Vehicle to-grid charging, while still in relatively early phases, is gaining traction across the school bus industry in both the U.S. and Canada.

The promise of V2G technology was frequently discussed in the early days of electric school bus adoption. However, few operations have been successful in giving power back to the grid at levels first promised, with only a handful of projects making headlines.

One such example is from The Mobility House, which announced a “successful implementation” of a V2G charging system at Fremont Unified School District near San Francisco, California. The company has several V2G projects around the U.S., including in New York and Massachusetts, that follow the same scalable approach.

“We were confident in our approach because of our deep experience in implementing V2G projects worldwide, and in school bus fleet electrification here in the U.S.,” said Alex Macharia, VGI program manager at The Mobility House North America. “It was important to establish trust in the technology and in us as an organization from our first conversations with [Director of Transportation Ernest Epley and Fremont]. Ultimately, we found that we were closely aligned on the mission to go beyond electrification by enabling clean reliable transportation that serves the Fremont USD student body while also improving grid resilience to benefit the community.”

Macharia noted that like all V2G projects, the one with Fremont required careful coordination and planning with utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to obtain service expansion and interconnection. One of the recurring challenges with V2G, he said, is the functional compatibility between the vehicle, charger and charge management system, or CMS.

The CMS system at Fremont is developed by The Mobility House. According to a press release, ChargePilot manages daily smart charging of the buses, which the fleet operator can view can via an online dashboard. The market aggregation platform receives notifications from PG&E of an upcoming load reduction event via OpenADR, (a communication standard for utilities to provide control commands to distributed energy resources such as batteries and solar inverters) and suggests optimal charging schedules based on the event and time-of-use electricity prices, the release adds.

ChargePilot also adjusts charging optimization for the bus fleet to discharge power to reduce site load during the emergency event, while continuing to ensure vehicle readiness for departure on their next route, noted The Mobility House.

“We have come a long way in developing standardization within the technical interfaces, and this project will be showcasing methods of V2G deployment using open standards, which will resolve some of the complexity,” Macharia said, adding that the Fremont project is currently deployed under the PG&E Emergency Load Reduction Program with insights expected toward the end of next year.

By then, The Mobility House expects to have a full season of ELRP data.

“Program participants are compensated based on how much energy (kWh) or demand (kW) is reduced as compared to a baseline,” he continued, explaining that other partners included the World Resources Institute, Center for Transportation and the Environment, and Polara. “Thirty to 60 hours of events will be called per season (May to October). Events are one to five hours long called between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.”

Fremont remains in the first phase of the project, with phase two expected to come online this fall. That phase will include the use of six bidirectional chargers.

“As more bidirectional vehicles and chargers come to market, and more utilities begin to offer V2G programs in their territories, The Mobility House will be at the forefront of deploying commercial and residential V2G solutions,” Macharia said.

Meanwhile, Fremont’s Epley said the decision to move toward V2G was driven by both sustainability goals and operational efficiency.

“We wanted to do more than just adopt electric buses. We wanted to maximize their value,” he said. “V2G technology allows us not only to reduce emissions and provide students with a cleaner ride, but also to turn our fleet into a flexible energy resource for the community. That dual purpose, educational and environmental impact paired with fiscal responsibility, was central to our choice.”

He noted that he is not an engineer or utility expert and is instead a “bus driver in a suit who happens to now lead transportation.” Because a project of this size is outside of his area of expertise, Epley said it is important to lean on partners such as PG&E and The Mobility House.

The companies, he added, handled the complex utility upgrades and charger integration, while he was able to continue to focus on daily operations.

“It was about mutual trust. They respected our school mission, and I trusted their technical know-how,” he said. “That’s how we made sure the infrastructure rollout matched our existing buses.

Epley said there were many practical and technical questions to answer. Among them, how would V2G impact battery life? What does the interconnection process look like with the utility? What are the financial models for energy export and savings?

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Related: Previous Lion Electric School Bus Warranties Voided by Company Sale

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“The Mobility House brought expertise in energy management, while PG&E provided clarity on grid requirements and tariffs. Together, they demystified the process and gave us the confidence to move forward, knowing the technology was both viable and beneficial long-term,” he added.

It’s too early to track financial outcomes, he said, but by discharging energy back to the grid during peak demand periods and charging during off-peak times, Fremont projects a reduction of net charging costs.

“Just as important, the technology is helping us flatten our energy demand curve, which benefits both the district and the grid,” Epley said, adding that the district’s vision is to scale in a deliberate and sustainable way.

The next two electric school buses and additional chargers are scheduled for 2026.

“Even as funding landscapes shift, we’re positioning [Fremont] to demonstrate that electric school buses are not just a pilot project, but a long-term operational norm,” he said. “The integration aligns with our district’s sustainability plan: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering operating costs and setting an example for students on how innovation and responsibility can go hand in hand.”

Epley shared the response from the community and parents has been overwhelmingly positive, with parents appreciating that their children are riding in buses that are cleaner, quieter and healthier for the community.

“Neighbors see us contributing to local grid stability rather than just drawing power” he said. “And students themselves are excited to see their school district at the forefront of clean technology. It becomes a teaching moment. That community support reinforces that we’re not just upgrading buses, we’re helping shape a more sustainable future for Fremont, California.”

Elsewhere, Tucson Electric Power is launching a V2G project this fall. And Fuse Power launched the first V2G electric school bus project in Canada. “Fuse is supplying power back to the grid during peak hours from parked electric trucks and buses. This milestone marks a major step forward in the future of vehicle-to-grid innovation,” according to a company Linkedin post.

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The Lion Bus electric school buses pulled from service in Quebec two weeks ago have reportedly all returned to the road after repairs were made to faulty HVAC fuses.

The Quebec Ministry of Education had ordered LionC electric school bus models to be taken out of service after a fire in Montreal Sept. 9, leading to school disruptions across the province and a renewed scrutiny of electric school bus safety. Lion360 diesel school buses, which Lion manufactured prior to only producing electric vehicles in 2017, were also affected by the issue. Lion Bus issued an inspection bulletin detailing the four-hour repair.

“We have identified some potential anomalies in a sub-component of the HVAC system that Lion obtains from a third-party supplier,” the bulletin states. “In the interest of safety above all else, we request that Lion bus operators perform the following inspections and modifications: [M]andatory inspection of several low-voltage electrical connections, replacement of certain electrical connectors, replace fan fuses with less powerful ones, adding a fuse to an HVAC control panel circuit. This inspection and modification procedure must be carried out on all Lion360 (diesel) and LionC 3rd generation and earlier buses (Gen3, Gen2 and Gen1).”

Lion Bus, the new name of the former Lion Electric based in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, has become the centerpiece of Canada’s electric school bus transition. The manufacturer has delivered more than 1,200 all-electric buses across North America, with the majority operating in Quebec. But at the same time, the company recently emerged from Canada’s version of bankruptcy protection and was acquired by a Quebec real estate magnate. Per terms of the deal, all warranties outside of Quebec became null and void.

The Sept. 9 fire occurred while the English Montreal School Board bus, operated by contractor Transco, was parked and unoccupied. No injuries resulted. Transport Canada confirmed it was investigating three total reports of LionC fires, the Montreal incident and two earlier fires, with the focus was on the low-voltage heating system. The agency, Canada’s version of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said its investigation has yet to identify a safety defect “due to the extent of fire damage in affected buses.”

