ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore today announced the launch of the Maryland Energy Administration’s new program to expand the number of electric school buses in use across the state. As a key pillar of the governor’s $90 million climate pledge, the program will help cut emissions that drive climate change and improve the health of Maryland’s schoolkids.
“Many communities are already seeing the consequences of climate change in their own backyards. Now, we need to ensure more Marylanders can see themselves in the progress of climate action,” said Gov. Moore. “Electrifying our school bus fleet isn’t just the responsible choice for our environment — it’s also the smart thing for our state’s economic competitiveness and our children’s health.”
The Maryland Energy Administration will offer up to $17 million through the Fiscal Year 2025 Maryland Electric School Bus Grant Program for electric school buses, charging infrastructure and associated costs. Eligible applicants can receive up to 85% of the incremental cost of purchasing qualified electric school buses. The program provides up to $1.5 million per grantee, with an increased cap of $2 million for income-qualified applicants or large school districts.
Priority will be given to projects benefiting Title I Schools and underserved communities.
Funding is distributed as cost reimbursement, with partial awards available to maximize program impact. Local school districts are eligible to submit applications to purchase school buses. Applications must be submitted by the district to support their fleet or fund efforts by their private vendors or contractors.
Any publicly funded school bus procured by an eligible entity for the routine transportation of students for school or school-related programming or activities is also eligible for consideration. Vehicles must be purchased new—retrofits or repowered vehicles are not eligible. A vehicle that has been funded in whole or in part by another Maryland state agency grant may also not be funded through this program.
“The Maryland Electric School Bus Grant Program represents a convergence of the state’s climate, equity and economic goals. The program enables Maryland communities to overcome the initial costs associated with the shift to cleaner vehicles so that they can receive the long-term savings that come with reduced fuel and maintenance costs,” said Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky. “Because of this program, our kids will breathe cleaner air and our return on the investment of public funds will expand. That’s a clear win-win for Maryland.”
The window for applications for the Fiscal Year 2025 Maryland Electric School Bus Grant Program will close on February 14, 2025 at 3 p.m. EST. Full details on eligibility, program guidelines and the application process are available on the program webpage.
What. An. Idiot.
Guess Moore and the state didn’t learn anything from the debacle Montgomery County just went through. Typical tax and spend democrat.
Agree. One electric bus builder was in the news very recently for shutting down manufacture.
Any battery vehicle is much heavier than corresponding gas or diesel one due to battery weight; the heavier weight wears out tires and roads more rapidly. And of course there is the delusion that generating electricity is clean. It can be but requires nuclear or hydroelectric source if it is to be reliable.
Another option for gas powered buses is to have them converted to run on propane or natural gas; both are exceedingly clean burning fuels; we did propane conversions 45+ years ago.
But as reply above noted he’s a smiley idiot and will push for whatever is subsidizing him.
Tell the Governor that Wicomico County Board member doesn’t want anything to do with his electric school buses. If he wants to do something for our school system he can provide funds to house migrants and teach them to speak English. John Palmer School Board, District-5.
I’d rather not have my tax dollars go towards housing the thousands of illegals who are in the sanctuary city of Salisbury, and instead have Tom Homan come in and send them back on my dime.
And quit giving them a free pass to drive a vehicle when they cannot even read traffic signals and signs and providing them with state funded accident insurance on the taxpayer dime .
Absolutely the worst governor that Maryland has ever had. He inherited a nice surplus from Hogan and now he blew through all that money and we are now in the hole ! Typical of someone with no good sense and doesn’t know how to run a state or any kind of business. What a mistake to have voted this turd in!!! C’mon next voting time!! Out he will go!
He’s the lib’s pick for Prez in 4…
Kamala’s going to be looking for work soon. It seems that she and driving an electric school bus might be a good fit.
And just like that – Maryland uses the rest of any money they had and another DEMONCRAP ruins a state. Keep voting blue dumbasses
WTF they are massively expensive, more expensive to fix when they break down-and they ALL do, just look at the cities that have already wasted millions…
Move now md is a tax sucking waste machine… this guy is a total thief to HARD working people
Just want to put up some stats and facts I found.
The cost of an electric school bus (ESB) can vary widely depending on the type, manufacturer, and specifications. Here are some things to consider when looking at the cost of an ESB:
Upfront cost
The average cost of an ESB is around $400,000, which is typically higher than a combustion bus. However, prices are expected to decline over the next decade.
Type
The base price for different types of ESBs can range from:
Type A: $263,000–$429,000
Type C: $339,000–$524,000
Type D: $375,000–$556,000
Ancillary costs
In addition to the upfront cost, there are other costs to consider, such as:
Installing chargers, which can cost up to $140,000
Upgrading transformers and lines to bring power to the chargers
Training employees to manage the new systems
[ Moore is pledging $ 17 million dollars. At an average cost of around $400000 per bus, that comes out to purchasing about 42 busses ]
Funding and financing options
There are funding and financing options that can help offset the upfront cost. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program allows school districts to replace old diesel buses with new electric buses at no cost in most cases.
[ The school districts around here do not own the school busses. ]
Repowered diesel buses
Repowered diesel buses that run on electricity can often have lower purchase prices than brand new buses.
Oh no, Moore does not want re-powered school busses.
The fuel tank size of a school bus can vary depending on the bus model and brand, but typically ranges from 25–100 gallons:
Type A school bus: Typically has a fuel tank of at least 25 gallons
Type C and D school bus: Typically has a fuel tank of at least 30 gallons
Mini or shuttle bus: Typically has a fuel tank of 25–40 gallons
Blue Bird Vision: Has a fuel tank of 60–100 gallons
Conventional school bus: Has a fuel tank of 100 gallons
Thomas school bus: Has fuel tanks that can be 31, 50, 55, 60, or 62 gallons
ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas fuel tanks: Available in 47, 67, or 93 gallon options
Range. EV bus can go about 125 miles between charges. Conventional school bus: Has a fuel tank of 100 gallons
and at 6 miles per gallon could go run about 600 miles before fueling. An EV bus would need charging every day or two.
How much does a EV school bus battery cost?
Electric buses are limited with how far they can travel; they can safely go about 120 miles on an eight hour charge. Their batteries are expected to only last 10 years. To replace one, it’s around $30,000, according to Schrader.Jun 19, 2024.
And I believe that most school busses are required to be replaced every ten years. So now you have a ten year old bus that the ” pickers ” wont even want.
Contract School transportation out to FEDX or UPS and let contractors pay for electric buses.
I guess the new Democrat term for “at risk” is now Title one. Follow the money and see how many of these E.S.B. are purchased in Baltimore City by Marylanders full tax money! But! Your County Executive and her buds Funky Luffman and Barry “taxcap repeal” Beachump kept telling voters how they felt real comfortable with there ties in Annapolis and there funding for projects were safe that was T.F .Bull$hit! Well one thing is for sure if we cannot fund the building of schools we do not need any E.S.B. to carry children anywhere. These ” Rinos” listed above should be ashamed of themselves for all the falsehoods they put on the airwaves.