School districts across New Jersey are looking to update the way students get to class, by replacing old diesel school buses with new electric models. Officials said the change allows cleaner air for students to breathe, cuts climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions, and lowers maintenance costs for the bus fleet.
Yet electric school buses come with steep price-tags, including the upfront costs of installing new charging infrastructure. So cash-strapped districts are relying on state and federal grants to get their hands on the new buses. The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dedicates funding for electric school buses nationwide, and New Jersey lawmakers are on the verge of setting aside $15 million for bus purchases statewide.
