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-EPA CLEAN SCHOOL BUS ROUND 1 RECAP-
1. Submit one application for up to 25 buses per end user.
2022-2023 Rebate/Lottery Program to award $500M for Electric/Propane/CNG Bus Replacements & Infrastructure.
2. EPA Priority List (official document in 05/2022)
SAIPE for 2020 (20%+ students living in poverty),Rural School Districts (43-rural: remote & 42-rural: distant by National Center for Education Statistics), and Tribal School Districts.
3. October 2022: EPA notifies applicants of selection
Selectees can purchase new buses/infrastructure (payment request form w/ purchase orders submitted by 4/2023. Project deadline 10/2024).
4. New Bus
GVWR 10,001 lbs+, Model Year 2021+, Not ordered prior to receiving EPA notification. Purchased (no lease/lease to own), Operate for 5+ years, No federal funding stacking.
- Priority Applicants- Electric Type C/D: $375k/per, Electric Type A: $285k/per, CNG Type C/D: $45k/per, CNG Type A: $30k/per, Propane Type C/D: $30k/per, Propane Type A: $25k/per.
- Eligible School Districts- Electric Type C/D: $250k/per, Electric Type A: $190k/per, CNG Type C/D: $20k/per, CNG Type A: $20k/per, Propane Type C/D: $20k/per, Propane Type A: $15k/per.
5. Scrap Bus
GVWR 10,001 lbs+, operational at application submission, owned by fleet, provide service 3 days/week during 2021/2022 school year (Covid closures exempt)
- Scrap 2010 or older (diesel)
- Scrap/Sell/Donate 2011 or newer (fossil fuel buses)
-CLEAN SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM KEY POINTS-
- THIS IS NOT A FREE BUS
- Diesel Parity Program
The EPA Clean School Bus Program will ultimately serve to offset the costs of of your EV or alternative fuel bus purchase to be more in line with that of purchasing a diesel bus.
- Infrastructure Costs & Process
When purchasing an EV bus, be prepared that the infrastructure costs and process may exceed intial expectations. The process needs to be started well in advance of the bus purchase to ensure all charging station items are completed prior to the bus arrival.
- Upcoming EPA Clean School Bus Program
Although the details of the upcoming round of the program have not yet been released, it has been mentioned that the application process will not be a lottery program again, but rather an official grant submission. More information to come.