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PoliticsQuiet 6d · day 6

EPA reveals less than 40% of Biden-era EV school buses delivered

New statistics show slow delivery rates and manufacturer failures in a $5 billion federal program meant to replace diesel buses.

newest coverage 5d agosummary written 5d ago3 pieces1 likes & upvotes NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Fewer than 40% of electric school buses funded by a $5 billion Biden-era EPA program have been delivered, with 854 buses behind schedule and 140 never arriving.
  • EPA says 90% of $2.7 billion in dispersed funds went to electric buses, violating Congress's directive to split cleanly between EVs and alternative fuels like propane and natural gas.
  • Major manufacturers face critical failures: Lion Electric went bankrupt after $160 million; Highland Electric has management issues; First Student is behind on two-thirds of deliveries.
  • School districts are withdrawing from the program due to slow deliveries and reliability concerns with electric buses.

“Instead of following Congress' directives to effectively provide safe and reliable transportation for American school kids, the Biden-Harris administration rushed money out the door without enough thought or oversight.”

Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator · New York Post ↗

Lee ZeldinLee Zeldin EPA AdministratorLion Electric EV bus manufacturerHighland Electric EV bus manufacturerFirst Student Transportation contractor and EV bus recipientSchool districts Program participants

EPA reveals less than 40% of Biden-era EV school buses delivered
nypost.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 2 pieces in two hours at Sep 24, 10 AM; 3 pieces over 6 days (2 articles · 1 post) Sep 24, 10 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 24, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 24, 2 PM — quietSep 24, 4 PM — quietSep 24, 6 PM — quietSep 24, 8 PM — quietSep 24, 10 PM — quietSep 25, 12 AM — quietSep 25, 2 AM — quietSep 25, 4 AM — quietSep 25, 6 AM — quietSep 25, 8 AM — quietSep 25, 10 AM — quietSep 25, 12 PM — quietSep 25, 2 PM — quietSep 25, 4 PM — quietSep 25, 6 PM — quietSep 25, 8 PM — quietSep 25, 10 PM — quietSep 26, 12 AM — quietSep 26, 2 AM — quietSep 26, 4 AM — quietSep 26, 6 AM — quietSep 26, 8 AM — quietSep 26, 10 AM — quietSep 26, 12 PM — quietSep 26, 2 PM — quietSep 26, 4 PM — quietSep 26, 6 PM — quietSep 26, 8 PM — quietSep 26, 10 PM — quietSep 27, 12 AM — quietSep 27, 2 AM — quietSep 27, 4 AM — quietSep 27, 6 AM — quietSep 27, 8 AM — quietSep 27, 10 AM — quietSep 27, 12 PM — quietSep 27, 2 PM — quietSep 27, 4 PM — quietSep 27, 6 PM — quietSep 27, 8 PM — quietSep 27, 10 PM — quietSep 28, 12 AM — quietSep 28, 2 AM — quietSep 28, 4 AM — quietSep 28, 6 AM — quietSep 28, 8 AM — quietSep 28, 10 AM — quietSep 28, 12 PM — quietSep 28, 2 PM — quietSep 28, 4 PM — quietSep 28, 6 PM — quietSep 28, 8 PM — quietSep 28, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quiet 1
Sep 25Sep 26Sep 27Sep 28yesterdaynow · 9:57 AM ET
  1. 1

    First Student and Highland Electric defend their progress

    First Student stated it is on track to have over 1,000 buses on the road by year-end and has driven 12 million electric miles. Highland Electric said it has delivered almost 500 buses with 300 more in manufacturing and claims compliance with program rules.

    “We're on track to have more than 1,000 electric school buses on the road by the end of this school year, and we're approaching 12 million electric miles driven.”
    — Kevin Matthews, head of electrification at First Student
  2. background

    Multiple manufacturers face critical failures and delays — Lion Electric went bankrupt in 2024 after taking $160 million; Highland Electric received over $150 million but faces significant management issues including lack of district contracts and oversight; First Student is behind schedule on two-thirds of its committed buses despite securing $401 million in funding.

  3. background

    Program funded 90% of money toward electric buses, deviating from congressional guidance — EPA Administrator Zeldin stated that 90% of program funds went to electric buses despite congressional directives for 50% of funding to go to EV buses and 50% to other clean fuel alternatives like propane, biofuel, and natural gas vehicles. Of 2,600 buses ordered, only 60 were propane.

  4. background

    EPA releases delivery statistics on Clean School Bus Program — The EPA disclosed that of approximately 2,600 buses ordered under the $5 billion Clean School Bus Program, around 1,100 have been delivered, 854 are behind schedule, and 140 will never be delivered. The program received $2.7 billion in funding but has faced slow delivery rates and manufacturer failures.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Less than 40% of EV school buses purchased with Biden-era EPA grants have been delivered: ‘Taxpayer dollars vanished’

    first by New York Post, 5d ago · also NY Post