Transport Canada recommended fleet owners immediately inspect their LionCs “in accordance with the manufacturer’s inspection bulletin.” For school bus drivers who see any smoke or smell anything burning, Transport Canada advises them to stop the bus, evacuate all passengers and, if safe, turn off the high-voltage and 12-volt power supplies.

CBC reported that three similar fires and a smoke-filled school bus have occurred since last November. It took the Sept. 9 incident for Transport Canada to investigate, according to the article.

But reports from local firefighters indicate the fire did not spread to the lithium-ion battery pack, added nonprofit climate advocate Green Communities Canada.

“It’s important to remember that data consistently shows gas-powered vehicles are six- to eight-times more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles,” added Leif Einarson, communications manager for Green Communities Canada. “One incident should not derail the momentum we’ve built in transitioning to cleaner, safer student transportation.”

Lion Bus said in a statement on Sept. 12 that it was working with Transport Canada to determine the exact cause but confirmed “neither the electric battery nor the propulsion system was involved.”

That same day, Lion said Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec approved its plan to return LionC electric school buses to service.

The English Montreal School Board confirmed in an Instagram post Sept. 20 that Transco received the missing parts needed for its electric buses. Two days later, Sunday, Sept. 22, the school posted that all buses had been repaired, inspected and cleared for operation Monday. In all, 76 school buses were grounded, cancelling 68 routes.

First Student owns Transco in Quebec. But the largest contractor in North America, First Student also operates more Lion ESBs than any fleet, including in the U.S.

“Our maintenance and engineering teams are following the Lion Inspection Bulletin to guide all inspections and replacements. As part of this [Lion] bulletin, we are conducting a multi-step inspection focused on electrical safety and system integrity,” company spokeswoman Brenna Rudisill told School Transportation News. “This includes replacing the HVAC control panel for wiring damage and foreign objects, replacing specific fuses to optimize fan performance, checking electrical panels and starter solenoid connections for proper torque and alignment, and verifying bulkhead terminal tightness.”

Rudisill added First Student technicians replaced any faulty components found and upgraded connectors. The issue had been receiving the parts. She said the contractor advises school districts across Canada and the U.S. to “continue to follow Lion’s inspection bulletin.”

Valérie Tremblay, coordinator for the Canadian Electric School Bus Alliance (CESBA), said the inspections brought an unexpected upside.

“The good thing is it pushed school districts, operators and Transport Canada to thoroughly inspect all electric school buses,” she explained.

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Related: Report: Inequities in Canadian Electric School Bus Transition Threaten At-risk Populations
Related: Green Bus Summit Commences with Discussion on Future-Proofing Electric Buses
Related: Canada Becomes First Country to Mandate External School Bus Surveillance Feeds
Related: Arkansas School District Thanks Driver for Quick Response During Bus Fire

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FOSTER CITY, Calif. and TEANECK, N.J., – As the 2025 school year gets under way in New Jersey, the students in Teaneck, Midland Park, and Ramsey public school districts will be breathing easier as they enjoy the ride in fully-electric Type B school buses operated by D&M Tours. The zero-tailpipe emission buses, manufactured by Motiv Electric Trucks and upfitted by Van-Con, Inc. will replace aging gasoline buses. The project was developed and managed by Climate Change Mitigation Technologies LLC (CCMT).

“With the start of the new school year, these new buses are on their routes, picking up and dropping off school children safely and sustainably,” said Tim Palomba, CEO of D&M Tours in Paterson, New Jersey. “These children and their communities will benefit greatly from the Motiv-Van-Con electric buses which dramatically reduce noise and air pollution in the bus “cabin” as well as in the multiple communities along the routes. Zero-emission buses are especially important for the Type A and B school buses that Van-Con makes because they are often used to transport special needs children, who generally spend a greater amount of time on a school bus than the other students.”

The four electric Type B school buses feature Motiv’s proven EPIC 4 platform and Van-Con’s safe and durable school bus body. Each bus eliminates idling, noise and vibrations as well as tailpipe pollution and CO2 emissions, providing students a healthy, quiet and safe ride to school. The routes serviced by this project, like many school transportation routes, are ideal for electrification due to their local, repetitive, predictable nature and the fleet’s ability to charge overnight at a central depot.

Editor’s note — The “New Jersey Type B” is a subclass of Type A school buses the state uses when the vehicle weighs more than a10,000 pounds GVWR.

D&M tours will replace four older gasoline buses, avoiding up to 3,000 gallons of fossil fuel and related costs annually. Over the 15-year useful life of the project it is estimated that the Motiv electric buses will log 1,134,000 miles and eliminate over 2 million pounds of tailpipe emissions.

In addition to the health benefits, there are significant economic benefits to the district. According to an analysis from the Electric School Bus Initiative, an electric school bus can save the district more than $100,000 in lifetime fuel and maintenance savings compared to an equivalent diesel bus.

The school buses will travel between D&M’s fleet depot in Paterson to students in Teaneck, Midland Park, Ramsey, and multiple communities in between, providing health benefits all along the way. Research has shown prolonged exposure to poor air quality increases rates of heart disease, impaired lung function and lower IQ levels. Paterson accounts for 62 percent of all asthma Emergency Room visits in Passaic County, but only accounts for 29 percent of the Passaic County’s population. Children in Passaic County under the age of 5 have an asthma rate that is 65 percent higher than the New Jersey statewide average.

“This is a wonderful representation of our Better Trucks, Better World vision. Replacing aging diesel school buses with clean, electric alternatives represents exactly the kind of meaningful health and environmental progress we’re working to accelerate as we expand the presence of our class 4 electric truck platform,” said Scott Griffith, CEO of Motiv Electric Trucks. “Students, drivers, and the communities these buses serve will all benefit from the elimination of harmful diesel emissions, while D&M Tours gains the operational advantages and cost savings of electric.”

“We are pleased to deliver these buses to one of our best customers as he helps lead the school bus industry into the next century,” said Jim Anderson, President of Van-Con, Inc. “These four buses are the first four of a total of 29 electric school buses we are building with Motiv for districts and contractors across New Jersey.”

“Climate Change Mitigation Technologies LLC (CCMT) appreciates the opportunity to partner with D&M Tours, Inc., Van-Con, Inc., and Motiv to deliver the first fleet of electric school buses built in part in New Jersey,” said James Sherman, CEO of CCMT. He noted that “CCMT’s integration of the buses, DCFC chargers, and OCPP charge management software gives D&M the operational control of charging, real-time economic transparency of charging costs, and management reports it needs. I am pleased to report that the electric school bus fleet, chargers, and control software integration worked seamlessly all summer long.”

Other project partners include the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) which provided funding for the project, Vanore Electric, Inc., which was the electrical contractor for the project; PSE&G, which helped expedite the project, and Grid Link, Inc., which was the OCPP/charge management software system provider.

A ribbon-cutting event is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 11 am at the D&M Tours facility at 20 Shady Street in Paterson, NJ. Persons interested in attending may contact jsherman@ccmtdg.com for an invitation.

About Motiv Electric Trucks
Founded in 2009, Motiv is a privately held company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. Motiv is a leading manufacturer of medium duty, zero-emission electric trucks and buses, producing a range of vehicles, including step vans, shuttle buses, box trucks, and work trucks, designed to eliminate tailpipe CO2 emissions and particulate matter, while offering drivers and passengers a more comfortable, healthier and safer ride.

Motiv’s combination of operational cost savings and environmental performance helps customers meet emissions and pollution standards as well as achieve their own net-zero, ESG or other climate impact-related pledges and commitments.

