BMW’s Neue Klasse 3-series sedan is just around the corner, but barrelling up to the next curve down the road, and coming in hot, is its M3 brother. The M3 will be available with both electric and ICE power, and our spy photo team has has papped the EV (possibly named the iM3, following a recent BMW trademark) wearing its fat production fenders and no distracting M-color camouflage for the first time.

Although we’ve seen electric M3 test cars before, they’ve always been fitted with riveted arch extensions or fender graphics that make it hard to see what the shape of the rear quarter panels. But now we get to see the true contours of the real fenders that will add more than 3 inches (76 mm) of girth versus a stock i330 sedan.

Related: BMW M Knows You Don’t Like EVs But They’re Making Them Anyway

The extra width of the front fenders is fairly subtle, though combined with the suspension drop gives the M3 a much lower, wider and meaner look than the i330 prototypes we’ve seen. But there’s no missing the rear-end makeover. Those new swollen fenders are huge, meaning the charging flap on the nearside rear quarter lies almost at 45 degrees.

How do we know this is the electric M3? There’s the lack of tailpipes, of course – we see a diffuser for the first time on a prototype – but that’s not the only clue. Electric versions of the Neue Klasse 3-series, including the M3, have a much shorter gap between the front door and front wheel arch opening, a more sloping windshield and a forward-angled window post in the middle of the rear door. On combustion-powered NK Threes, which get an updated version of today’s 3-series’ CLAR platform, rather than the Neue Klasse architecture, that window post is vertical.

Though this M3 prototype gives us a look at the production fenders, it’s still keeping plenty of secrets – it won’t be launched for at least 18 months, after all. The front and rear bumpers remain literally under wraps and we’re yet to see the final design for the front and rear lights. 

But one shot showing a glimpse of the interior through the passenger window confirms the presence of the same Panoramic iDrive centrally-mounted tablet touchscreen and full-width head-up display at the base of the windshield that BMW showcased at CES in Las Vegas at the beginning of 2025.

Under the skin the electric M3 will have as many as four electric motors delivering just over 700 hp (710 PS) in standard form, while the ICE version will get a mild-hybrid six-cylinder engine.

Credit: SHProshots

Faraday Future has used their Annual Stockholders’ Day to release the first teaser image of the upcoming FX 4. We’ll learn more in the third quarter and it promises to be a “disruptor of [Toyota] RAV4 in the AIEV era.”

This appears to be the first time the company has announced the FX 4 as they’ve previously talked about the FX 5, FX 6, and FX Super One van. The FX 5 is being pitched as a “large-space sporty AIEV” that costs between $20,000 and $30,000, while the FX 6 has been billed as a large family vehicle that’s targeted to cost between $30,000 and $50,000.

More: Faraday X Super One Minivan Teased With A Big Honkin’ Grille

Little is known about the FX 4 at this point, but the teaser suggests the company could be working on a Tesla Model Y competitor. That remains to be seen, but the vehicle has a full-width light bar as well as curvaceous bodywork. We can also see a sculpted hood and thin A-pillars.

That’s not a lot to go on, but Faraday said they’ll begin accepting pre-orders before the end of the year. The company also said the model has the “greatest potential to become a true blockbuster and unlock the mainstream market.”

Speaking of teasers, the company released an image showing several prototypes that are said to be the FX 4, FX 6, and FX Super One. They all look pretty generic, but the car in the middle piques our interest.

On the topic of the Super One, the AI-MPV is expected to have its “exclusive offline product launch” on June 29, followed by a public debut on July 17.

The company has been talking about the van for months and they’re now suggesting it could “disrupt the market dominance of some leading market players such as the Cadillac Escalade.” If that wasn’t enough to make your eyes roll, the company boasted about having over 2,500 non-binding pre-orders.

The van has “now officially entered the parts procurement and production preparation phase,” and assembly is slated to begin later this year. However, with Faraday’s track record, we’ll believe it when we see it.

Enhanced teaser

Electric vehicle drivers in New Jersey may want to rethink their charging routines. A major shakeup is underway on the New Jersey Turnpike, and it involves the one company that’s basically synonymous with EV charging.

The state’s Turnpike authority isn’t renewing a contract with Tesla but is instead going to employ chargers from Applegreen. The move could prove more costly and trialsome for New Jersey residents, but Tesla appears ready for anything.

More: Tesla Dumping Unsold Cybertrucks At Mall Parking Lot And The City’s Fed Up

The automaker, rather than the state, actually announced the change on Friday. “The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (“NJTA”) has chosen a sole third-party charging provider to serve the New Jersey Turnpike and is not allowing us to co-locate. As a result, NJTA requested 64 existing Supercharger stalls on the New Jersey Turnpike to not be renewed and be decommissioned,” it said in a statement on X.

A Smaller Network With Higher Prices

It went on to claim that it offered the state “above-market commercial terms” and access for all EVs to keep the contract going. It would’ve built more stations and upgraded existing ones with screens and CCS1 ‘magic docks’ as well. For whatever reason, the state said no and instead went with Applegreen for the foreseeable future. That’s a fascinating decision since Applegreen’s network is almost comically smaller than Tesla’s.

