NEW YORK STATE--Gov. Kathy Hochul last week announced the New York State Electric School Bus Roadmap and The Electric School Bus Guidebook to help New York P-12 schools transition bus fleets to zero-emissions. These new resources provide school districts and bus operators to remove fossil fuel vehicles from service and help reduce transportation emissions. The announcement supports the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050 and New York state’s requirements that all new school buses sold in New York state be zero-emission by 2027. All school buses on the road must be zero-emission by 2035.
“We must address the ways that fossil-fuel-powered transportation directly affects our families and communities with emissions from school buses at the top of that list,” Hochul said. “Providing the tools for school districts to swap out diesel and gas school buses with zero-emission bus fleets will help students and their communities across the state breathe cleaner air and enjoy a healthier way of life.”
The New York State Electric School Bus Roadmap outlines costs, challenges and proposed recommendations that New York state and partners – including utilities, manufacturers, and operators – can implement. It also covers vehicle choice, procurement, and fleet planning options that will accelerate zero-emission school bus adoption.
Highlights of the roadmap include:
• Electric school buses currently on the market can be affordable and attainable for schools when available state and federal incentive programs are utilized.
• Electric school buses can meet the bus route needs of most schools which have an average bus route of 80 miles per day.
• Level two electric vehicle (EV) chargers provide sufficient power for electric school buses through overnight charging. Ninety-six percent of school buses, outside of New York City, return to depots for at least 12 hours overnight.
• A challenge mentioned in the report says, “School districts may need to secure additional funds through alternative financing and other options, with the balance coming through local funding.” This could mean a tax levy that exceeds the cap and “would require a supermajority (60 percent) of voter approval.”
The roadmap will be updated every three years to reflect changing zero-emission school bus market conditions.
Additionally, The Electric School Bus Guidebook provides information and resources for school districts and bus operators to help them become more familiar with key terms and processes for transitioning to zero-emission school bus fleets. The first three guides focus on zero-emission buses, the procurement process, and charging stations to inform discussions with school boards and the public. More guides will be added to the main guidebook throughout 2023 and will cover best practices for bus routing, safety, workforce development, and technician training. The guidebook will continue to be updated periodically as new information becomes available.
Both the roadmap and guidebook pinpoint factors and decisions that school districts and bus operators face when considering clean bus options. Zero-emission buses include both battery electric buses and hydrogen fuel cell buses which are expected to be available for purchase in New York state in the coming years. Both types of buses eliminate diesel and gasoline fumes.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Our roadmap and guidebook will provide school districts and bus operators with the latest information to enhance their fleets with zero-emission buses through proper planning, purchasing, and financing. Many schools have sustainability goals and want to invest in solutions like clean transportation, particularly in underserved areas–providing healthier neighborhoods for more children and families to live, work and go to school in.”
Transportation contributes to 30 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. New York has 45,000 school buses, which makes up approximately 10 percent of the nation’s total.
“We must address the ways that fossil-fuel-powered transportation directly affects our families and communities with emissions from school buses at the top of that list,” Hochul said. “Providing the tools for school districts to swap out diesel and gas school buses with zero-emission bus fleets will help students and their communities across the state breathe cleaner air and enjoy a healthier way of life.”
The New York State Electric School Bus Roadmap outlines costs, challenges and proposed recommendations that New York state and partners – including utilities, manufacturers, and operators – can implement. It also covers vehicle choice, procurement, and fleet planning options that will accelerate zero-emission school bus adoption.
Highlights of the roadmap include:
• Electric school buses currently on the market can be affordable and attainable for schools when available state and federal incentive programs are utilized.
• Electric school buses can meet the bus route needs of most schools which have an average bus route of 80 miles per day.
• Level two electric vehicle (EV) chargers provide sufficient power for electric school buses through overnight charging. Ninety-six percent of school buses, outside of New York City, return to depots for at least 12 hours overnight.
• A challenge mentioned in the report says, “School districts may need to secure additional funds through alternative financing and other options, with the balance coming through local funding.” This could mean a tax levy that exceeds the cap and “would require a supermajority (60 percent) of voter approval.”
The roadmap will be updated every three years to reflect changing zero-emission school bus market conditions.
Additionally, The Electric School Bus Guidebook provides information and resources for school districts and bus operators to help them become more familiar with key terms and processes for transitioning to zero-emission school bus fleets. The first three guides focus on zero-emission buses, the procurement process, and charging stations to inform discussions with school boards and the public. More guides will be added to the main guidebook throughout 2023 and will cover best practices for bus routing, safety, workforce development, and technician training. The guidebook will continue to be updated periodically as new information becomes available.
Both the roadmap and guidebook pinpoint factors and decisions that school districts and bus operators face when considering clean bus options. Zero-emission buses include both battery electric buses and hydrogen fuel cell buses which are expected to be available for purchase in New York state in the coming years. Both types of buses eliminate diesel and gasoline fumes.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Our roadmap and guidebook will provide school districts and bus operators with the latest information to enhance their fleets with zero-emission buses through proper planning, purchasing, and financing. Many schools have sustainability goals and want to invest in solutions like clean transportation, particularly in underserved areas–providing healthier neighborhoods for more children and families to live, work and go to school in.”
Transportation contributes to 30 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. New York has 45,000 school buses, which makes up approximately 10 percent of the nation’s total.