On August 15, 2025, Motiv and Workhorse Group Inc. (Nasdaq: WKHS) entered into a definitive merger agreement to combine in a transaction that will create a leading North American medium-duty electric truck OEM. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to approval by Workhorse’s shareholders and other customary closing conditions.

More information about the company’s products and services is available at https://www.motivtrucks.com.

About Van-Con, Inc.
Van-Con, Inc. is a 50 year old New Jersey company founded on the principle of safety first. Starting with Paul Anderson, Sr. back in 1973 and continuing today under Jim and Linda Anderson, Van-Con, Inc. has been a school bus innovator from the start. This means being one of the earliest proponents for school bus safety standards, development of the first 16 passenger Type A school bus, and one of the first school bus body builders to offer ADA compliant wheel-chair lifts. Today, Van-Con, Inc. manufactures a variety of Type A and B school buses and there are literally hundreds of Van-Con school buses on the road with scores of customers across New Jersey. Van-Con, Inc. is located in Middlesex, NJ. www.vanconbus.com

About Climate Change Mitigation Technologies LLC (CCMT).
CCMT is the leading low, zero, and negative carbon fuels and fleets project development and management firm in New Jersey that provides advisory services and also delivers design-build fully operational charging or fueling infrastructure. CCMT has delivered hydrogen and electric truck and bus fleet projects and is currently working on renewable natural gas (RNG) projects for public and private fleets. Among CCMT’s completed projects are the 2021 delivery of 5 BYD garbage trucks to the Jersey City DPW; the 2022 delivery of 10 BYD terminal tractors to the Red Hook Container Terminal in Port Newark, NJ; the 2025 delivery of 2 BYD garbage trucks and 3 Motiv senior citizen shuttle buses to Woodbridge Township, NJ; the 2025 delivery of 1 BYD garbage truck and 2 Motiv commuter “HOP” shuttle buses to Hoboken, NJ; and the 2025 delivery of multiple Motiv dry goods box and cold plate last mile delivery trucks to the Elizabeth Board of Education.

About D&M Tours, Inc.
D&M Tours, Inc. has been in business for over 25 years and is one of the largest private school bus contractors in northern New Jersey and a leader in the drive to more sustainable fuels and school buses. The D&M fleet consists of diesel, gasoline, propane, and now electric school buses. D&M is trusted to serve some of the largest and smallest school districts in New Jersey including Paramus, Teaneck, and other public and private schools. D&M is also a pillar of the local Paterson, NJ community, providing a source of employment for dozens of drivers, mechanics, dispatchers, yardmen, and others whom together make D&M one of the safest and cleanest operators in the business.

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PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.– Micro Bird USA LLC, a leading manufacturer of school and commercial buses, celebrated the grand opening of its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Plattsburgh, New York. This milestone marks a major step in Micro Bird’s long-term growth strategy and its commitment to provide the highest quality and safest buses to customers across North America.

Following the acquisition of the site in December 2024 and a $38 million investment, Micro Bird’s team worked diligently to set up the plant, train employees, and start production just seven months later. Today, more than 225 team members are employed at the 156,000 square-foot Plattsburgh facility, with plans to grow the workforce to 350 team members at full capacity. This represents a significant investment in good-paying U.S. jobs, manufacturing expansion, and the local economy of the North Country in New York State.

“This grand opening is a proud moment for the entire team,” said Eric Boulé, President and CEO of Micro Bird. “With our new facility, we are doubling our production capacity and increasing our ability to deliver high-quality, long-lasting small and mid-size buses to our customers. This achievement is the result of the hard work and dedication from our talented teams here in Plattsburgh and at our Canadian headquarters in Drummondville, Quebec. We are deeply grateful to our employees and partners who made this vision a reality.”

“Today’s grand opening celebration marks a new chapter for Plattsburgh,” Governor Hochul said. “We are proud to welcome Micro Bird to the North Country, where the company is tapping into our skilled workforce, thriving transportation cluster, and major regional investments. This new facility strengthens the local economy, creates good jobs, and builds a brighter future for the region and all of New York.”

“Micro Bird is officially open for business in Plattsburgh! Buses across America will soon be rolling out once again stamped ‘Made in the North Country’ by Plattsburgh’s powerhouse workforce,” said Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senator of New York. “When I heard about the closure of the former Nova Bus factory, which was the beating heart of this community, I immediately called Volvo’s top brass to urge them to do the right thing and find a new manufacturer to take over this plant. Micro Bird’s leaders have shown they care about this community and continuing its manufacturing legacy by preserving hundreds of good paying jobs here in Clinton County. I am thankful for the North Country Chamber of Commerce and Governor Hochul who formed a fantastic team in helping land this investment so Plattsburgh can continue to lead the nation in transportation manufacturing.”

“Micro Bird marks a historic milestone with the grand opening of its Plattsburgh, New York, plant and expansion of its advanced manufacturing capabilities to the United States,” said John Wyskiel, President and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “More than 45 years ago, Blue Bird started working with our partners at Girardin in Canada to design and build the first Blue Bird Micro Bird buses. Since 2009, our powerful joint venture has driven dynamic job growth, prosperity, technology innovation, and customer satisfaction in both the United States and Canada. Micro Bird is poised to further solidify its long-term success by launching the Plattsburgh plant and capitalizing on Buy America commercial bus opportunities.”

With the plant now in operation, Micro Bird started assembling buses in the United States, each one built with care to deliver unmatched reliability and customer satisfaction. Fully compliant with the Buy America Act (BAA), this facility enhances Micro Bird’s ability to serve customers with greater speed, precision, and quality.

“We’ve been planning this expansion for some years,” added Eric Boulé, President and CEO of Micro Bird. “Plattsburgh was the perfect choice for us — the availability of a highly skilled workforce, proximity to major markets, and within a community with a strong manufacturing ecosystem. We are thankful for the warm welcome, and for the strong support from the state of New York, the County of Clinton Industrial Development Agency, the North Country Chamber of Commerce, The Development Corporation (TDC) and the Town of Plattsburgh. We look forward to being a long-term community partner and contributing to local economic development.”

“This grand opening event brought together employees, Blue Bird executives, the Girardin Holdings Executives, dealers from across North America, government officials, and local partners for a plant tour, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and presentations that highlighted Micro Bird’s unwavering commitment to innovation, product excellence, and customer success,’’ said Eric Boulé.

“Today, we are opening more than a plant — we are opening the path to tomorrow. Guided by vision and driven by ambition, every bus we build here will help shape possibility and set the future of transportation in motion. Micro Bird was built to take on tomorrow, and this new chapter in Plattsburgh is proof that our best is yet to come.’’

About Micro Bird:
Established in 2009, Micro Bird Inc. is a joint venture between Girardin Minibus and Blue Bird Corporation, combining nearly 160 years of experience in the bus industry. Headquartered in Drummondville, Quebec, Micro Bird designs and manufactures the complete line of Type A school, commercial, and electric buses known for their durability, safety, and long-term value. In 2025, Micro Bird expanded its footprint with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Plattsburgh, New York — a strategic investment that brings the company closer to its U.S. customers and strengthens its ability to deliver innovative, Buy America Act–compliant transportation solutions across North America. For more information, visit www.mbcbus.com.

