doing this work.
Diesel exhaust pollutants are linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and asthma remains one of the leading causes of absenteeism among students. Reducing students’ exposure to diesel emissions can have a very real impact on their health and wellbeing.
We also hear consistently about how much quieter electric buses are. That quieter environment can help students arrive at school calmer and more ready to learn. About 20 percent of students who ride school buses have disabilities, so creating a calmer atmosphere can be especially meaningful.
One thing that sometimes gets overlooked is the long-term economic impact of electric school buses. How do you see districts benefiting financially over time?
The buses are more expensive upfront, which is why incentive programs like the Clean School Bus Program and state funding programs are so important.
But once the buses are in operation, the savings can be significant. Our estimates show around $100,000 in savings per bus over the vehicle’s lifetime, or roughly $7,000 annually.
What’s been especially exciting is seeing districts reinvest those savings into their schools. One example we often point to is Fleming County in Kentucky. Because of lower fuel and maintenance costs, the district found that its electric buses were saving about 80% per mile compared to diesel buses.
Those savings were projected at roughly $12,000 per month, and the district was able to reinvest that money into the classroom and support district-wide teacher pay increases.
The maintenance savings are significant because electric buses have far fewer moving parts. Fuel savings are also significant and even greater under current conditions, in which diesel prices have increased dramatically. We’ve estimated that fuel costs for a typical Type C diesel school bus increased from roughly $7,600 annually in April 2025 to more than $11,900 in April 2026.Electricity costs have increased somewhat as well, but nowhere near that level. So electric school buses can provide real operational savings for districts.
There’s also been discussion around electric vehicle adoption and grid capacity. What’s your perspective on that concern?
We definitely need to think carefully about how electric vehicles are integrated across the transportation sector, but there are a lot of tools and planning efforts already in place to support that transition.
One important factor is managed charging. Most school bus charging happens overnight when buses are parked at the depot and electricity demand is lower. That allows districts to take advantage of unused grid capacity and lower electricity rates.
Many states are also adopting flexible connection agreements between utilities and school districts, which help utilities plan around charging schedules and avoid or delay unnecessary infrastructure upgrades. It’s important to remember that this transition is happening gradually, not all at once. Utilities, regulators, and districts have time to plan appropriately.
Another important point is that electric vehicle demand is flexible. Unlike something like a data center, which has a constant high demand, electric vehicle charging can be managed and adjusted.
We’re also seeing evidence that electric vehicles can help improve overall grid affordability by utilizing excess grid capacity more efficiently.
What about the broader economic impact? How does electric school bus manufacturing contribute to job growth and economic development?
The school bus industry is uniquely American-based, and that’s really compelling from an economic development perspective.
There are currently at least 21 manufacturing facilities tied to American-owned electric school bus companies across 13 states, including places like Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, North Carolina, and West Virginia.
We’re also seeing announcements for expanded manufacturing operations and additional hiring. The three major electric school bus manufacturers alone have announced plans for roughly 1,500 new jobs.
That growth extends throughout the supply chain as well, including battery manufacturing and related infrastructure development.
Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about WRI or the future of electric school buses?
I’d really emphasize again the health benefits and the importance of reducing emissions exposure for students.
The Clean School Bus Program supports a range of fuel technologies, but the vast majority of funding requests have been for electric school buses. They’re the only buses with zero tailpipe emissions, which is critically important.
Even when accounting for emissions associated with electricity generation, electric school buses remain a very clean transportation option compared to propane, CNG, renewable diesel, and renewable propane.
At WRI, we’ve been excited to work closely with school districts and operators across the country. We continue to develop resources to support districts throughout the transition process.
One major resource to watch for is the updated Electric School Bus Buyer’s Guide, which will be released later this summer and will provide detailed information on available electric school bus makes and models.
We’ll also continue sharing updates about EPA funding opportunities, state programs, and additional ways districts can get involved and continue advancing their transition efforts.
do an incredible job, but their primary focus must remain on the road. When you have 30 or 40 children behind you, that’s often the time of day when students have the least direct supervision.
We provide free interior cameras in addition to exterior enforcement cameras. In an emergency, a driver can activate a panic alarm, allowing the school to live-stream video from the bus. From an investigative standpoint, if a complaint arises (say a student reports being pushed or having something taken), the school can review the footage and take appropriate action. It’s another important layer of data and security for students.