At present, in the USA, it only serves a few states like New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. In New Jersey, it has only a few stations installed. Elon Musk went as far as to posit that “corruption” played a part in the decision. Even after it finishes installing the chargers it plans to put in place, things might be worse off for most drivers.

Notably, a little number crunching from InsideEVs suggests that this won’t help consumers. “Superchargers along the NJ Turnpike range from $0.20 to $0.45 per kWh, depending on the time of day. Applegreen, on the other hand, varies from $0.35 to $0.59,” it found.

If those figures hold, drivers could end up paying more to power their cars than they did before. It’s possible the state stands to gain more financially under the new arrangement, though no public statements have been made by the NJTA to confirm or clarify that.

Tesla Already Moving On

All of that said, Tesla says it knew this was a potential outcome and has already supplemented the decommissioning of 64 charging bays with the creation of 116 stalls off of the turnpike. Interestingly, this might not be how the story ends. Tesla says it’s willing to return to the negotiating table should NJ authorities change their tune.

“We are still willing to invest in New Jersey Turnpike sites if the NJTA or Governor Murphy decide to reverse this decision. Otherwise, we will continue expanding the best charging infrastructure off the Turnpike to serve EV drivers in New Jersey,” the automaker said. In a part of the world where charging infrastructure isn’t exactly super-reliable, this could be a step in the wrong direction. Only time will tell. 

It turns out not every icon translates easily to electric power, no matter how much fanfare is involved. Mercedes made a big song and dance about the iconic G-Class going electric, but would-be buyers don’t want to hear it. Sales are so bad the automaker is considering adapting its planned EV-only baby G-Class to work with combustion power to avert disaster, according to a new report out of Germany.

Related: Mercedes Teases Baby G-Class, Electric E-Class, And More, V8 And V12 Live On

The all-electric G580 with EQ Technology was introduced last April, but things haven’t exactly gone to plan. Handelsblatt reports that sales have been dismal in the year since its debut. “The car is sitting like lead at dealers; it’s a complete flop,” one Mercedes executive told the publication. Another internal source added, “It’s a niche model; production numbers are very low.”

The report claims that the terrifyingly pricey ($161,500 in the US) EV had found only 1,450 European buyers by the end of this April based on Dataforce and Marklines figures, 61 in South Korea and just 58 in electric-loving China. The report even suggests Mercedes had failed to sell a single example in the US, which sounds dubious and is something we’ve asked MB USA to check.

Gas G-Class Still Dominates

While the electric G stalls, its combustion counterpart is doing brisk business. The also expensive ICE SUV outsells its electric brother seven to one, Handlesblatt says. And unlike the EQS and EQE, the G EV’s poor showing can’t be blamed on boring design because it looks almost exactly the same as the in-demand combustion model. So what gives?

One possible criticism is that unlike traditional EVs, which have a long wheelbase, flat floor and tons of interior space as a result, the G-Class EQ mirrors the dimensions and roominess of the ICE model. And what it does have a lot more of – weight – means it’s far less useful as a tow vehicle than the petrol G-Class and has a pathetic 239 miles (385 km) of EPA range.

Luxury buyers also remain unconvinced about the merits of electric power, preferring the traditional luxury and status that comes with a big, powerful petrol engine – though the G550 downgraded from a V8 to an inline six for the latest generation.

Mercedes had already confirmed earlier this year in response to slow EV sales that it would invest more in ICE technology while still introducing new EVs. One of those EVs is the upcoming baby G-Class, but Handelsblatt’s sources at Mercedes now say the automaker is seriously considering adapting the SUV to take a combustion  – or more likely, hybrid – powertrain.

Also: This Not-So-Serious Fake G-Class Sold For Seriously Real Money

This switch is apparently still possible late in the game because the the mini G is built on the company’s MMA architecture found under the new CLA in both electric and combustion forms, the report says. This contradicts earlier rumors swirling around the web suggesting Mercedes would use a different platform.

Electric vehicle startups tend to live fast and fluctuate wildly, but Zeekr’s latest chapter is turning heads for a different reason. Geely is looking to take electric automaker Zeekr private, barely a year after it went public in the United States. However, investors fear that Geely is undervaluing the company, and are demanding more.

Given that Zeekr is viewed as one of Geely’s best automotive assets, it’s perhaps little surprise that the conglomerate wants to take full control of it.

Read: Zeekr 9X Is A Rolls Royce Cullinan Clone For The Price Of A BMW X5

As it stands, Geely already owns about two-thirds of Zeekr, alongside a slew of other electric carmakers that make up the group. In 2023, a fundraising round valued Zeekr at $13 billion, but when it went public in the US twelve months ago, its fully diluted valuation was cut to $5.5 billion, less than half the estimate.

Investors Push Back on Geely’s Bid

In early May, Geely said it offered to pay $2.2 billion to take Zeekr private, for the remaining 34.3% stake. But significant investors in Zeekr, including CATL, Intel Capital, and Boyu Capital, all of whom invested in Zeekr’s original fundraising round, don’t believe Geely’s offer accurately reflects the firm’s fair value. Other investors to express their displeasure include Bilibili and Cathay Fortune Group.

