On this page: Overview | Funding incentives | School bus conversions | School bus retirement | Application process | Additional resources | Press releases | Contact us
Help in your language: Some documents are currently only available in English. To request assistance in Spanish or another language, email cdphe_apcd_outreach@state.co.us. Please include the topic and “language assistance” in the subject line. Please also link to the specific document or information you’d like to access.
Ayuda en el idioma de su preferencia: algunos documentos solo están disponibles en inglés por el momento. Si desea solicitar asistencia en español o en otro idioma, envíe un correo electrónico a cdphe_apcd_outreach@state.co.us. Indique el tema y la frase “language assistance” (asistencia en otro idioma) como asunto de su mensaje. Incluya también un enlace a la información o documento que desea consultar.
Update: As of November 2024, the Colorado Electric School Bus Grant Program has been discontinued. Interested organizations can still apply for federal funding through the federal Clean School Bus Program.
Overview
In May 2022, Colorado adopted the Air Quality Improvement Investments Act, Senate Bill 22-193. This law created the Colorado Electric School Bus Grant Program. Through this program, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment solicited interest from eligible organizations for electric school buses and associated charging infrastructure. These organizations were considered for funding through a grant application process.
The law directed CDPHE to prioritize funding for school districts and charter schools:
- Located in, or attended by, students living in disproportionately impacted communities;
- Located in nonattainment areas; or
- At which a percentage of students, as determined by CDPHE, receive free or reduced-price lunches under a qualifying school lunch program.
In addition to these criteria, CDPHE encouraged all school districts statewide to apply for funding consideration.
Funding incentives
Listed below are the maximum funding incentives offered through the Colorado Electric School Bus program. Charging infrastructure incentives from the Colorado Electric School Bus Grant Program could be combined with other incentives, such as utility rebates, to lower out-of-pocket costs for the applicant.
| Non-bus student transportation | Type A-B School Bus | Type C-D School Bus |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $275,000 | $375,000 |
| <19 kW | 19-49 kW | 50-99 kW | 100 kW+ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | Dual | Single | Dual | Single | Dual | Single | Dual |
| $3,500 | $7,000 | $5,500 | $11,000 | $37,000 | $52,000 | $52,000 | $72,000 |
*Charging amounts mirror those offered by infrastructure programs at the Colorado Energy Office.
| Scrappage | Project Start-up | High Voltage Training |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $1,000 | $6,000 |
Scrappage: Applicants could request up to $1,000 per application to support costs associated with vehicle scrappage. Receipts for towing and/or invoices from a scrap yard may be required by the state in order to reimburse costs.
Project start-up: Applicants could request a $1,000 per application stipend to support project start-up costs associated with the Colorado Clean School Bus Grant program.
High Voltage Training: Applicants could request up to $6,000 to certify school-district fleet technicians in the maintenance and repair of high voltage battery and electrical systems found on electric school buses. Documentation of a training completion may be required by the state in order to reimburse costs.
School bus conversions
Conversions of existing fossil-fuel powered vehicles into battery or fuel-cell electric powered vehicles were considered on a case-by-case basis. Fleets interested in a full conversion had the opportunity to provide more information on their intent as part of the application process.
CDPHE supports the advancement of new, clean vehicle technology. However, to ensure that vehicles identified for conversion remain in safe operational condition for students, drivers, and the communities they serve, the following information will be required for each vehicle a fleet intends to convert. More information and requirements for vehicle conversions can be found in the program guide linked below.
| Type A-B School Bus | Type C-D School Bus |
|---|---|
| 45% of total conversion cost | 55% of total conversion cost |
School bus retirement
CDPHE required applicants to retire or convert a minimum of 20% of the vehicles requested per application. For example, if a district requested grant funding for five vehicles, the district was required to retire or convert at least one vehicle per this requirement. Districts that applied for fewer than five vehicles were not required to retire a unit.
CDPHE strongly encouraged applicants to prioritize scrappage of pre-2009 diesel-powered buses because these buses do not have modern pollution controls. In instances where fleets did not have pre-2009 diesel-powered buses, CDPHE worked with fleets to identify the highest priority vehicles based upon fleet information submitted with the application. For the purposes of this grant program, scrappage meant rendering the bus inoperable by cutting both frame rails in half and permanently disabling the engine block. More information and requirements for vehicle conversions can be found in the program guide linked below.
Application process
As of November 2024 CDPHE has paused this program indefinitely. In 2023, CDPHE accepted applications for the grant program from March 29, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Resources in this section were for applicants to prepare responses for the grant program in 2023.
View the Colorado Electric School Bus Grant Program Guide.
Download the Colorado Electric School Bus Grant Program Preparatory Grant Application (Word).
Open the Colorado Electric School Bus Grant Program online application.
Application materials
Download Fleet List Template (Excel).
Download Vehicle Scrappage Template (Excel).
Contact us
Questions? Contact cdphe_apcd_fleetgrants@state.co.us.