We already had a solid picture of the new Rivian R2, but fresh EPA testing data fills in a few remaining gaps. Positioned below the R1S in price yet still focused on performance and practicality, the all-electric R2 is shaping up to be a crucial model for the brand.

According to internal reports shared on the Rivian Forums, the range-topping Performance variant will use an 86.8 kWh usable battery pack and come with a choice of 20-inch or 21-inch wheels. Wheel and tire setup makes a noticeable difference. Models fitted with 20-inch wheels and all-terrain rubber are rated at up to 314 miles (505 km), while versions on 21-inch, road-focused tires stretch that to 335 miles (539 km).

Read: Rivian’s Most Affordable Model Arrives First In Its Most Expensive Form

While the R2 looks quite boxy, it has a better range than the Tesla Model Y Performance, which comes with an EPA-estimated range of 306 miles (492 km). The Tesla, however, is significantly lighter, weighing 4,466 lbs (2,025 kg), making it 784 lbs (356 kg) lighter than the R2 Performance at 5,250 lbs (2,381 kg) when equipped with 21-inch wheels.

The published documents also reveal that Rivian has developed a proprietary heat pump for the R2, aimed at improving cabin cooling in hot weather while reducing NVH levels. It should also perform better in cold climates, thanks to a high-voltage coolant heater. The R2 will also feature an integrated battery health monitoring system.

There’s More To Come

The only R2 variant referenced in the EPA tests is the $57,990 Performance, which will be the first to launch. Later this year, Rivian plans to introduce the more affordable R2 Premium, starting at $53,990. It’s expected to produce 450 hp and 537 lb-ft (727 Nm), compared to the Performance model’s 656 hp and 609 lb-ft (825 Nm). There’s no official range estimate yet, though it should exceed that of the R2 Performance.

A more accessible R2 Standard is also scheduled for 2027. It will deliver 350 hp and 355 lb-ft (481 Nm), with early estimates pointing to a 345-mile (555 km) range. The lineup is expected to be completed in late 2027 with an entry-level R2 featuring a smaller battery, believed to offer around 275 miles (443 km) of range.

Photos Rivian

We examine the impact of the war in Iran and Clean School Bus program updates on district fuel choices, as well as a Pennsylvania school bus driver arrested after driving over 50 students while intoxicated.

We are joined by Nate Springer, vice president of market development at TRC Companies, the presenter of the upcoming Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) EXPO. He unpacks the reasoning behind various fuel choices available to school districts today and funding options amid changes to the Clean School Bus program.

Read more about green buses.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from EverDriven.

 

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Spotify and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E298) Green Evolution: Clean Bus, Fuel Choice Updates for Transportation Directors appeared first on School Transportation News.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held the first of three webinars to share information on the proposed expansion of eligible fuels under the  revamped Clean School Bus Program (CSBP) and to solicit comment from student transportation stakeholders.

The EPA webinar on Tuesday highlighted last week’s Request for Information, which seeks public comment on the feasibility of adding biodiesel and renewable diesel as fundable fuels. A source familiar with the program told School Transportation News following EPA’s announcement of the RFI that the inclusion of liquefied natural gas and hydrogen, which are not currently available options for school buses, satisfy language contained in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that created the CSBP.

EPA did not provide a date for the unveiling of the next CSBP funding round, but representatives indicated an announcement would be made following the public comment period, which remains open until early April.

Several webinar participants commented during the webinar on stated EPA focal points of the new funding round. One industry professional recommended that EPA limit the number of entities that are considered to be third parties allowed to work with school districts to secure grant funding. Another participant pointed out that regulatory language can confuse the terms sales order and sales receipt, as the verbiage can result in a reimbursement to a a “poor” school district that instead needs the funds up front.

A representative of school bus dealer noted that some school districts are unable to apply for Clean School Bus Program funds because they don’t have 2010 or older model-year school buses to retire, which the regulatory language calls for.

Other participants championed electric school buses in light of EPA’s new focus on funding more biofuel blends, renewable diesel and propane that increase tailpipe emissions, even if nominally. Another participant said propane makes the most sense for his district’s fleet, citing a concern for the cost of battery replacements in electric school buses.

Wednesday’s webinar is designed to give school districts and bus companies the next steps in finalizing clean school bus projects funded by the 2023 rebate program with an overview of the close out form.

A March 10 webinar will share additional information on the 2023 project close outs EPA said is necessary to complete programs “effectively and efficiently while also ensuring they meet the conditions of their funding opportunity.”

Specifically, EPA said it is targeting potential waste, fraud and abuse by sharing guidance school districts and bus companies should use as they wrap up their projects.

