Clean School Bus Technical Assistance
On this page:
- FREE Technical Assistance via the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation
- Additional Resources to Prepare for Fleet Transition
- Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers
- Resources for Identifying Related Funding Opportunities
FREE Technical Assistance via the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation
The EPA is partnering with The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to offer free technical assistance to Clean School Bus Program applicants and program participants. Applicants and selectees can contact the Joint Office to learn more or to ask a technical question about how to successfully plan and deploy clean school buses and infrastructure. For example, the Joint Office can provide information and support on topics such as:
- Clean school bus basics (electric, propane, and compressed natural gas)
- Charging equipment
- Electric utility connections
- Bus performance
- Operational considerations (e.g., bus routing, maintenance)
Joint Office Technical Assistance Resources
- English and Spanish Technical Assistance Webinar Playlists
A collection of the technical assistance webinar recordings co-hosted by the EPA Clean School Bus Program and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation meant to assist school districts in the planning and implementation of their clean school bus projects. - Electric School Bus Forum
Online message board dedicated to school bus fleets and designed to connect peer fleets with one another to ask and answer questions, relay experiences, and share materials. Any school bus fleet employee may sign up for an account. - Quick Start to Electrifying Your School Bus Fleet (pdf) (285 KB)
Short document summarizing key highlights and key steps to school bus electrification. - Electric School Bus Route Analysis Tool (xlsx) (81 KB)
School districts planning to adopt electric school buses can use this tool to help determine the bus power usage and charger power needs for their unique bus routes. - Electric School Bus Charging Station Planning Form (xlsx) (124 KB)
School districts planning to adopt electric school buses can use this form to gather charging-related data and information to prepare for meeting with their electric utility. - Cold Weather Impacts on Electric School Buses (pdf)(180 KB)
This information sheet explains how cold weather impacts electric school buses and shares the Joint Office's recommended approaches for greater energy draw, optimizing performance, and maximizing ESB range. - The $5 million Clean Bus Planning Awards program
Provides free technical assistance to create comprehensive and customized bus electrification plans for fleets across the United States. Applications for assistance are open on a rolling basis through Sept. 30, 2024, giving fleets an opportunity to fully understand their needs before applying for funding support for fleet electrification.
Additional Resources to Prepare for Fleet Transition
- Coordinating with Electric Utilities
EPA’s page with resources on communicating with your electricity utility and planning for school bus fleet electrification. -
EPA Electric School Bus Transition Planning Resource (pdf)
EPA document that can help school districts plan for the purchase and deployment of ESBs and charging infrastructure. - Lithium Ion Battery Recycling
An EPA page with background information on lithium ion batteries, including an overview of how these batteries are recycled and potential options for reuse. - Preparing Your Propane Refueling Station for School Year Success*
An article published by School Transportation News with instructions to test and tune up propane refueling stations. - Get the Tools You Need for Your Electric School Bus Journey*
A website published by the World Resources Institute, which includes resources such as an ESB buyers’ guide and information on the total cost of ownership for ESBs.
Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers
EPA has selected 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers that will provide training and other assistance to grant applicants and grantees. Visit the EJ TCTAC Program to identify the EJ TCTAC in your area and access grant technical assistance on topics such as:
- Navigating federal grant application systems
- Writing strong grant proposals
- Effectively managing grant funding
Resources for Identifying Related Funding Opportunities
In addition to the EPA Clean School Bus Program, there are many other federal, state, and local-level electric school bus and EVSE funding opportunities. The World Resources Institute’s Clearinghouse of Electric School Bus Funding and Financing Opportunities* provides a compiled list of several available funding opportunities in a single file, which contains information regarding type of funding, program eligibility, funding levels, and more. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center also compiled a list of Federal and State Laws and Incentives* for propane vehicles that could be helpful for fleets considering propane-fueled buses.
*Please note: This resource is developed and maintained by external organizations. EPA is not responsible for updating or verifying accuracy of the information on the linked pages.