Biden's Electric School Bus Program Delivers Less Than 40% of Ordered Vehicles

Less than 40% of electric school buses purchased under a multibillion-dollar Biden-era program have been delivered, according to new statistics released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The slow pace of deliveries, combined with concerns about the reliability of the electric vehicles (EVs), has led numerous school districts to withdraw from the $5 billion "Clean School Bus Program." To date, approximately $2.7 billion in taxpayer funds has been disbursed, overwhelmingly for electric buses rather than other alternative fuel vehicles.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the administration "rushed money out the door without enough thought or oversight." He added, "In essence, American taxpayer dollars vanished into thin air, and our children were left without school buses." Zeldin has pledged sweeping changes to the program before the remaining congressionally approved funding is distributed.

Under the program's original guidelines, 50% of federal funds were designated for EV buses, with the remaining half intended for other "clean" transportation methods, including biofuel, liquified natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, or propane vehicles. However, EPA data indicates that of the 2,600 buses and associated charging infrastructure ordered, only 60 were propane-powered, and nearly all of those have been delivered. The vast majority of the orders were for electric buses.

Of the electric buses ordered, approximately 1,100 have been delivered, 854 are behind schedule, and 140 will likely never be delivered, according to EPA figures. At least one manufacturer, Lion Electric, declared bankruptcy in 2024 after receiving $160 million in taxpayer funds. Highland Electric, which has received over $150 million in Clean School Bus funding, has reportedly experienced "significant management issues," including a lack of contracts with school districts and inadequate oversight of funds.

First Student secured $401 million in Clean School Bus funding but is behind schedule on two-thirds of the electric school buses it was contracted to deliver to 37 school districts, the EPA found. Kevin Matthews, head of electrification at First Student, stated the company is committed to deploying all awarded buses and expects to have over 1,000 electric buses in operation by the end of the current school year, having driven nearly 12 million electric miles.

A spokesperson for Highland Electric reported that the company and its partners have delivered nearly 500 electric school buses funded through the program, with approximately 300 more currently in production. The company asserts it is in compliance with program rules and maintains daily communication with the EPA.

Duncan McIntyre, CEO and founder of Highland Electric, highlighted the program's potential benefits, noting that replacing five diesel buses with electric ones can reduce the risk of pediatric asthma for approximately 1,500 students and offer a more comfortable ride for students with special needs. The EPA estimates that about 46,000 children will not have new school buses this year due to delivery delays and failures.

The EPA reported the average cost per bus purchased through the Biden-era program exceeded $1 million. In contrast, new diesel and propane buses typically cost less than $200,000, with average EV school buses selling for $300,000 to $400,000.

Delivered EV buses have reportedly faced mechanical issues, recalls, and problems with their height and range. Dale Munn, business manager for New York's Gouverneur Central School District, expressed concern that the perceived benefits of EV buses did not outweigh potential drawbacks. His district spent about $1 million to electrify two of its 28 buses, with state funding covering the majority of the cost.

The EPA indicated that about 33% of school districts have withdrawn from the Clean School Bus program due to factors including cost overruns, delays, and safety concerns. The agency has frozen all outgoing funds for the program and is reviewing feedback on various fuel options. A new Notice of Funding Opportunity is planned for November, with a likely shift in focus towards biofuel, CNG, LNG, and hydrogen buses, alongside EVs, under a revamped program structure.