According to Reuters, the five firms sent a letter to Geely arguing that the offer pegs Zeekr’s total value at just $6.5 billion. That’s a steep discount compared to competitors like Xpeng, Nio, and Li Auto, all of which command higher valuations despite similarly rocky roads.

Geely’s offer to acquire the remaining stake in Zeekr valued each share at $25.66, or a 24% premium over the average share price in the four weeks prior. Zeekr’s shares have since jumped to over $26 after news of the potential move first broke.

Control Without Consensus?

The early investors have urged Zeekr’s special committee to review and evaluate Geely’s offer. They also don’t want a deal to proceed until there’s an agreement among the majority of Zeekr’s “independent minority” shareholders.

Unfortunately for these shareholders, they may not have any say in the matter. According to some analysts, Geely’s current 65.7% stake in Zeekr means it may have sufficient votes to carry out the privatization without needing approval from other shareholders.

Tesla’s global sales may be slipping, but not every market is turning cold. In a few corners of the world, the brand is still pulling off unexpected wins. In Norway, for example, where a staggering nine out of every 10 new cars sold is an EV, Tesla sales went berserk, jumping 213 percent in May versus the same month in 2024.

A total of 2,600 Tesla EVs were delivered in Norway in May, according to the Norwegian Road Traffic Information Council (OFV). Unsurprisingly, the boom was led by the launch of the facelifted Model Y, which debuted this spring. The compact SUV has been the country’s best-selling car for three-years running, and this May it took a chunky 16.5 percent market share.

Also: The Once Unthinkable Has Happened To Tesla’s Brand

That was more than double the 7 percent of the second-place finisher, Toyota’s bZ4X, and four times the VW ID.4’s showing (4.2 percent). Tesla’s overall performance in Norway was way beyond the healthy 39 percent sales uplift for all cars sold in the country last month.

The Norwegian government’s pro-climate stance going back 25 years, despite being a huge oil exporter , has helped switch its population on to electric cars even though the country’s winter weather shows off EVs in their worst light. Strong financial incentives and a huge number of available chargers created sufficient demand that Norway is now close to the 100 percent EV goal in 2025 it set out to reach eight years ago. The last few combustion holdouts will be tough to convert, however.

BEST SELLING MODELS NORWAY MAY 2025

Tesla Sales Plunge 67% In France

But other European nations who also had access to the facelifted Model Y and had previously seen the old model become the best-selling car in their country, didn’t replicate Norway’s numbers. In Sweden, which shares a border with Norway, Tesla sales sank by 54 percent to just 503 vehicles. In France, they were down 67 percent to 721 units, data from AAA says.

European sales of Teslas halved as buyers shunned the brand that once dominated sales charts, becoming the first to outperform not just other EVs, but every combustion-engine car. The arrival of stronger competition, both from legacy brands and also Chinese newcomers like BYD is a factor, as is a certain level of disappointment that Tesla’s facelifts to the Model 3 and Model Y don’t go far enough.

But another major reason for Tesla’s weak sales is its declining brand image and public disgust at Musk’s support for right-wing political parties such as Germany’s AfD. In a March poll 94 percent of Germans said they would never buy a Tesla.

BEST SELLING BRANDS NORWAY MAY 2025

Ball joints are the unsung heroes of the car world. They’re the mechanical glue that holds the various bits of your vehicle’s suspension together and keeps you on the road. But now Ford is recalling thousands of their popular F-150 trucks because of fears that ‘glue’ might come unstuck.

Also: Ford Tells Three Lightning Owners Their EVs Might Be Missing A Nut Or Two

A total of 29,501 Ford F-150 Lightning electric trucks built for the 2024-25 model years are being recalled to check the front upper control arm ball joint nuts. Ford thinks some of the nuts haven’t been correctly tightened and could come loose, even come off altogether. And if that happens, the steering knuckle could potentially part company with the control arm, leading to a loss of control.

A Loose Nut Is More Than Just a Metaphor

Ford has a specified torque setting for the ball joint nuts, but says some might not have been torqued properly due to a variation in alignment between the nut and the fancy wrench. If the nut were to come loose, there’s a good chance owners would have plenty of warning before the suspension components head off in opposite directions. Ford says drivers need to listen out for unusual vibrations, clunks or rattles when crossing bumps and uneven surfaces.

According to Ford, it first became aware of the problem on March 6, 2025, when it received a report about a missing right front upper control arm nut on a 2024 F-150 Lightning built just three days earlier. The truck had roughly 634 miles on the odometer when the customer reported a front wheel failure while driving. It was towed to a dealership, where a technician confirmed the nut was missing and the control arm had detached from the knuckle.

This Isn’t the First Time

Getting a sense of déjà vu? Ford already announced a recall for an identical problem in December 2024 for Lightnings built for the 2023-24 model years. It introduced a secondary torque verification step into the production process, but in March of this year received a field report about a Lightning suffering a major suspension collapse while driving. When the truck was towed to a dealership, technicians discovered that the right front upper control arm nut was completely missing.

