The Transition to Electric School Buses
For some, the smell of a diesel exhaust can transport you through time to the days when you’d hop out the back door of the school bus during fire drills. For others, it’s a reminder that tailpipe emissions significantly contribute to poor air quality, elevated asthma rates, and climate change. In 2022, the New York State Legislature and Governor passed legislation mandating all school buses purchased after 2027 must be zero-emission, with the goal of fully electrified fleets by 2035. This legislation was met with widespread skepticism around electric school buses (ESBs) based on budgetary and electric capacity constraints, and a fair amount of misinformation. As a result, the 2025 NYS budget included language allowing for two exemption waivers that could extend this timeline by two years per waiver (Wight, 2025). This opportunity will hopefully enable school districts to plan accordingly and integrate the cost associated with transitioning their fleet across more fiscal years.
What to know about the waivers:
Districts are eligible for 2 extensions of up to 24 months each
An extension will be considered based on the following factors: procurement efforts made by the school district, applications for state or federal funds, changes needed to school district operations to meet the requirements of this section, employee training, [and] receipt of technical assistance market availability of zero-emission school buses or supporting infrastructure, and availability of state or federal funds. In order to receive a second extension agreeable to this paragraph, a school district must have at least engaged with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in the initiation and 18 development of a fleet electrification plans and and any other factors outside of the control of the district
NYSERDA will provide extension grantees technical assistance and meet at least once annually during the extension period. Based on the district’s fleet electrification technical assessment NYSERDA will determine if the district has the capacity to meet the electrification requirement (State of New York, 2025).
ESBs in the North Country
Traditionally, school buses have used internal combustion engines (ICE) and run on fuel types such as gas, diesel, or compressed natural gas (CNG). Whereas electric school buses use lithium-ion batteries and are powered by electricity. An ESB typically has a 100-200+ mile range, and the average bus route in NYS is approximately 80 miles. This is, of course, an average, and when looking at rural school districts in the North Country, the demands are a bit steeper. For example, the Saranac Lake School District, the largest geographic district in the state, has 16 routes that exceed 100 miles and one route that is nearly 200 miles per day (Saranac Lake Central Prepares for Electric Buses, 2024). In addition to the long distances, North Country school districts need to account for decreased range because of cold weather. Fortunately, lithium-ion battery technology continues to evolve, and longer-range ESBs are now available with ranges closer to 300 miles (Electric School Bus Frequently Asked Questions Cleaner, Healthier Rides for New York’s Students, n.d.).
On a typical day, after the bus has completed a route, the driver takes the bus back to the garage to charge for its next bus route. This intermittent use pattern, specifically overnight charging when demand for electricity is lower, makes charging buses more streamlined than recharging light-duty electric vehicles. Additionally, an ESB's charging rate will depend on the charger. A level two EV charger will cost the school less because of avoided demand charges. DC fast chargers (DCFC) are more expensive to install, own, and operate; however, the bus can be fully charged in two to four hours. Use of DCFC could be helpful for EBSs transporting for field trips or sports, and will require inter-district cooperation to account for cross-district expenses incurred at the meter.
But how much will they cost? Typically, electric school buses cost $156,000 more than your average internal combustion engine-based school bus without subsidies and incentives (Choma et al., 2024). In 2022, New York passed the Environmental Bond Act that gave $500 million to help schools transition to electric school buses. These funds are distributed through NYSERDA’s NY School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP) and are aimed at establishing cost parity between ESBs and ICE buses. This program, as well as the Joint Utility’s Make Ready program, also fund infrastructure and EV chargers. Before the Trump Administration’s climate cuts, the EPA Clean School Bus Program allocated $263 million to New York State Schools for school bus electrification, with priority given to our most vulnerable districts. While the EPA opportunity has evaporated, the Elective Pay Federal Tax Credit is still available to schools for ESB adoption.
Health & Climate
Although electric school buses have a higher upfront cost, they provide benefits that traditional school buses don’t offer. Switching to electric buses means that our school’s buses will emit zero or very few emissions. Recent studies have “attributed roughly 20,000 deaths per year in the US to vehicle emissions…due to exposure to ambient fine particulate matter” (Choma et al., 2024). It also means schools will be contributing to lowering emissions and improving air quality in the surrounding areas of their schools and communities, which is beneficial for those who suffer from asthma. A recent study completed by the EPA established that the health effects of “in-cabin exposure on school attendance would also have large economic impacts, since each school day missed results in $600 to $1,000 in lost learning and productivity” (Choma et al., 2024).
Additionally, with climate change posing societal and ecological impacts, people have been trying to figure out ways to combat it. Implementing zero-emission vehicles that utilize renewable energy is one solution. The cost of electrification, specifically EV adoption and utility infrastructure upgrades, is viewed as an elective choice when actually this is a reflection of the cost of climate change.
While the 2035 mandate includes an aggressive timeline and can seem very expensive without braiding the incentives provided, it’s cheaper and less detrimental than waiting. Because communities must vote to approve their school’s budget, the ESB transition is complex and will require thorough and continuous public education. In the North Country, we are fortunate to have early adopters like Alexandria Bay Central School District paving the way and demonstrating that this transition is in fact feasible.
How to access ESB incentives or learn more:
The Voucher Help Center (VHC) is available to answer questions about the program: Phone: 866-595-7917, Email: NYSBIP@energycenter.org • Send an email to schoolbus@nyserda.ny.gov for more information.
Photos (left to right): (1) Delmar Lambert, Transportation Supervisor at Alexandria Central School, shows ANCA staff ESB at ANCA 2024 Clean Energy Conference in Clayton, NY; (2) Chuck O'Neil, School Bus Sales Manager at New York Bus Sales, demonstrates ESB to ANCA 2025 conference attendees (3) New York Bus Sales ESB in Saranac Lake, NY. (4) New York Bus Sales ESB is demonstrated to students from Canton Central “Green Team.”
Canton Central Green Team rides ESB at 2024 ANCA Clean Energy Conference.
References
Electric School Bus Frequently Asked Questions Cleaner, healthier rides for New York’s students. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2025, from https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/Project/Nyserda/Files/Publications/Fact-Sheets/ESB-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf
Choma, E.F., Robinson, L.A., & Nadeau, K.C. (2024). Adopting electric school buses in the United States: health and climate benefits. PNAS, vol. 121(22). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2320338121.
Saranac Lake Central prepares for electric buses. (2024, June 22). Adirondack Daily Enterprise. https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2024/06/saranac-lake-central-prepares-for-electric-buses/
State of New York. (Jan. 2025). Senate Assembly (3006- -C). https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2025/s3006c
Wight, C. (2025). NYS electric bus mandate deadlines could change as districts struggle to sway voters. WSTM. https://cnycentral.com/news/i-team/deadlines-on-nys-electric-bus-mandate-start-to-change-as-districts-struggle-to-sway-voters
