Going fully electric with vans, school buses, or all vehicles is a goal for many K-12 school districts across the country. With the right planning and partnerships, transitioning a fleet to clean energy can produce successful results.
The benefits of using electric vehicles, particularly institutional and commercial facilities, are undeniable: money saved on gasoline and lowering maintenance costs, plus healthier air for students, staff, and communities along the local bus routes. Having previously employed a few light duty electric vehicles for district use, the Pittsburg Unified School District (PUSD) in California amped up its positive impact on the environment by electrifying its school bus fleet.
Like many districts, PUSD became interested in pursuing electric transportation solutions out of concern for student health.
“All of our school sites are located in communities that have historically been impacted by poor air quality, so reducing diesel emissions around our students was a priority,” says Matthew Belasco, director of maintenance, operations and transportation.
Making the switch was meaningful for the district’s students; the average student spends 40-50 minutes on a school bus per day and many ride even longer. Diesel emissions are classified as carcinogenic, and exposure to exhaust while riding inside a school bus can increase cancer risk, according to an article from the National Library of Medicine. Diesel exhaust exposure has also been linked to asthma exacerbation, other respiratory complications and impaired cognitive functioning.
With student health as a main motivator, other reasons to transition to electric buses were long-term cost savings and environmental responsibility. Though electric buses have a high upfront cost, the savings over the lifespan of each bus compared to diesel buses paired with environmental cost savings makes electrification a realistic option. Securing funding, carefully mapping out charging schedules and planning for long-term sustainability are essential to making e-transportation work for all stakeholders.
The district accounted for the layered angles of overhauling their school bus fleet by implementing cross-departmental collaboration from the start. Their team included members of the school board, superintendent’s cabinet, maintenance and operations, transportation, child nutrition and business services.
“By coordinating early on, we were able to leverage grants, utility partnerships, and infrastructure investments in a way that made the transition both strategic and fiscally responsible,” Belasco says.
Given that one electric bus costs around $400,000, nearly three times as much as a diesel bus, smart budget management is essential. The district also took advantage of the Clean School Bus Program, which provides $5 billion in grants and rebates for schools to replace their diesel buses with electric vehicles. Several states have also unveiled incentive programs, too. Still, the costs of electrifying a fleet — especially the investment in establishing the appropriate charging infrastructure — can be prohibitive.
Districts that can transition their fleets, and districts, like those in California, that will soon be required to purchase only electric buses must meticulously plan for the long game. The district saved money from the start by getting involved in the electrification movement early, allowing them to get a jump start on utilizing grants as well as free and reduced-cost training for staff. Installing extra infrastructure to anticipate future power needs of a growing fleet can help districts save money later, Belasco says.
Other key elements contributing to the long-term success of the district’s transition to electric include planning routes, charging capacities, necessary electrical upgrades and training. Belasco says that a challenge the district was prepared for was “coordinating infrastructure timelines with vehicle delivery schedules, especially (considering) utility interconnection timelines.”
He says the district’s vendor partnerships and proactive planning were central to navigating these challenges. Partnering with local utility providers early during the process can equip districts by providing in-depth knowledge of their infrastructure capacity, unforeseen or increased costs, and unique incentive opportunities.
A hurdle the district did not see coming was such technology evolving so quickly. The constant evolution of software platforms, charging standards and fleet management tools calls for adaptability, Belasco says. The district’s seven e-buses regularly “receive over-the-air software updates that improve battery management, diagnostic reporting, and charging optimization,” Belasco says, maximizing range, improving efficiency and yielding “real-time performance data that supports preventative maintenance,” he adds.
For the district, smart charging software automates charging schedules and sends alerts to transportation and maintenance teams so the district can take advantage of lower utility rates during off-peak charging hours without requiring overnight staffing. This approach has helped the district save more than $1.8 million a year on electric costs and reduced grid strain by implementing solar charging in place of electric charging when peak hours are unavoidable.
“During peak utility rate periods, solar production helps us maintain predictable energy costs while ensuring vehicles are ready for daily operations,” Belasco says.
The success of the electric school bus program inspired the district to electrify its maintenance, nutrition services and facilities vehicles as well. In addition to reducing emissions, lowering costs and supporting the district’s sustainability goals, Belasco notes that transitioning more vehicles is maximizing the value of the district’s charging infrastructure investments. As of June 2025, the district has a fleet of over 50 percent electric vehicles with 26 Level 2 chargers and is planning to install five Level 3 bidirectional chargers.
Belasco advises other districts looking to establish an electric vehicle program to “Tell your story with data,” he says. “Demonstrating readiness, scalability, and long-term impact greatly strengthens funding applications.”
He also recommends starting with a “clear sustainability and operational vision, then aligning it with measurable outcomes like emissions reduction, cost savings, and student health benefits. Build partnerships early with your utility provider, grant administrators, and community stakeholders- and invest time in detailed infrastructure planning.”
Annie Celentani is a freelance writer based in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