Owners of the 20,528 MY24 and 8,973 MY25 Lightnings at risk will be asked to take their trucks to a dealership to let technicians check the torque on their nuts. If the nut passes the test, it’ll be replaced anyway, but if it fails, Ford will pony up for an entirely new knuckle.

A school bus driver in Greenville, Michigan, stopped a stranger from entering a school bus through the rear emergency exit while several students were on board, reported Fox 17.

The incident reportedly occurred Thursday, when a Flat River Academy school bus was transporting students to school. A 17-year-old grabbed the rear emergency door handle while the bus was stopped at a light in an attempt to enter the vehicle.

According to the news report, when the bus started to move the teen was able to get the door open, setting off the emergency door alarm. That’s when the driver stopped the school bus and ran to the back to figure out what was happening.

The driver, who was not identified in this writing, confronted the teen as he was trying to climb into the bus and used his foot to bar entrance and then to close the door.

The Michigan State Police said troppers were already in pursuit of the teen prior to the incident and took him into custody at the scene. The teen is believed to have been involved in the vandalism of a nearby business.

The teen, who has autism, was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis and was taken to the hospital for evaluation. The teen had left his home without his family’s knowledge. The students and staff on board the school bus were not injured during the incident and the driver was able to finish his route without further interruption.

Related: Man Boards School Bus, Refuses to Leave
Related: Man Armed with Machete Tries to Enter North Carolina School Bus
Related: New Mexico Parents Concerned After Armed Robbery Suspects Board School Bus
Related: Florida Man Boards School Bus with Teen He is Accused of Raping

The post Michigan School Bus Driver Stops Stranger Attempting to Board Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

STN EXPO East in March was quite the whirlwind. This year’s conference and trade show in North Carolina represented a new frontier on the East Coast, with nearly 95 percent of attendees participating at their first STN EXPO. With such a fresh and engaged audience, it was the perfect opportunity to foster more meaningful dialogue, share insights and strengthen collaboration.

A cornerstone of the networking is the Transportation Director Summit, a leadership-focused, two-day event tailored to industry decision-makers. This exercise shares ideas, identifies emerging challenges and charts the course forward for their organizations.

I facilitated the opening discussion that centered on a crowdsourced survey, which captured the pulse of current trends, operational challenges and procurement needs. The survey data highlighted a clear hierarchy of purchasing trends. Topping the list were cellular, radio
and communication systems, Type C and D buses, video security systems, student ridership verification/RFID/ parent communication apps, cleaner diesel buses, and fleet management and safety products.

I kicked off the TD Summit discussion with a question: “What is your biggest challenge for the upcoming school year?” Common themes quickly emerged—chief among them were staffing shortages and retention, illegal passing and student behavior on board school buses. These concerns underscore the need for comprehensive solutions that address both operational efficiency and safety.

Another topic of discussion was fuel choice and the transition to cleaner energy options. According to the survey results, fleet compositions are increasingly diverse: “Clean” diesel (88 percent), gasoline (55 percent), propane(31 percent), electric (29 percent), biodiesel (19 percent), and CNG (1 percent). Many transportation leaders expressed a commitment to exploring or expanding their use of greener, near-zero or zero-emission vehicles.

This shift is driven in part by federal and state environmental regulations from the EPA and California Air Resources Board. While the pace of adoption may vary, the trend toward sustainability is unmistakable. Forty-seven percent of survey respondents said their operations had applied or planned to apply for funding through the EPA Clean School Bus Program, while 39 percent had not, and 14 percent were still considering it.

Cabarrus County Schools purchased two electric school buses utilizing Volkswagen Mitigation Trust funds through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. “They have been a great addition to our fleet, and we are planning to add four more utilizing the EPA Clean School Bus funding,” shared Transportation Director Art Whittaker.

Sponsor participation from school bus OEMs, infrastructure providers, and CNG technology experts further enriched the conversation with insights offering valuable context to attendees evaluating the sustainable solutions that best align with their unique operational needs.

When asked for their top safety concerns, attendees overwhelmingly cited driver and student safety. Increased violence against school bus drivers as well as rising incidents of student conflict, are prompting discussions about how to enhance onboard security via technology.

A particularly alarming trend is the estimated 45.2 million illegal passing violations nationwide occurring during the 2023-2024 school year, according to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services.

“We have focused on a public awareness campaign to make drivers more aware of the dangers of passing a school bus to improve student safety,” said Nicole Portee, associate superintendent of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. “The next step is considering advanced technology to address the issue.”

Finally, I asked attendees about their routing and scheduling challenges. Unsurprisingly, the feedback pointed to optimization and efficiency, particularly in the context of staffing shortages. The industry is witnessing a rise in the use of multi-modal transportation and alternative service providers, as districts and contractors adapt to workforce constraints and evolving student needs.

Transportation leaders’ responsibilities are vast, but so are the support network available through collaborative forums like the STN EXPO. TD Summit provides a secure and empowering environment, where peers openly share their struggles, brainstorm solutions and leave with actionable ideas to implement at home.

