Information for School Districts

The Bus2Grid Initiative (B2G) conducts bid processes and creates funding mechanisms for members to purchase electric school buses at a cost equal to buying diesel. Membership is FREE. Simply submit the letter of intent form found here. 

Competitive Bidding

The B2G conducts winter & summer completive bid processes for full-size electric school buses & DC fast chargers on behalf of our members. Member districts are welcome to make purchases using B2G pricing at any time, so long as vehicle-to-grid technology is deployed in accordance with B2G guidelines.

Third-Party Partnerships

The B2G secures partnerships with third parties who alleviate the upfront cost burden through battery leasing and the leveraging of vehicle-to-grid revenue. 

Secure Grant & Angel Funding

The B2G secures grant and angel funding on behalf of our members. Our goal is to get electric school buses on the road while simultaneously stabilizing the grid in support of green energy production throughout our communities.

How are funds distributed?

The funding order is established according to the order school districts become B2G members. Submitting your letter of intent locks your district into a pool and slot, so long as your intergovernmental agreement is properly filed within 60 days. When your slot reaches the top of the queue, you will be next in line to receive a standard award for an electric school bus. 

Will our electric bus be FREE?

Due to the nature of the Edwards Settlement Fund, the City of Pekin and Hollis Consolidated School District, both received FULL FUNDING. The cost of their electric buses, chargers, and electric infrastructure upgrades were all covered by the grant award. No out-of-pocket expenses were incurred. This will not always be the case. The typical B2G award will cover the cost of an electric bus, with a third-party finance partner covering upfront costs. In a typical agreement, the member school district will have a $20,000 turnkey annual purchase agreement payment that includes the cost of electricity to fuel the bus, as well as access to supplemental energy storage in the case of a power outage. 

How do the finances work?

The B2G anticipates around a $200,000 award will allow a district to secure an electric school bus.  

Targeted Awards

Targeted awards are created from funding sources designated for a specific purpose or to serve a certain geographical area. The Edwards Settlement award is an example of a targeted award. These funds were distributed to members located nearest to the Edwards Power Plant, whose EPA violations created the funding opportunity. The federal DERA grant is another example of a targeted award. These grants typically target the replacement of diesel buses manufactured on or before a particular date. When B2G secures funding for a targeted award, qualifying school districts are placed in a specialized pool in the order of their slot ranking. 

Standard Awards

Standard awards are created from non-targeted funds. A typical standard award is $200,000. In this scenario, funding was secured to support our broad coalition of school districts utilizing a vehicle-to-grid approach.    

Funding Pools and Slots

Pool A contains all school districts in the order in which they became members, except those that have secured funding for an electric bus. Pool B contains member districts that have already received awards, in the order in which they joined. Specialty pools will be established based on the need to distribute targeted awards. The B2G issues awards as funding is secured. A district in the queue for an award may choose to receive a lesser award in an effort to meet a local purchasing timeline. Once an award is offered, a district has 10 days to accept. If they choose not to accept, they move to the bottom of Pool A and any other applicable award pool. 

How does the B2G secure funding?

The B2G submits grant applications and conducts fundraising on an ongoing basis. Specific funding opportunities targeted for winter 2021 include but are not limited to the following: