EPA Awards $1 Billion in Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Grants for Electric Buses and Commercial Fleets

WASHINGTON, DC — The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $1 billion in grant awards through the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program, funding the purchase of zero-emission Class 6 and Class 7 electric commercial vehicles and charging infrastructure across 85 school districts and municipal fleet authorities in 32 states.

Eliminating Toxic Diesel Exhaust Near Children and Neighborhoods

The funding packages provide up to $375,000 per electric bus and heavy commercial vehicle, replacing 3,500 legacy diesel school buses, municipal garbage collection trucks, and transit shuttle vans. The program reserves 70% of all capital for school districts serving low-income and air-quality non-attainment zones, eliminating diesel particulate matter and smog-forming nitrogen oxides that cause pediatric asthma along school routes.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan affirmed that transitioning heavy vehicles to clean electricity protects children's health, cleans community air, and supports American green manufacturing jobs.

School Superintendents and Clean Air Coalitions Praise

School district superintendents praised the inclusion of complete charging station installation and utility interconnection costs in the grant awards.

Clean energy trade associations celebrated the surge in domestic manufacturing orders for commercial electric bus builders.

Delivery Schedule

Electric commercial school buses and charging equipment funded through the program will begin delivery to school districts in spring 2027.