About Blue Bird Corporation:
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

About Girardin:
Girardin is a third-generation family business and longtime partner of Blue Bird specializing in bus and school bus transportation for over 65 years and having its head office in Drummondville for almost 60 years. Girardin is a manufacturer, distributor, and operator of buses, school buses, electric powertrains and electric charging infrastructures. It provides the widest selection of electric school buses together with individualized charging infrastructure assistance. The company’s more than 40 operating divisions employ over 3,000 employees in Canada and United States. For more information on Girardin, visit https://www.girardinbluebird.com/en/.

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CAMPBELL, Calif. CLEVELAND, Ohio, – ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT), a leading provider of EV charging solutions, together with intelligent power management company Eaton, today announced an ultrafast charging architecture with end-to-end power infrastructure for public charging and fleets. ChargePoint Express Grid, powered by Eaton, is a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capable solution that delivers up to 600kW of power for passenger EVs and can provide megawatt charging for heavy-duty commercial applications.

The innovative integration of ChargePoint’s Express chargers with Eaton’s end-to-end electrical solutions delivers a powerful solution to overcome grid constraints, addressing the challenge of how to cost-effectively scale charging for the growing number of EVs entering service. By leveraging Eaton’s Everything as a Grid approach and integrated V2G capabilities, the system can seamlessly synchronize onsite renewables, energy storage and vehicle batteries with local energy markets to help fleets significantly reduce fueling costs. When deployed at scale with participating utilities, the joint architecture can even help balance the electric grid.

“The new ChargePoint Express architecture, and particularly the Express Grid variant, will take DC fast charging to levels of performance and cost not previously imagined. This latest technological breakthrough further demonstrates our commitment to deliver innovation,” said Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint. “Combined with Eaton’s end-to-end grid capabilities, ChargePoint is delivering solutions to help EVs win on pure economics, regardless of tax incentives or government support.”

“Accelerating electrification at scale hinges on industry-changing technology from trusted manufacturers that can be deployed faster while achieving new levels of reliability and efficiency at a significantly lower cost,” said Paul Ryan, vice president and general manager of energy transition at Eaton. “Our partnership with ChargePoint is an accelerator for innovation in electrification, with novel technology today and into the future that makes going electric the smart choice.”

Eaton will custom engineer each Express configuration with comprehensive power infrastructure delivered site-ready with the option of a skid-mounted solution to expedite installation, reduce equipment requirements, and simplify connection to the grid and distributed energy resources (DERs). Eaton also plans to commercialize solid-state transformer technology in the next year through its recent acquisition of Resilient Power Systems Inc. to support DC applications in the EV market and beyond.

The ChargePoint Express Grid, powered by Eaton, will debut at the RE+ trade show in Las Vegas in Booth #V8071. Express solutions are available to order for select customers in North America and Europe, with deliveries beginning in the second half of 2026. Learn more here. To learn more about the ChargePoint Express line of EV chargers, please visit https://info.chargepoint.com/dc-architecture.html.

About ChargePoint Holdings, Inc.
ChargePoint has established itself as the leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging innovation since its inception in 2007, long before EVs became widely available. The company provides comprehensive solutions tailored to the entire EV ecosystem, from the grid to the dashboard of the vehicle. The company serves EV drivers, charging station owners, vehicle manufacturers, and similar types of stakeholders. With a commitment to accessibility and reliability, ChargePoint’s extensive portfolio of software, hardware, and services ensures a seamless charging experience for drivers across North America and Europe. ChargePoint empowers every driver in need of charging access, connecting them to over 1.25 million charging ports worldwide. ChargePoint has facilitated the powering of more than 16 billion electric miles, underscoring its dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and electrifying the future of transportation. For further information, please visit the ChargePoint pressroom or the ChargePoint Investor Relations site. For media inquiries, contact the ChargePoint press office.

About Eaton:
Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.

Founded in 1911, Eaton has continuously evolved to meet the changing and expanding needs of our stakeholders. With revenues of nearly $25 billion in 2024, the company serves customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

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Phoenix Motor Inc., known for building heavy-duty transit buses and helping electrify medium-duty vehicles, announced John Walsh is stepping in as the new president of Phoenix Motor and CEO of PhoenixEV, the company’s U.S.-based commercial electric vehicle brand.

Walsh will oversee the company’s American operations, focusing on scaling production, accelerating adoption of zero-emission solutions and expanding market share in the commercial and transit EV space. While it’s unclear why Denton Peng is stepping down as President of Phoenix Motor, he will continue to serve as the chief executive officer of Phoenix Motor Inc. leading the company’s global strategy, innovation initiatives, and international operations.

“We’re excited to welcome John to our team,” said Peng in a press release. “He brings a deep understanding of the transit and EV markets, along with a demonstrated ability to scale high-growth transportation companies. With more than three decades of experience and a record of operational excellence, we’re confident John will help PhoenixEV accelerate its mission to deliver clean, quiet, and intelligent mobility solutions across the U.S.”

Walsh is an experienced executive with more than 35 years of leadership experience in the transit and electric mobility industries. His most recent role was as president of EO Charging Americas, where he led large-scale commercial fleet electrification across North America.

Prior to that, he served as chief commercial officer at Proterra, overseeing record-setting electric transit bus sales and managing its transit, powered and energy business units. He also held key leadership positions as president and COO of Davey Coach, president of REV Bus Group, which included nine business units such as ENC and Collins Bus Corporation and CEO of MV-1/VPG, a specialty OEM for the paratransit market.

Walsh brings not only deep operational expertise, but also a strong track record in business development, negotiation and strategic planning, honed through decades of executive experience in the automotive and commercial transportation sectors. A graduate of Methodist University in North Carolina, he holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

“I’m honored to join Phoenix Motor at such an important inflection point,” said Walsh in a statement. “PhoenixEV has a remarkable legacy in electric transportation, and with our coast-to-coast operations, industry-leading EV platforms, and deep customer relationships, we are poised for strong growth. I look forward to working with our team to strengthen execution, build backlog and deliver outstanding zero-emission products for our partners and communities.”

In his role as CEO, Phoenix Motor said Walsh will be responsible for driving the brand’s U.S. business strategy, expanding production capacity and accelerating adoption of its all-electric transit and commercial vehicles. The appointment comes as Phoenix ramps up its efforts to serve municipal, corporate and government fleet customers across the nation amid growing demand for sustainable transportation solutions.

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ANAHEIM, Calif. -Phoenix Motor Inc. (OTC PINK:PEVM), a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses and electrification solutions provider for medium-duty vehicles, today announced the appointment of John Walsh as President of Phoenix Motor and Chief Executive Officer of PhoenixEV, the Company’s U.S.-based commercial EV brand focused on light, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles built in America for the American market. Denton Peng remains Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Motor, continuing to lead the Company’s overall strategic direction, innovation roadmap, and global operations.

“We’re excited to welcome John to our team,” said Denton Peng, CEO of Phoenix Motor. “He brings a deep understanding of the transit and EV markets, along with a demonstrated ability to scale high-growth transportation companies. With more than three decades of experience and a record of operational excellence, we’re confident John will help PhoenixEV accelerate its mission to deliver clean, quiet, and intelligent mobility solutions across the U.S.”

Walsh is a seasoned executive with over 35 years of leadership in the transit and electric mobility industries, most recently serving as President of EO Charging Americas, where he led commercial fleet electrification efforts across North America. He previously held key leadership positions at Proterra as Chief Commercial Officer, where he drove record electric transit bus sales and led the Transit, Powered, and Energy business units. Walsh also served as President and COO of Davey Coach, President of REV Bus Group, overseeing nine business units including ENC and Collins School Bus, and CEO of MV-1/VPG, a specialty OEM serving the paratransit market.