Our collective mission is to continuously improve the safety, sustainability and efficiency of student transportation. I invite you to continue the conversation and join us for the STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada, July 11–16. Together, we can keep moving the industry forward.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the May 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: Roundup: Bus Technology Summit at STN EXPO Charlotte 2025
Related: WATCH: Fire Expert to Lead School Bus Evacuation Training at STN EXPO West
Related: (STN Podcast E259) Feel the Passion: Debates on Wi-Fi, Technology, Alternative Transportation & Safety
Related: STN EXPO West to Feature ‘Routing 101’ Seminar

The post Transportation Collaboration appeared first on School Transportation News.

The approval of Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions that overturn U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s waivers of key California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations, aimed at enforcing stricter emissions and goals for selling zero-emission vehicles, have states and truck manufacturers rethinking their strategies.

The CRA upends plans to implement Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT), which would require manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of zero-emission chassis, including those for school buses by 2035. The CRA also targets Advanced Clean Cars II that would require all passenger car, truck and SUV sales be zero-emission in 2035 and the Omnibus Heavy-Duty Low NOx regulations for off-road emissions.

While the waivers were not been signed by President Donald Trump at this writing, California is at least one state preparing to take legal action if and when signed. Additionally, the weight of the future of zero-emission vehicles and clean air requirements will fall on states and OEMs. Many OEMs are taking a wait and see approach.

“Today’s votes in the Senate fly in the face of nearly 50 years of precedent. For decades, California and other states have had the authority to adopt vehicle emissions standards that exceed those at the federal level, and for good reason,” said Dan Lashof, senior fellow at World Resources Institute (WRI), when the CRA passed the Senate May 22. “These standards are vital in protecting people from the vehicle pollution which causes asthma attacks and other serious health problems.”

CARB Chair Liane Randolph released a statement disapproving of the CRA waivers, noting that it is a “short-sighted political move” and a strike against the long-term goal of zero-emission vehicles.

“California profoundly disagrees with today’s unconstitutional, illegal and foolish vote attempting to undermine critical clean air protections,” she wrote. “It’s an assault on states’ rights the federal administration claims to support that puts national air quality standards out of reach and will have devastating effects for the 150 million Americans who breathe unhealthy air every day. These actions are contrary to the text of the Congressional Review Act, as recognized by the nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office and the Senate Parliamentarian. California will pursue every available remedy to challenge these actions and defend our right to protect the public from dangerous air pollution. Turning the clock back on both cleaner combustion engine requirements and zero-emission technology is an attack on clean air.”

Meanwhile, states that voted to adopt CARB’s regulations are postponing enforcement. Four of the 10 states that follow CARB (Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon and Vermont) have pushed back their ACT compliance timelines by a year or more.

While not a CARB-specific state, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced earlier this month it is extending its suspension of enforcement of its own Pennsylvania Heavy-Duty Diesel Emissions Control Program until Jan. 2, 2028.

This includes school buses and the ACT rule. Gerry Wosewick, executive director of the Pennsylvania School Bus Association, said the government agency has been working hard with partner organizations to roll back this requirement.

“This has been a legislative priority for us for quite a few years now and we have been advocating for it pretty heavily during that time,” Wosewick said. “It was actually a part of [the PSBS] legislative committee’s [strategy] plan. Since this is a regulatory issue, we have had several pieces of legislation that have been entered over multiple sessions in an effort to best address this change. Despite our lobbying efforts, we have been unsuccessful in getting any legislation through.”

With the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, MTA and others, Wosewick said there was enough pressure to address the regulation, which was key to getting it delayed.

“I oftentimes refer to it as the death by a thousand paper cuts in Pennsylvania,” he added. “While our contractors are phenomenal and find new and innovative ways to continue operations, it’s the constant small regulatory and statutory changes that keep making it more difficult to operate in the industry.”

Instead, he commented the industry should be able to work collaboratively to focus on timely emissions rollouts, as opposed to being forced to respond to regulatory drives.

Related: Despite Federal Funding in Peril, California State Funding for EVs Continues
Related: CARB Uses $33M in Funding to Target Other Zero-Emissions School Travel
Related: The State of Green School Buses
Related: Report Highlights Shift in Federal Policy from EVs to Conventional Fuels

Back at the federal level, the budget reconciliation bill passed by the House of Representatives May 22 is a comprehensive piece of legislation proposing significant changes, including scaling back the tax credits for clean energy included in the Inflation Reduction Act.

WRI noted that if the cuts in the current iteration of the bill are passed, “average Americans will see severe consequences: Businesses will face more red tape and uncertainty; it will be more difficult and costly to meet growing electricity demand; consumers will see skyrocketing electricity prices; workers will lose jobs; and local governments will encounter barriers to implementing programs that benefit their communities and save money,” it said in a statement.

The organization added that it would erase much of the $400 billion in investment and savings that clean energy tax credits have generated thus far.

