New Jersey State awards $32 million for 53 electric school buses and 41 chargers

New Jersey State has awarded nearly $32 million to fund 53 electric school buses, 41 chargers, and 26 public charging projects across the state.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the allocation as part of its ongoing effort to cut transport-related emissions, which remain the largest source of greenhouse gases in New Jersey.

Looking at past figures, 4,500 electric school buses were committed in USA during 2024 (raising total to 14,000), while more updated figures are awaited.

Electric school buses funded in New Jersey

More than $18 million was distributed through the second round of the Electric School Bus Grant Program, supporting the purchase of 53 battery-electric school buses and associated charging equipment. The program, authorized in 2022 and financed through the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ Clean Energy Fund, provides up to $45 million over three years to replace diesel school buses with zero-emission alternatives.

Grant recipients include school districts and private transportation contractors located across northern, central, and southern New Jersey. Eleven of the awards are directed to overburdened communities. In addition to vehicle and charger funding, recipients will receive technical support through the New Jersey Fleet Advisor program, including fleet electrification planning and infrastructure assessments.

Alongside school bus funding, the DEP awarded $13.6 million through its EV Charging Grant Program to 26 projects installing publicly accessible charging stations. The projects are located at town centers, retail areas, multi-unit housing, and transit hubs, aiming to improve access to charging beyond private residences.

Both grant programs are identified as key measures in New Jersey’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Roadmap and build on a first funding round announced in 2024, when $15 million supported the purchase of 48 electric school buses.

“The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New Jersey,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “These grant programs are advancing New Jersey’s long-term electric-vehicle emission reduction goals by replacing diesel school buses with clean electric buses and by expanding charging infrastructure.”

“We applaud the NJDEP for forging ahead with funding electric school buses,” said Anjuli Ramos, Director of the NJ Sierra Club. “The 53 buses funded in year two will nearly double the state’s current zero-emission fleet, with most serving overburdened districts.”