“I’m honored to join Phoenix Motor at such an important inflection point,” said Walsh. “PhoenixEV has a remarkable legacy in electric transportation, and with our coast-to-coast operations, industry-leading EV platforms, and deep customer relationships, we are poised for strong growth. I look forward to working with our team to strengthen execution, build backlog, and deliver outstanding zero-emission products for our partners and communities.”

Walsh will be responsible for driving PhoenixEV’s business strategy and execution across its expanding U.S. footprint, with a focus on growing market share in the zero-emission transit and commercial fleet sectors, scaling production capabilities, and accelerating customer adoption of Phoenix’s electric mobility solutions.

About Phoenix Motor Inc.
Phoenix Motor Inc. is redefining commercial transportation with smart, zero-emission electric vehicles. Through our two brands – PhoenixEV (America manufacturing for America market) and EdisonFuture (International resources for international market) – we deliver a full range of heavy-, medium-, and light-duty EVs, from transit and shuttle buses to delivery vans and trucks.

With cutting-edge electric drive systems and seamless integration of autonomous driving technologies, Phoenix is driving the future of sustainable transit, logistics, and community mobility in the U.S. and beyond. Learn more at phoenixev.ai.

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MACON, Ga.-Blue Bird Corporation (“Blue Bird”) (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, announced today its fiscal 2025 third quarter results.
“I am incredibly proud of our team in delivering another outstanding result, achieving a new all-time quarterly record revenue and profit,” said John Wyskiel, President & CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “The Blue Bird team continued to exceed expectations, improving operations, navigating tariffs, and expanding our leadership in alternative-powered buses. Our backlog remains strong with approximately 3,900 units at the end of the third quarter, despite industry orders slowing due to tariff-related pricing actions. Unit sales were above the same period as last year, and revenue was up by $65M, driven by product mix and pricing. We delivered an exceptional Adj. EBITDA of $58.5M for Q3 2025, a new all-time record for the Company.

“In our push to expand our leadership in alternative-powered school buses, we delivered a record 271 electric-powered buses this quarter. As of the end of the quarter, we have 1,200 EV buses either sold or in our firm order backlog, which supports our EV sales target for 2025.

“Based on our strong Q3 performance, we’ve raised our full-year financial guidance for Adjusted EBITDA to $210 million, with a 14.5% margin. This will be an all-time full-year record for Blue Bird, and we look forward to sustained profitable growth in the coming years.”

Raising FY2025 Guidance and Long-Term Outlook

“We are very pleased with the third quarter results, with our highest ever quarterly Adj. EBITDA,” said Razvan Radulescu, CFO of Blue Bird Corporation. “Our business is in a very strong position and we continue to deliver ahead of the plan we have been messaging. We are tightening our full-year 2025 guidance for Net Revenue at ~$1.45 Billion and raising our Adj. EBITDA guidance to $205-215 million and Adj. Free Cash Flow to $90-$100 million. Additionally, we are raising our long-term profit outlook towards an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 16%+ on ~$2 billion in revenue. We are confident in our profitable growth plans and are excited to announce a new $100 million share repurchase program.”

Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Results

Net Sales

Net sales were $398.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $64.6 million, or 19.4%, compared to $333.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. The increase in net sales is primarily due to an increase in Bus unit bookings, Bus customer and product mix changes and cumulative Bus price increases, including an increase that was intended to mitigate the impact of increased procurement costs for certain of our imported inventory as a result of the imposition of tariffs beginning during the third quarter of fiscal 2025, as well as a small increase in Parts sales.

Bus sales increased $64.2 million, or 20.8%, reflecting a 14.7% increase in unit bookings and a 5.4% increase in average sales price per unit. In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, 2,467 units booked compared to 2,151 units booked for the same period in fiscal 2024. The increase in unit price for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the same period in fiscal 2024 was primarily due to customer and product mix changes as well as price increases implemented to offset increases in inventory costs.

Parts sales increased $0.4 million, or 1.7%, for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2024. This increase is primarily attributed to price increases implemented to offset increases in inventory costs that were partially offset by slight variations due to product and channel mix.

Gross Profit

Third quarter gross profit of $85.9 million represented an increase of $16.6 million from the third quarter of last year. The increase was primarily driven by the $64.6 million increase in net sales, discussed above, and partially offset by a corresponding increase of $48.1 million in cost of goods sold.

Net Income

Net income was $36.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $7.7 million from the third quarter of last year. Among other smaller fluctuations, the $16.6 million increase in gross profit, discussed above, was offset by an increase of $6.2 million in selling, general and administrative expenses, primarily due to an increase in a) research and development expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 and b) labor costs.

Adjusted Net Income

Adjusted net income of $38.7 million represented an increase of $8.1 million from the third quarter of last year. The increase was primarily driven by the $7.7 million increase in Net Income, discussed above.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA was $58.5 million, which was an increase of $10.2 million compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2024. The increase primarily relates to the increase in gross profit, when adjusting for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, as outlined in the gross profit discussion above that was partially offset by a smaller increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, when adjusting for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, as discussed above.

Year-to-Date Fiscal 2025 Results

Net Sales

Net sales were $1,070.7 million for the nine months ended June 28, 2025, an increase of $73.8 million, or 7.4%, compared to $996.9 million for the nine months ended June 29, 2024. The increase in net sales is primarily due to an increase in Bus unit bookings, Bus customer and product mix changes and cumulative Bus price increases, including an increase that was intended to mitigate the impact of increased procurement costs for certain of our imported inventory as a result of the imposition of tariffs beginning during the third quarter of fiscal 2025, as well as a small increase in Parts sales.

Bus sales increased $73.7 million, or 8.0%, reflecting a 5.5% increase in units booked and a 2.4% increase in average sales price per unit. 6,892 units booked in the nine months ended June 28, 2025 compared with 6,534 units booked during the same period in fiscal 2024. The increase in unit price for the first nine months of fiscal 2025 compared to the same period in fiscal 2024 was primarily due to customer and product mix changes as well as price increases implemented to offset increases in inventory costs.

Parts sales increased $0.1 million, or 0.2%, for the nine months ended June 28, 2025 compared to the nine months ended June 29, 2024. This small increase is primarily attributed to price increases implemented to offset increases in inventory costs that were partially offset by slight variations due to product and channel mix.

Gross Profit

Fiscal year-to-date gross profit was $217.1 million, an increase of $20.5 million from the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by the $73.8 million increase in net sales, discussed above, and partially offset by a corresponding increase of $53.2 million in cost of goods sold.

Net Income

Net income was $91.2 million for the nine months ended June 28, 2025, a $10.3 million increase from the same period in the prior year. The increase in net income was primarily driven by the $20.5 million increase in gross profit, discussed above, and among other smaller fluctuations, was partially offset by an increase of $17.5 million in selling, general and administrative expenses, primarily due to an increase in a) share-based compensation expense recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 relating to the retirement of our former President and Chief Executive Officer, b) labor costs and c) research and development expense.

Adjusted Net Income

Adjusted net income was $100.8 million for the nine months ended June 28, 2025, an increase of $11.3 million compared to the same period in the prior year. This is primarily due to the $10.3 million increase in Net Income, discussed above.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA was $153.4 million for the nine months ended June 28, 2025, an increase of $11.8 million compared to the same period in the prior year. This increase is primarily due to the increase in gross profit, when adjusting for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, as outlined in the gross profit discussion above, that was partially offset by a smaller increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, when adjusting for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, as discussed above.