“The proposed sudden elimination of the credits, which support low and no emission vehicle technologies, including the Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit (45W) and the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit (30C), will not only hinder the transition to cleaner vehicles and healthier communities but will pose immediate logistical and financial challenges to school districts, municipalities and others who have already made plans and budget decisions predicated on being able to access these credits,” WRI said. “Moreover, eliminating these credits means we are limiting consumer choice and ceding competitiveness in this growing market to China.”

The post Congress Shifts Tide in Regulatory Demands for Clean Energy appeared first on School Transportation News.

In a world of digitization, circuit diagnosis using wiring schematics and digital multimeter data enables technicians to quickly and accurately solve electrical issues in their buses.  Vehicle electrical systems are an inescapable facet of daily life for school bus technicians, especially with the addition of electric school buses. New training at STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada next month will equip student transportation professionals to be prepared for a wide variety of scenarios involving electrical systems and diagnostics.

The “Electric Circuitry Training” course led by David Roper, a veteran automotive instructor who works with Clean Cities, will be held on Sunday, July 13. This one-day course follows the National School Bus Inspection Training, which begins on Friday, July 11 with classroom instruction and a written exam at the Peppermill Resort, and continues Saturday, July 12 with hands-on training at Washoe County School District.

This vehicle electrical systems diagnosis training prepares participants for working on high voltage buses through a deeper understanding of electrical systems in vehicles, with the added benefit that this training equips technicians to diagnose electrical issues on vehicles no matter the fuel. Hands-on training with electric circuitry boards will allow for instruction on basic electrical principles, common electrical components, circuit construction and testing, wiring schematics, circuit tracing and troubleshooting of common circuit malfunctions.

The diagnostics section of the training will help attendees learn how to recognize if an issue is being caused by a faulty part or a wiring connection problem, a distinction that could save significant amounts of money in parts for transportation operations.

Space is limited so secure your spot today.  

June 6 is the Early Bird Registration deadline to save $100 on regular conference registration for STN EXPO West, held July 11-16 in Reno, Nevada at the Peppermill Resort. Find registration and hotel details, conference agenda, exhibitor lists, and more information on this and other training opportunities at stnexpo.com/west.

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Related: WATCH: Fire Expert to Lead School Bus Evacuation Training at STN EXPO West
Related: STN EXPO West to Feature Routing 101 Seminar
Related: Accident Investigation Training Returns to STN EXPO West

The post New Electrical Systems Diagnosis Technician Training Offered at STN EXPO West appeared first on School Transportation News.

The 2025 hurricane season officially began on Sunday. Forecasters are predicting an active season.

(Image credit: Sean Rayford)

The EPA's environmental justice office potential closure hits over-polluted communities, yet they fight on.

(Image credit: Ryan Kellman)

Some things in car design make you stop and ask, “Wait, seriously?” Rear wipers don’t usually make the list, but once you notice one that looks wildly out of proportion, it’s hard to unsee. Take this Honda Prologue, for example. At first glance, everything seems fine, until your eyes land on the rear window and spot what might be one of the smallest rear wipers we’ve seen.

It’s so tiny it barely qualifies as functional. And that got us thinking, what other vehicles are out there sporting hilariously undersized rear wipers?

Read: These Concept Cars Were So Bad You’re Glad They Never Made It

As it turns out, the Prologue seen in this photo shared by a Redditor is far from the only car that has a wiper so small it can only clean the tiniest section of the rear window. Unsurprisingly, the Chevrolet Blazer EV, which shares its underpinnings with the Honda, appears to be equipped with exactly the same wiper as the Prologue.

The reasoning behind these comically small wipers is relatively straightforward. Both the Prologue and Blazer EV feature tall beltlines and narrow rear windows. Fitting a longer, centrally mounted wiper would mean it would smack into the spoiler hanging over the top of the glass. So instead, manufacturers opt for a short blade mounted low, which can clear only a small portion of the glass without interference.

But Honda and Chevy aren’t the only ones skimping on rear wiper real estate. Look at the rear of a new Jeep Grand Cherokee L, or a Wagoneer, and you’ll find that they, too, have very small rear wipers, despite having relatively large rear windows. It’s a similar story with the Ford Bronco Sport. In all of these cases, the rear wiper looks far too small for the vehicle and is only capable of cleaning a tiny part of the window.

There’s got to be a better way to handle this. And thankfully, some automakers seem to agree. As it turns out, there is. Both the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage have rear wiper blades that actually mount to the top of the rear window and are hidden beneath the rear spoiler. It’s a small change that makes a big difference in execution and aesthetics.

So, what other cars have you seen that take the idea of a rear wiper and shrink it down to toy-like proportions? Because once you start noticing them, you’ll see them everywhere.

that wiper so comically small
byu/Synfinium inHonda

Lead photo Reddit/u Synfinium

Going green is on the radar for many student transportation fleets, but choosing what fuel to use is not always a simple decision. Read this month’s issue for articles on expectations and benefits of green energy options, the knowledge foundation needed for routing efficiency, electric school bus legislation in New York and the news from the 17th National Congress on School Transportation.

