Seven Michigan school districts – Ann Arbor, Gaylord, Kalamazoo, Oxford, Roseville, Three Rivers and Zeeland – will be the first in the state to purchase electric buses. The districts will receive $4.2 million from the state to cover up to 70 percent of the costs of buying 17 electric buses, along with Level 2 and DC fast charging stations.

The buses will be provided by Lion Electric and Thomas Built Buses/Proterra. The funds supporting the purchase are part of the Michigan Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Fuel Transformation Program, which was financed through the Volkswagen Mitigation Beneficiary settlement.

EGLE Director Liesl Clark said, “There’s nothing more important we can do for our kids than taking innovative action on climate change and providing healthy learning environments where they can reach their full potential. Electric school buses deliver on both counts.”

Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, “Programs like these that replace diesel-powered school buses with electric models allow for students to learn about advancing technology and see what a real impact they can have when it comes to climate change. These advancements put Michigan on track toward environmental sustainability and reinforce Michigan’s continued leadership when it comes to next-generation transportation.”

Source: Government of Michigan