Clean School Bus Case Studies

This page contains case studies and other resources that can be helpful in the implementation of clean school bus projects across the country. If you have any questions about these resources or suggestions for additional case studies to include on this page, email cleanschoolbus@epa.gov with “CSB Case Studies” in the subject line.

On this Page:

• Electric School Buses
• Propane and Compressed Natural Gas School Buses

Electric School Buses

1. All About Operating Electric School Buses in Cold Weather (February 2024) - Electric School Bus Initiative
   • An article analyzing electric school bus performance in areas that experience extreme cold weather conditions.
2. The Electric School Bus Series: Powering the Grid with Cajon Valley Union School District (February 2023) – Electric School Bus Initiative
   • An article detailing a school district in southern California that has successfully deployed vehicle-to-grid technology.
3. Vermont Electric School and Transit Bus Pilot Program Report (pdf) (7.1 MB, June 2023) – Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
   • This report shares findings from three electric school bus projects in Vermont and identifies best practices for project implementation. The report details the variance in bus performance by manufacturer in differing climates; note that this study was conducted with early model year electric buses and charging equipment, which may not fully reflect currently available technologies.
4. 3 Design Considerations for Electric School Bus Vehicle-to-Grid Programs (February 2022) – Electric School Bus Initiative
   • Article that provides an overview of 14 utility Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) ESB pilot programs and presents three considerations for future V2G projects.

Propane and Compressed Natural Gas School Buses

1. Propane School Bus Deployment in Pennsylvania Showcases Environmental and Economic Benefits (June 2023)
   • A case study published by the Alternative Fuels Data Center describing a fleet’s experience with propane bus deployment in Pennsylvania.
2. Case Study: Propane School Bus Fleet (pdf) (353 KB, April 2021) – Metropolitan Energy Center and the Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition
   • An overview of the Grain Valley School District’s journey to choose to add propane buses to their fleet and how implementation is going, including cost savings.
3. Natural Gas School Buses Reward Utah District with Fuel Savings, Breath of Cleaner Air (March 2021) – U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center
   • An overview of the Jordan School District’s fleet which began integrating compressed natural gas buses 15 years ago, a trend that has grown to make the district the largest fleet of CNG buses in the state.
4. School Districts Move to the Head of the Class with Propane (January 2016) – U.S. Department of Energy
   • A case study detailing propane school bus deployment at several school districts across the United States.