Also find the STN EXPO Reno Preview, complete with agenda topics, speaker information, unique event descriptions and trade show exhibitors.

Read the full June 2025 issue.

Features

Peeling Back the Routing Layers
Routing software is the brain of a transportation operation, but human routers are the heart that keep student safe to and from school. How to route requires a strong knowledge base along with many other considerations.

Green Expectations
STN EXPO East near Charlotte, North Carolina featured presentations from various OEMs about their latest and greatest offerings in the green bus space.

Fuel Choices Are Not One-Dimensional
Choosing the right fuel for your school district is no simple task, especially with all the options and funding available. District leaders weigh in on why they went in a certain direction.

Coming Clean
Going green is good for the environment, proving to have beneficial implications for student riders, bus drivers and the surrounding communities.

Special Reports

May, Should, Shall?
School Transportation News was on site in Iowa at the 17th National Congress on School Transportation. Learn some of the conversations held as the industry readies for an update the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures.

Q&A: Going On an Electric RIDE With Patrick Duan
Patrick Duan, co-CEO of the electric school bus manufacturer, provides insights into top trends such as federal funding, impending tariffs and battery technology.

STN EXPO Reno Preview
STN EXPO West returns to Reno, Nevada for “Content, Community and Commerce.” Prepare for next month’s conference, trade show and networking events. You won’t want to miss any of the action.

Feedback
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Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
New York State of Charge

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Tech-Forward Approach to Staffing

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Every day, drivers illegally pass stopped school buses, ignoring extended stop arms and flashing red lights, putting our children in immediate danger.
The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) estimates over 251,000 illegal pass-bys happen daily. Projected over a 180-day school year, that’s 45.2 million times our children are at risk of injury or worse. These statistics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to protect students.

The Safe Fleet Illegal Passing Suite is the only solution designed to tackle the stop-arm violation epidemic from every angle. Prevention, proactive protection, and enforcement work together to safeguard students in the school bus Danger Zone.

• Preventive: The Safe Fleet Illuminated Stop Arm and Driver Alert Device ensure drivers see and recognize a stopped school bus, reducing the likelihood of illegal pass-bys before they happen.
• Proactive: Our Predictive Stop Arm^® (PSA) detects approaching vehicles that are not likely to stop in time and warns students to stay back, adding an extra layer of real-time protection. It’s the only solution of its kind that engages with students directly, giving them agency over their well-being and extra seconds to keep out of harm’s way.
• Responsive: The Safe Fleet Stop Arm Violation Enforcement System (SAVES) captures high-quality video, photographic and location-based evidence of illegal pass-bys––including context footage from the right-hand side of the bus––and packages it for citation, holding violators accountable and driving long-term behavior change.

School bus safety technology should do more than just react. It should prevent incidents, protect students in real time, and hold violators accountable. That’s how we curb the illegal passing epidemic.

The solutions in the Illegal Passing Suite work together to create a protective umbrella within the school bus’ Danger Zone. At the heart of it is SAVES.

Why SAVES Stands Out

Superior Performance with Unmatched Accuracy Rates

SAVES delivers big results while requiring minimal school administration effort by helping to keep students safe, shaping long-term positive driver behavior, and providing operational insights. With its AI-powered analytics, SAVES consistently delivers greater than 98% violation/plate-detection accuracy in real-world settings, giving districts clear, reliable evidence and full ownership of their data to support training, enforcement, and safety improvement.

Seamless Evidence Management with the SAVES Cloud Interface

Unlike competitive offerings, Safe Fleet provides the school district with full access to their data should the district want to mine the information for insight. And the Safe Fleet cloud interface streamlines the process – making it as simple as possible.

• The Stop Arm Enforcement Application Dashboard – Provides key metrics such as the number of violations over a select period, location data, and emerging trends. The district can use this information to change bus stop locations and work with law enforcement to diffuse hot zones.

System performance stays reliable without adding a burden on the district. Safe Fleet handles updates remotely to keep everything running smoothly and safe.

• Device Management – Safe Fleet remotely updates SAVES devices for districts, ensuring optimal functionality without disrupting operations.

Reliability That Stands the Test of Time

Safety technology needs to be reliable. There’s no room for failure when student lives are on the line. The Illegal Passing Suite is built with durability and consistency in mind, delivering dependable performance across all its components. Every piece of the suite is designed to work seamlessly, ensuring school buses are equipped with solutions that function when they matter most.

Evidence That Holds Up

The effectiveness of enforcement depends on the quality of the evidence collected. The SAVES system captures comprehensive evidence packages that consist of high-resolution video, photographic evidence, location-based and context-specific data with incredible accuracy, helping eliminate instances in which violations go unchecked. With built-in AI and automated evidence packaging, SAVES delivers clear and thorough documentation that streamlines the citation process and reinforces driver accountability.

Support and Resources at Every Step

Adopting new technology is easier when the right support is available. Safe Fleet provides expert guidance throughout every stage of SAVES onboarding, including installation, implementation, and developing community outreach programs. We handle all the technical aspects, including violation capture, processing, and citation management, so districts can stay focused on student safety.

