Electric School Bus Grants
Forecasted
Electric School Bus Grants support Minnesota school districts with electric buses, charging infrastructure, and planning assistance to accelerate deployment and encourage classroom learning.
Funder: Minnesota Department of Commerce
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2027 (Equipment application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $13 million allocated program-wide; up to $3.3 million for the described equipment round
Summary: Supports Minnesota school districts’ electric school bus deployment through vehicle, charging infrastructure, and planning and technical assistance grants.
Key Information: Transportation providers and utilities must apply on behalf of a school district.
Description
The Minnesota Department of Commerce administers this state-created program to accelerate electric school bus deployment by school districts and encourage schools to integrate vehicle electrification into their curricula as a teaching tool. The program has separate application processes for equipment and for planning and technical assistance.
Equipment funding supports purchasing new electric school buses, repowering fossil-fuel-powered buses to run on electricity, installing charging infrastructure, and administering vehicle and charger procurement. Planning and technical assistance funding supports deployment plans, coordination among the parties involved in operating electric buses, and assistance with federal funding applications. Both tracks serve eligible Minnesota school districts and applicants representing them.