Conference Call Details

Blue Bird will discuss its third quarter 2025 results in a conference call at 4:30 PM ET today. Participants may listen to the audio portion of the conference call either through a live audio webcast on the Company’s website or by telephone. The slide presentation and webcast can be accessed via the Investor Relations portion of Blue Bird’s website at www.blue-bird.com.

Webcast participants should log on and register at least 15 minutes prior to the start time on the Investor Relations homepage of Blue Bird’s website at http://investors.blue-bird.com. Click the link in the events box on the Investor Relations landing page.
Participants desiring audio only should dial 404-975-4839 or 833-470-1428. The access code is 189469.

A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the call concludes via the same link on Blue Bird’s website.

About Blue Bird Corporation
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses in operation today. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

The post Blue Bird Reports Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Results; Beats Third Quarter Guidance With Record Results; Raising 2025 Guidance and Long-Term Outlook; $100M Share Buy-back Announced appeared first on School Transportation News.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) warns blackouts could increase by 100 times in 2030 if the nation “continues to shutter reliable power sources and fails to add additional firm capacity.” The forecast is a driving factor for school transportation departments seeking to incorporate cleaner alternatives for fueling buses.

The DOE report “Evaluating U.S. Grid Reliability and Security” released July 7, fulfills Section 3(b) of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order “Strengthening The Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid,” designed to deliver a uniform methodology to identify at-risk regions and guide federal reliability interventions.

• • The report finds the current path—retiring more generations without dependable replacements—threatens both grid reliability and the ability to meet growing AI-driven energy demand. Without intervention, the bulk power system cannot support AI growth, maintain reliability, or keep energy affordable.
  • Projected load growth is too large and fast for existing grid management and capacity planning methods to handle. A transformative shift is urgently needed.
  • The retirement of 104 giga-watts (GW) of firm capacity by 2030, without one-to-one replacement, worsens the resource adequacy challenge. Loss of this generation could cause major outages during unfavorable weather for wind and solar.
  • While 209 GW of new generation is projected by 2030, only 22 GW would be firm baseload power. Even without retirements, the model found increased risk of outages in 2030 by a factor of 34.
  • Current methods for assessing resource adequacy are outdated. Modern evaluations must consider not just peak demand, but also the frequency, magnitude and duration of outages, and model increasing interdependence with neighboring grids.

“Though demands on the electric grid are increasing, we do not foresee a meaningful logistics problem for school transportation directors,” noted Michelle Levinson, the World Resources Institute’s senior manager of eMobility Finance and Policy. “The report headline averages numbers across the whole of the U.S. The risk of additional outages is low and is brought up by high assumed data center demand in Electric Reliability Council of Texas and in PJM South (Virginia and Maryland).”

Levinson commented that the most recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates electricity customers on average experienced approximately 5.5 hours of electricity interruptions in 2022.

“Even if all these outages occur on school days, which is unlikely, outages would account for only 0.19 percent of the hours when a bus is in the yard and potentially charging,” she added. “Luckily, transportation directors are already accustomed to navigating the impacts of electric outages on their fueling capabilities through their experience with liquid fossil fuel pumps, which also needs electricity to function.”

Levinson acknowledged change can be “scary” and the transition to electric school buses requires a shift in logistics but should not be a problem in and of itself and as with all logistics comes down to planning.

Overnight and midday down times of most school buses offer substantial opportunities for directors to charge batteries in advance of any conditions that might indicate higher grid risks, such as extreme weather events, she added.

However, others warn that even a short outage will greatly disrupt transportation operations. The DOE’s predicted blackout rate “introduces serious questions about how to keep buses moving in the face of growing grid instability,” noted Joel Stutheit, senior manager of autogas business development at the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).

“The school day is built around a routine,” he continued. “Imagine what happens to that routine if the grid goes down as often as this DOE report suggests. If a transportation director is relying on an electric school bus fleet, blackouts could leave them unable to charge buses and reliably transport students. Even a short-term outage could introduce last-minute scheduling changes, rerouting [of] buses, and adding extra pressure on drivers and operations teams.”

Transportation directors need to shift from thinking about the electric grid as a guarantee to thinking about it as a variable for which they must plan, Stutheit said.

Ewan Pritchard, the chief subject matter expert on school bus electrification for consultant Energetics, said he believes the intent of the report was to make electric vehicles look bad.

“The DOE’s report is politically charged,” he shared. “My company is the evaluator for the electric vehicle infrastructure program for the state of California. My team is collecting data from all the vehicle charging stations across the state of California that are put in by the electric utilities. We track the time of usage of all of those stations, and we issue a report annually on the progress.”

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Related: EPA Proposal Seeks to Eliminate GHG Regulations for Vehicles, Engines
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Related: Previous Lion Electric School Bus Warranties Voided by Company Sale
Related: Propane School Buses Save Districts 50% on Total Cost of Ownership
Related: Roundup: Informative Green Bus Summit Held at STN EXPO West

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The team’s work, he said, demonstrates electric school buses can benefit the utility grid — a shoring-up effect in the sense that it depends on when a school bus is plugged in.

For example, it can be a problem if school districts charge electric vehicles between 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., actively drawing power from the utility grid during peak demand times when usage and prices are highest, he noted.

Instead, Pritchard recommended school transportation departments would do well to use charge management systems, which essentially keep track of the strain on the utility grid, the cost of electricity and carbon production.

Doing so saves districts money, he added.

“We’re seeing tremendous change in the way people are charging vehicles, especially when it comes to school buses, because school buses have a very predictable schedule,” Pritchard said. “There’s plenty of time between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. to recharge their vehicles.”

A Back Up Plan?

The challenge of student safety is “likely not as extreme as the report makes it seem,” Levinson agreed.

“If operators have not charged their vehicles ahead of a significant outage event, battery capacities may be low or zero, meaning this particular type of transport would not be able to run its typical route,” she pointed out. “School may not be in session in the event of such a significant outage.”

Alternatively, schools districts may find that electric buses can provide an additional level of safety and resiliency for students and communities during extreme events when the larger grid is out, Levinson said.

“Localized microgrid capabilities that connect bi-directional buses and essential school or community facilities are especially relevant in situations where extreme weather conditions isolate people and businesses,” she added.

PERC’s Stutheit, who previously was the director of transportation for Bethel School District in Washington, noted students are immediately impacted if buses can’t operate due to a power outage as “many students rely on transportation to and from school not only for their education, but to access meals and other essential services.”

If the grid goes down due to severe weather, the stakes are even higher for transportation directors to provide evacuations or emergency transportation, Stutheit said, adding student transporters need reliably-powered school buses that can respond quickly to keep students safe.

“Propane autogas buses provide that layer of resiliency,” he argued. “These buses can operate and refuel even when the grid is down. In the event of an emergency evacuation or shelter-in-place situation, propane autogas buses allow districts to respond without waiting on fuel deliveries or power restoration. That kind of reliability supports student safety.”

Pritchard noted most schools have backup generators if power goes out. He said the real student safety issue is when the tailpipe of a combustion vehicle is putting out emissions at that student’s height, adding studies show the concentration of pollutants inside of a vehicle are worse than the concentration outside of a vehicle when it comes to school buses.

“I think it’s more of a student safety issue to not electrify your fleet,” he added.

And then there is the possibility of using electric school buses to power microgrids available to provide surplus power to school buildings.

Getting Smart

To mitigate challenges, school districts should implement smart charging strategies and familiarize themselves with charge management tools and capabilities, Levinson said, adding it is best to charge when the grid is least constrained, such as overnight or midday when there is the most solar production.