Better Safety Starts Here

Creating a safer environment for students takes a complete approach. With the Illegal Passing Suite and SAVES, school districts can prevent dangerous pass-bys, protect students in real time, and hold violators accountable with high-quality evidence.

Safer buses. Smarter enforcement. Stronger results. That’s the Safe Fleet difference. 

Learn more at www.safefleet.net.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

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Nestled 20 miles south of Rochester in upstate New York, the York Central School District may be small in size, but it’s making big strides in transportation innovation under the guidance of director of transportation, Tracey Proctor.

With nearly two decades of experience in school transportation, Proctor has brought a fresh, tech-forward approach to the district since her arrival four years ago — a move that has significantly improved efficiency, safety and confidence for both drivers and students.

When Proctor joined York CSD, she came equipped not just with experience, but also a clear vision: she needed better tools to run a more modern and responsive transportation department. Having worked with Transfinder solutions at a previous district, Proctor knew she didn’t want to operate without them.

“As soon as I started, when it came contract time, I said, ‘I really need this [Transfinder technology]. I can’t go any longer without it,’” she recalls.

At the time, York was operating the old-fashioned, “very manual,” Proctor said. “A lot of notebooks. That was it.”

But she knew what she was missing without having Transfinder’s award-winning routing solution.

“Once I started with Transfinder, you just can’t go back,” Proctor said.

Today, York CSD uses Transfinder’s awards-winning Routefinder PLUS and driver app Wayfinder, a combination that has transformed the way the district manages its transportation. York CSD transports just over 400 students daily, with eight large bus runs and eight out-of-district van runs. Like many districts, small and large alike, resources and staffing flexibility are critical.

“We have 18 drivers, and right now we’re doing very well with staffing,” Proctor said, joking: “Please don’t share that with anyone!” Still, the district relies on flexibility, with mechanics and even Proctor herself stepping in to drive when needed. That’s where Wayfinder has made a tremendous difference.

Wayfinder has helped the district when assigning routes to new drivers or substitutes who may not be familiar with the run.

“I don’t print routes anymore,” she said. “I just click on the Wayfinder and say the driver, ‘There it is.’ It’s done and I know that it’s correct.”

The technology is also helping shape the future of York’s driving staff. Those used to driving small vans with fewer students are appreciative of the Routefinder PLUS-built routes displayed on Wayfinder as they travel unfamiliar terrain with more students.

The ease of use of Wayfinder and Routefinder PLUS has also made an impression. Proctor recently completed her Wayfinder training and described the experience as a positive experience.

“I don’t know my way around a computer very well,” she said. “Everyone at Transfinder has been very helpful. They take their time with me. I should say, they speak my language. They didn’t speak ‘technical talk.’ The classes were very, very down-to-earth and I was able to understand everything that was put in front of me.”

That kind of client-centered support, combined with reliable and intuitive software, is what motivated Proctor to bring Transfinder technology to York in the first place.

Looking ahead, Proctor is considering how she can use Transfinder technology even more strategically, including using Wayfinder in recruiting. “I never have in the past, but now that I know how it works and how it helps the drivers, I definitely will use it for recruitment,” she said.

To learn more about Routefinder PLUS, Wayfinder or Transfinder’s suite of solutions, visit Transfinder.com, email getplus@transfinder.com or call 800-373-3609.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post ‘I Can’t Go Any Longer Without [Transfinder],’ York CSD Director Says appeared first on School Transportation News.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb kicks off on June 22 and Ford is hoping to have an ace up their sleeve. Two of them actually, as Romain Dumas will be piloting an insane Mustang Mach-E.

Simply known as the Super Mustang Mach-E, the one-off model shares little in common with the electric pony car that populates dealer lots. The changes are immediately apparent as this is a low-slung coupe, instead of a lifted hatchback masquerading as a crossover.

More: Ford Shows Mustang Mach-E NASCAR Prototype And Teases Electric Pikes Peak Racer

More notably, the car has some extreme aerodynamic modifications. Key among them is a huge front splitter and a massive diffuser. They’re joined by canards and a Texas-sized rear wing. Thanks to all the changes, the model generates 6,125 lbs (2,778 kg) of downforce. That’s more than 2023’s SuperVan 4.2 and last year’s F-150 Lightning SuperTruck.

Aerodynamics aside, the Super Mustang Mach-E has a tiny grille and custom bodywork. They’re joined by a stylish rear end with muscular haunches and flowing curves. The model also appears significantly shorter than the road-going EV, although Ford is keeping specifications under wraps at the moment.

While there’s no word on powertrain details, the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck gives us some idea about what to expect. It featured three STARD UHP six-phase motors that produced a combined output in excess of 1,600 hp (1,193 kW / 1,622 PS). The truck was also equipped with a custom suspension and ultra-high performance Li-Polymer NMC cells.

We can expect to learn more in the coming weeks, but Fords have been competing at Pikes Peak since 1916. That year, a Model T reached the summit in 28 minutes and 03 seconds. That compares to 8:53.553 for the SuperTruck and 8:47.682 for the SuperVan 4.2.