As Earth Week puts a spotlight on sustainability efforts across the state, New York’s school districts are preparing for a major transformation in student transportation.
Under a state mandate, all new school bus purchases must be zero-emission by 2027, and by 2035, every bus on the road must be electric. While some districts have started making the switch, many say the transition is proving more complex than expected.
Shenendehowa Central School District is one of several districts piloting the change. This year, it added four electric school buses to its fleet as a test of how well the vehicles can handle real-world conditions.
“The drivers love it. It’s very, very quiet,” said Belinda Govich, the district’s director of transportation. “I’m sure the community loves it. Buses tend to run early in the morning — loud diesel engine, you know — so that’s great.”
To better understand the new technology’s performance, Shenendehowa has been collecting real-time data on battery range, cold weather efficiency and charging logistics. According to Govich, the district intentionally sends its EVs on the longest and most demanding routes to track their limits.
“They do multiple runs in the morning. Some of them have midday runs, and then they have multiple runs in the afternoon,” she said.
However, colder weather and charging issues have raised concerns.
“The cold weather is not their friend,” Govich said. “We did see about a minimum of a 10% battery decrease in range.”
With over 200 buses serving nearly 10,000 students, Shenendehowa officials say they want more time to plan thoughtfully.
“You want to research. You want to look at things, read things, understand them,” Govich said. “Know your district, know your routes, see what is the best thing for you and for your students and for the community.”
Other districts are also weighing their options. Churchville-Chili Central School District, which serves nearly 4,000 students, saw voters reject a proposal last year to purchase its first electric bus. This year, officials are pursuing a revised approach.
In a statement, the district said it is “committed to ensuring we are fully prepared for the state-mandated transition to electric school buses,” and plans to leverage state aid and grant opportunities to acquire buses at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Cost remains one of the biggest barriers. Electric school buses range from $200,000 to nearly $500,000 — often double or triple the cost of a traditional diesel model. But energy officials say funding is available to help close the gap.
“The upfront costs are more expensive right now,” said Adam Ruder, assistant director of the Clean Transportation group at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). “But we do have incentives in place to try to bring that cost down in line with what it costs to buy a diesel bus.”
Through NYSERDA’s New York School Bus Incentive Program, schools can apply for funding to cover the cost difference between diesel and electric buses, as well as up to 100% of the required charging infrastructure.
Ruder said long-term savings could also come from reduced fuel and maintenance costs.
“Electricity prices can be significantly lower than diesel prices, and maintenance of these buses is expected to be significantly lower as well,” he said.
As the 2035 deadline draws closer, school districts across the state continue to navigate the learning curve. Some are still waiting for answers on how tariffs could affect pricing, while others work with utility companies on grid capacity and installation logistics.
“This transition is a big leap for a lot of us,” Govich said. “We need time, we need funding and we need flexibility.”