School Bus Consortium
Support for school districts going electric
The NorCal School Bus Consortium is run by NorCal Clean Cities and Communities. It brings together school transportation leaders, fleet staff, utilities, agencies and technical partners who are working through the details of electrifying their bus fleets. The aim is to help districts get from interest to a working plan, with better information, shared lessons and the right contacts.
Members share what they know about grants and financing, charging, vehicle-to-grid, fleet planning, buying buses, technician training and getting drivers ready. Twin Rivers Unified, an early adopter of electric school buses, is a regional example many districts learn from.
Run transportation for a school district? Email claurentine@norcalcleancities.org to learn more or to join a future consortium meeting.
Why districts are making the switch
Most school buses in the United States still run on diesel. Students, drivers and staff can breathe in exhaust on their routes, while loading and while buses idle. Electric buses have no tailpipe emissions, so that exposure goes away.
They can also cost less to run over time, especially when a district plans routes carefully, manages charging, works with its utility and uses the incentives available. Electric school buses on the market today are rated for 100 to 300 miles per charge, which covers many routes, but every district should check range, charging needs, terrain, climate and daily use before buying.
The tools below come from the Electric School Bus Initiative and other outside organizations to support school districts. They are not made by NorCal Clean Cities and are separate from our School Bus Consortium. For one-on-one technical questions about school transportation in Northern California, please reach out to our School Bus Consortium at claurentine@norcalcleancities.org.
Start here: planning tools
- Step-by-Step Guide to School Bus Electrification
The planning steps, decisions, partners to bring in and questions to ask before buying buses or chargers. - Total Cost of Ownership Calculator
Estimates the long-term cost of electric and diesel buses from your fleet size, fuel, maintenance and charging. - Electric School Bus Buyer’s Guide and Market Study
Compare current models, range, charging and market trends before you write specifications. - Frequently asked questions
Common questions on performance, charging, buying, operations and maintenance.
Free help and peer learning
- Talk to an Expert
Free one-on-one technical help from the Electric School Bus Initiative, for districts weighing their options or ready to start. - Events and office hours
Webinars, peer-learning sessions and office hours where you can hear how other districts did it. - Stories from students, drivers and districts
First-hand accounts of what the switch looks like.
Funding and financing
California Zero-Emission School Bus and Infrastructure (ZESBI)
ZESBI is California’s incentive program for zero-emission school buses and the chargers that run them. Bus funding comes from the California Air Resources Board, charging funding comes from the California Energy Commission, and CALSTART runs the program for both. California public school districts, public charter schools, joint powers authorities and county offices of education can apply. Applications are closed right now, but a new round of funding is coming soon. Sign up for updates to hear when it opens.
- ZESBI website
Program overview, incentive amounts and how to apply. - Sign up for ZESBI updates
Get notified when the next funding round opens. - Check eligibility
Who can apply and which buses qualify. - ZESBI FAQs
Answers to common applicant questions.
More funding tools
- CALSTART Funding Finder
A searchable database of funding for medium and heavy duty clean vehicles and charging. - State funding for electric school buses
An overview of what states offer. Programs change through the year, so check eligibility, deadlines, match requirements and vehicle rules before you apply.
We also keep a list of current grants and incentives for Northern California. Look at it alongside air district programs, state incentives, federal grants and utility charging support.
Data and real examples
- Electric School Bus Data Dashboard
Tracks electric school bus adoption across the country and state by state. - School bus emissions by fuel: what the data says
How electric buses compare with other alternative fuels. Electric buses have no tailpipe emissions while they run. - Electric school buses in rural America
Examples for districts outside big metro areas, with longer routes and smaller transportation teams.
Equity and community benefits
- Choosing where to put electric buses first
How to start with the routes and schools most exposed to diesel exhaust, traffic pollution and poor air quality. - A state playbook for equitable electric school bus policy
How states can design programs that reach under-resourced districts, include community voices and support the workforce.