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ncertainty is a given when a new presidential administration takes office, especially one from the opposition party. The current landscape of unknowns regarding tariffs and clean energy


funding brings new considerations to the student trans- portation industry. However, there is a strategy that can help navigate this new landscape, explained by trans- portation directors, industry veterans and vendors in the electric charging infrastructure space. When the grantees of the U.S. Environmental Pro-


tection Agency (EPA) Clean School Bus Program were announced last year, the state of South Carolina was slated to receive $9.335 million for the purchase of zero-emission buses. Some South Carolina districts were also among the 70 applicants selected to receive over $735 million from the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program for the purchase and implementation of zero-emission heavy duty vehicles, including electric school buses, across the country. Mike Bullman, director of student transportation at the


South Carolina Department of Education, said the current political climate has raised purchasing concerns, mostly related to the cost of electric buses and infrastructure. Electric charging infrastructure providers are looking


to address these customer concerns. “Uncertainty around the future of EV federal funding programs has more oper- ators and districts asking what options they have to offset the cost of EV buses and ensure their EV projects remain economically viable,” shared Maggie Clancy, executive vice president of business development for battery solu- tions manufacturer and financier Zenobe. Bullman continued, “We anticipate, just a look into a


very cloudy crystal ball, it will increase the cost of a typ- ical Type C bus by $2,500 to $4,000. Also, with the EPA’s recent announcement to place the 2027 [Greenhouse Gas Emissions Phase 3] standards on hold, this could potentially save $15,000 to $20,000 per bus from what it could have been. That’s my glass half-full outlook.” Meanwhile, Ewan Pritchard has a doctorate in me-


chanical engineering and has been involved with alternative energy school buses since managing the hybrid program for Advanced Energy from late 1997 through 2008. Now a consultant and subject matter expert for Energetics, he presented at the STN EXPO East conference in Concord, North Carolina in March on


“Navigating Electrification as a Service.” He noted that he sees the uncertainty and complexity surrounding electrification. “Supply chains bear a greater impact on electrification


since it is a rapidly developing marketplace, he added. “The previous administration had already pushed for greater levels of U.S. manufacturing in vehicle electrifi- cation including the manufacture of batteries. This has resulted in a stronger domestic supply in vehicle elec- trification. The U.S. EPA had unfortunately not required Buy American, Build American [program] for the Clean School Bus Program, which allowed for a wider diversi- ty of products but did not reinforce domestic supply as much as other EV programs had.” Terry Day, chief operations officer at InCharge En-


ergy, noted that while most electric school buses are assembled domestically, components are often sourced internationally.


”Canadian tariffs would have a significant impact,” he


observed. Tim Shannon, who spent 15 years as the director of transportation for Twin Rivers Unified School District in in Sacramento, California, now works at Highland Electric Fleets as its business development manager. He pioneered electric school buses at Twin Rivers with an initial deploy- ment of 16 electric buses in 2016. By April 2021, the electric fleet increased to 40, making the district the largest opera- tor of electric school buses in the nation at the time. He noted that with most battery development tak- ing place overseas, notably in China, tariffs could raise a concern. “I think that would be the deterrent, but of course, the landscape for grant funding is dwindling down,” he said. “I was able to bring in about $41 million to fund the electric program, but I don’t see that that’s going to be available in the future.” However, he noted that despite the Trump admin-


istration not being proponents of electric vehicles, production especially of electric school buses will con- tinue. When he began the electrification efforts at Twin Rivers, he said he recalls paying 11 cents per kilowatt hour. “It’s more effective and efficient to run an electric school bus now,” he added. Shannon said despite worry regarding tariffs, there are


still ways to mitigate the cost of electric buses such as through state bids. In California, he also utilized credits


The landscape of clean energy transportation is ever-evolving, but current political impacts have transportation operations re-analyzing their purchasing game plans. Keep tabs on the latest green energy school bus news at stnonline.com/green-bus.


38 School Transportation News • MAY 2025


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