“School districts can also create standard operating procedures and emergency management procedures. They can also conduct emergency preparedness drills to practice for such scenarios and identify places for procedural improvements,” she added.

Other steps include identifying additional charging locations beyond the primary charging yard and installing site-level resilience via batteries, solar and/or generators.

Stutheit shared that propane also complements EVs as part of a multi-fuel strategy, as it can be go-to energy in emergency situations when the grid is down. It can also provide transportation directors with an affordable option that won’t need infrastructure updates to keep up with grid instability.

There are ways to lessen the risk from outages that apply to both diesel and electric school buses, involving alternative power from outside the grid, Levinson said, adding grid outages affect all functions, not just charging buses.

“In cases in which electric school buses are vehicle-to-load or vehicle-to-building capable, they can be a potential asset to provide site power to run phones, computers, and HVAC systems during an outage. Increasingly electric vehicles, such as electric school buses, can be part of the grid support solution.”

The post Safety Concerns of the Electric Grid? appeared first on School Transportation News.

CAMPBELL, Calif., – ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT), a leading provider of EV charging solutions, today announced Safeguard Care, a new service offering that provides end-to-end reliability monitoring of ChargePoint charging stations. The program, available now in six launch markets, utilizes a network of trained service providers to routinely inspect chargers, identifying and repairing many common issues while onsite.

“ChargePoint continues to develop innovative solutions that ensure EV charger reliability, from anti-vandalism measures to monitoring our hardware from our network operations center. Safeguard Care further demonstrates our commitment to delivering a reliable charging experience,” said JD Singh, Chief Customer Experience Officer of ChargePoint. “As the original manufacturer of the chargers, we are able to ensure the highest standards of service and support. With Safeguard Care, we are giving station owners and EV drivers peace of mind knowing that chargers will be in pristine working order.”

Safeguard Care, combined with ChargePoint AssureÒ, is an ideal solution for charging providers with high traffic and distributed charging stations, such as municipalities, parking garages and workplaces. It is particularly beneficial for station owners who do not have their own dedicated staff to inspect and maintain their stations on a regular basis. Each Safeguard Care visit includes a visual inspection of the charging station and the physical area around the chargers, cleaning, minor repairs or adjustments if necessary, and a test charge to validate functionality after the completion of repairs. Any issues the Safeguard Care inspector cannot address on site will be escalated directly to ChargePoint support for follow up.

For more information about Safeguard Care, please visit: https://www.chargepoint.com/businesses/services.

About ChargePoint Holdings, Inc
ChargePoint has established itself as the leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging innovation since its inception in 2007, long before EVs became widely available. The company provides comprehensive solutions tailored to the entire EV ecosystem, from the grid to the dashboard of the vehicle. The company serves EV drivers, charging station owners, vehicle manufacturers, and similar types of stakeholders. With a commitment to accessibility and reliability, ChargePoint’s extensive portfolio of software, hardware, and services ensures a seamless charging experience for drivers across North America and Europe. ChargePoint empowers every driver in need of charging access, connecting them to over 1.25 million charging ports worldwide. ChargePoint has facilitated the powering of more than 16 billion electric miles, underscoring its dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and electrifying the future of transportation. For further information, please visit the ChargePoint pressroom or the ChargePoint Investor Relations site. For media inquiries, contact the ChargePoint press office.

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After what felt like the end of the road for the Clean School Bus Program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provided an update overview, including the anticipation of additional information regarding the 2024 rebate program.

In an email Monday, the EPA reminded awardees of next steps for the rebate and grant programs, provided program oversight and compliance, and shared resources and news.

For the 2022 CSB Rebate, EPA said it completed review of most school bus projects and Close Out Forms, or COF, submitted by rebate recipients. EPA also said it is actively working with selectees to ensure accuracy and completeness. For those who have not completed their COF, the EPA is working with those selectees to ensure it is submitted in an expedited fashion.

Additionally, EPA said it is performing site visits with all 2022 CSB rebate recipients.

Meanwhile, about 50 percent of the awarded funding under the 2023 CSB rebate program has been disbursed. The EPA is encouraging all selectees to submit their payment request forms (PRF) for those projects. If the PRF has not been submitted, selectees must either submit the form as soon as possible or request an extension via the online portal.

Upon completing the PRF, rebate selectees will receive an official funds disbursement email from the EPA, with the money typically available within seven to 10 days. Once selectees receive the funds they must “email the EPA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer (EPA-CSB-FinancialReporting@epa.gov) within 10-business days of spending their funds on eligible expenses or passing the rebate funds to a third-party to complete the purchase for eligible expenses,” the EPA stated.

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Related: EPA CSBP Payment Request Deadline This Month
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When school buses are deployed and replaced, and infrastructure is installed, the EPA stated that selectees will need to submit their 2023 COF.

EPA also reminded Clean School Bus Program grant recipients of the July 30 deadline for filing semi-annual reports, which cover January through June 2025. The EPA asked that all selectees submit their progress reports to the EPA project officer.

Additional information regarding the 2024 rebate program is forthcoming, EPA said.

The EPA is also hosting various webinars through its Office of Grants and Departments that could be of interest to grant awardees as well as webinars through the Automated Standard Application for Payments.

The post EPA Provides Update on Clean School Bus Program appeared first on School Transportation News.

As school transportation departments gear up for the new school year, those with Lion Electric buses have additional challenges: How to address warranties, maintenance and repair concerns in the wake of the company’s financial struggles and recent acquisition by Canadian real estate developer Groupe MACH.

Customers’ worst fears were realized Friday, when Deloitte Restructuring released a letter detailing that all previous warranties for all purchases made outside of Quebec are null and void.

The writing has been on the wall since at least May, said Valerie Tremblay, Green Communities Canada sustainable mobility lead and co-coordinator for the Canadian Electric School Bus Alliance. She noted a press release that stated Lion Electric, now branded as Lion, is focusing exclusively on electric school buses, fully assembled locally and intended for the Quebec market.

“This means the company will no longer manufacture other electric vehicles and will limit electric school bus (ESB) sales to Quebec,” she added.

The impact is immense. Lion Electric has more than 2,200 electric commercial vehicles on the roads across North America, logging more than 62,000 miles a week with more than 32 million driven miles transporting 130,000 children, then company spokesman Patrick Gervais said earlier this year.

Herscher CUSD No. 2 district in Herscher, Illinois, already implemented Plan B ahead of Friday’s confirmation letter about voided warranties, said Superintendent Dr. Richard Decman.

“We are working with alternate vendors at the expense of the school district to help keep our electric buses functional and on the road,” Decman noted. “Currently, six of our 25 (Lion) electric buses need some type of repair.”

Lion ESBs represent half of Herscher’s overall fleet of 50 buses. The district had been given $9.875 million for the purchase of 25 electric buses and the related charging stations.

Herscher CUSD is one of many dealing with similar challenges. What started as an effort to replace old diesel school buses with clean and quieter ESBs has turned into a major challenge, both in dealing with Lion Electric as well as with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus program.

Funded by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the program was designed to provide $5 billion from fiscal years 2022 to 2026 to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and clean school buses.

To date, 1,039 awards have been issued to 1,344 school districts and nearly $2.785 billion of the total $5 billion has been awarded, replacing 8,936 buses.

Meanwhile, the EPA stopped accepting applications for the 2024 rebate program on Jan. 14. Originally, awards were to be announced by last month. No additional information has been given about their status.

In a response to School Transportation News Friday, EPA said it, “is not able to offer legal advice to school districts regarding their warranty contracts with Lion Electric” and referred the question to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs, which also said it could not respond to the matter.

Lion also has not responded to STN requests for input.

Meanwhile, Yarmouth School Department in Maine bought two Lion Electric buses in 2023 with a state of Maine grant reimbursing the purchase 100 percent, said Superintendent Andrew Dolloff. The town’s Climate Action Committee prioritized awareness and action pertaining to climate change and use of renewable energy, he noted, adding a quality ESB program aligns with the town’s goal of being carbon neutral in the coming decade.

But the Lion ESBs often display messages indicating heating, electrical or battery problems, necessitating they be pulled out of service. Dolloff said Lion has not responded to the department’s inquiries regarding repairs.

“We’ve had some sporadic service over the past two years, but as soon as the tech leaves, the buses produce error codes again, and then the technician quits or is released, and we wait a few months for the next response,” said Dolloff, adding the buses did not operate during the 2024-2025 school year.

Dolloff previously told STN, “We have asked for the buses to be replaced, not likely, or for compensation to be made so we can purchase others, also not likely, and have communicated with Maine’s Department of Education and the Governor’s Office, who have reached out to the EPA to see if there might be some relief provided through their grant programs.”

Dr. Andrew Brooks, superintendent of schools for the Wethersfield District #230 in Kewanee, Illinois, told STN earlier this year the purchase last fall of three Lion Electric buses was funded by the EPA. Upon finding out Lion was in financial trouble, he reached out to his service contact, who relayed that he had been laid off.

Brooks said the district would seek another supplier, such as Blue Bird, IC Bus or Thomas Built Buses.

Of Los Angeles Unified School District’s 250 electric buses, 28 — about 11 percent of the district’s electric fleet or 2 percent of its total fleet — are Lion Electric ESBs. A spokesperson said Los Angeles Unified is proactively working with vendor partners that have retained qualified technicians and engineering staff with Lion-specific experience to ensure continuity of maintenance and support of the Lion buses.

Looking ahead, the district is working to include long-term maintenance and support requirements for future electric school buses contracts, helping ensure operational stability and vehicle performance across its fleet.

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Related: Update: Quebec Government Passes on Saving Lion Electric, Company’s End Imminent
Related: Positive Reinforcement Takes the Wheel: Netradyne Customers Awarded Over 100 Million DriverStars
Related: State Budget Calls for Real-world Range Testing for Electric School Bus Sales

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As for Group MACH’s decision to only sell ESBs in Quebec, Tremblay noted the shift appears to be driven by two factors. The first is market concentration. Quebec is home to more than 1,000 Lion buses, making it the largest single jurisdiction for ESBs in North America. She said focusing operations locally allows Lion to maintain service and support for this fleet.

The province also offers targeted incentives, up to $240,000 per ESB assembled in Canada. Lion is one of only two companies eligible for this funding, the other being Type A school bus manufacturer Micro Bird. Until recently, Quebec also mandated that all new school bus purchases be electric. Most U.S. states and other Canadian provinces don’t offer the same level of consistent, per-bus subsidies. Without these incentives, Tremblay said Lion lacks confidence in sustained demand outside Quebec.

She also noted Lion’s press release states that maintenance services in Quebec will resume shortly and warranties for Quebec-based vehicles will be honored. But, she added, not honoring warranties outside Quebec and non-existent or minimal maintenance support “has contributed to the company’s assets being undervalued in its recent acquisition.”

For Lion bus owners outside of Quebec, Tremblay advised school bus operators to review purchase agreements to understand Lion’s contractual obligations regarding warranties and service.

They should contact third-party service providers to explore options for ongoing maintenance and repairs and reach out to dealers or manufacturers to confirm whether they offer service support for Lion ESBs in their region, she added.

While school bus contractor First Student can take on Lion warranty work for a fee, a spokesperson said the company will only offer any EV maintenance work on a case-by-case evaluation basis with school districts.

CALSTART is leading an effort to support school districts affected by the ongoing Lion Electric bankruptcy and subsequent ownership changes, noted Stephanie Ly. senior manager of eMobility strategy and manufacturing engagement for the World Resource Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative.

“They are supported by our Electric School Bus Initiative and the Alliance for Electric School Buses,” she added. “CALSTART held a national forum focused on the Lion Electric issue and has an online form for school districts to fill out if they want to receive any potential future guidance or resources.

Ly advised existing Lion electric bus owners to try to ensure they have as many resources as possible to continue operating and maintaining their buses, including keeping documentation such as training materials, owners’ manuals and similar information.

The post New Owner Voids U.S. Warranties of Lion Electric School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

Hydroelectric energy is the “backbone of clean power,” but an urgent need to improve efficiencies is driving engineers to explore a whirlwind of options Among alternative energy solutions, wind, solar, and hydrogen capture the majority of attention. Yet the combined output from these sources pales in comparison to that of hydroelectric power. Producing more than …

The post Redefining Renewable Energy: A Critical Push to Optimize Hydroelectric Power Efficiency appeared first on Alternative Energy HQ.

 

There are many benefits to entering the world of EV ownership. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle and are considering switching from gas-powered to electric, you’re probably wondering about the cost differences and how they’ll affect you long term. If you’re ready to shop the different used cars for sale, we have plenty of electric cars for sale in Madison, WI, at our dealership: cars that will save you money long-term.

The Tax Benefits

Unlike gas-powered vehicles, electric vehicles qualify owners for a significant tax credit. Most popular electric vehicle models qualify for this incentive, and the total tax credit ultimately depends on the vehicle’s battery size. Drivers who choose hybrid models will receive a lower tax credit than those who choose fully electric vehicles, in which case you can expect several thousand dollars in federal incentives.

Fuel Savings

Buying an electric vehicle means you’ll no longer have to plan regular trips to the gas station, search for the cheapest or least crowded station, and fight over pumps when the prices rise or there’s yet another gas shortage. You’ll save thousands of dollars yearly in fuel costs because you won’t have to rely on gas to power your vehicle.

Plus, you can take advantage of the many free public charging stations at restaurants, universities, gas stations, and other locations all over the country. Whether driving around your local area or heading out on a road trip, you can search for free charging stations online with an interactive map that will give you links to locations throughout the country.

You’ll Save Money on Vehicle Maintenance

Because electric vehicles require fewer parts than traditional vehicles, the maintenance costs are far cheaper than gas-powered vehicles. Drivers who choose electric vehicles may spend 40% less on maintenance costs than those who own gas-powered vehicles.

Shopping for Used Cars for Sale? Consider an EV

If you’re in the market for a pre-owned vehicle, you can’t go wrong with an electric option. In the long run, you’ll benefit from tax incentives, save money on fuel and maintenance, and help the environment.

At Zimbrick Automotive, we have electric vehicles that can meet the needs of drivers with all different lifestyles and budgets. Whether you’re looking for an economical or luxury vehicle, we have plenty of options. The most popular automotive brands, like BMW, Porsche, Audi, GMC, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, and more, have designed some incredible electric options, and we carry them here at our dealership.

If you want to enter the electric vehicle world, our expert team can help you choose the right option at the right price. Visit us today at Zimbrick Automotive to browse our new and pre-owned electric vehicle inventory, learn more about the advantages of driving an EV, and test drive your favorite model.

The post The Overall Cost of EV Ownership appeared first on Zimbrick Automotive Blog.