---

Related: EPA ‘Revamping’ Clean School Bus Program
Related: Government Accountability Office Highlights FCC’s E-Rate Program for Fraud Prevention Measures
Related: Funding Among Potential Impacts of U.S. Education Department Dismantling on School Transportation

The post EPA Commences Webinar Series as Clean School Bus Program Returns appeared first on School Transportation News.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is issuing a request for information from school bus industry stakeholders as it seeks to add biodiesel, renewable diesel (RD) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as funding options to a revised Clean School Bus Program.

EPA also said it will not be awarding funds for the 2024 CSB Rebate Program. “EPA thanks applicants for their interest and encourages them to apply for the new grant program,” EPA said in a press release Thursday. “The agency will provide more details on the 2026 grants and eligibility requirements in the near future through a Notice of Funding Opportunity.”

In a follow-up email sent by School Transportation News asking for clarification on foregoing the 2024 rebate awards and if those same applications would be recycled, EPA referred to its original statement.

Meanwhile, Thursday’s RFI also mentions hydrogen as an eligible fuel listed by the Investing in Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which created the five-year, $5 billion fund. But there are currently no hydrogen school buses in production. The same goes for liquefied natural gas, which differs from propane. The IIJA also mentions CNG, which won a handful of awards, but manufacturers don’t currently produce that fuel option, either.

Diesel-powered school buses do exist in large numbers nationwide, estimated at about 80 percent of the national fleet of approximately 450,000 vehicles. Many operate with biodiesel blended with regular diesel. The RFI specifically states EPA seeks information on B20, or 20 percent biofuel blend with diesel.

Renewable diesel, or RD, is different from biodiesel as the former is produced by a hydrotreating process, making it a hydrocarbon fuel. Because it is otherwise nearly identical to petroleum diesel, RD is a drop-in fuel alternative that diesel engine manufacturers certify for use in their engines without voiding warranties. But RD is more expensive than petroleum diesel except in California, Oregon, New Mexico and Washington, where Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits are at play.

Electric school buses are not a focus of the RFI because EPA said it has sufficient information on its infrastructure, availability and performance.

EPA added electric school buses have accounted for 90 percent of Clean School Bus Program awards to date, and the next funding round should target other allowed alternative fuels “to allow for the maximum number of affordable bus choices to fit school districts’ specific needs.”

What’s in the RFI?

EPA is asking the current availability and anticipated purchasing within the next year to five years of biodiesel, RD, E85 flex fuel, CNG, LNG, propane or any other biofuel and if those school buses are fueled at the school district facility, an offsite private fueling station, or an offsite public station. EPA also wants to know about fuel supplier arrangements.
Specifically for biodiesel and RD, EPA is asking for details on how the blends or drop-in fuels are used.

It requests information on fueling system components, pricing, construction and installation requirements, performance, domestic content, and other practical considerations.

The RFI also states EPA wants information on how it can further safeguard taxpayer dollars. The agency completed an internal review to assess financial management practices and said it uncovered inconsistent documentation, incomplete adherence to reporting an award conditions, improper or premature drawdowns of funds, and insufficient internal controls by certain awardees, including for profit recipients.

EPA said it is “evaluating additional safeguards and conditions for for-profit entities,” which includes audits of financial statements and conflict of interest policies. It is also considering verification tools or documentation to ensure appropriate bus usage and routes before funds are disbursed; milestone-based payment structures, reimbursement-only models, or phased disbursement mechanisms tied to verified delivery to reduce risk and improve accountability; and enforcement mechanisms such as repayment obligations or clawback provisions in cases of nonperformance, noncompliance, or misuse of funds.

The Clean School Bus Program is set to expire at the end of the current fiscal year, which would require the remaining $2 billion that has yet to be awarded needing to rollout over the next six months.

Public comments are due within 45 days of EPA publishing the RFI in the Federal Register. A webinar is scheduled for March 3.

---

Related: EPA ‘Revamping’ Clean School Bus Program
Related: Engine, Truck Manufacturers Support EPA Easing Derate of SCR Diesel Emissions Controls
Related: Deploying Electric School Buses in Rural and Suburban Districts

The post Updated: EPA Seeks to Expand Fuel Scope of Clean School Bus Program appeared first on School Transportation News.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated its website with a statement that a “revamped and modernized Clean School Bus Program” is coming soon.

The five-year, $5-billion fund has been on hiatus since President Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office last January, days after the application period for the 2024 Clean School Bus Rebates closed.

But funding ground to a halt, leaving hundreds of school districts waiting to see if their electric and propane school bus projects could continue.

EPA said last summer it has been working with school districts to award rebate and grant awards for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, while holding off on providing details for new funding, pending a program review. The new website statement, reiterated to School Transportation News by the EPA press office, indicates an update on the Clean School Bus Program is in the works.

“EPA is actively reviewing and revamping the Clean School Bus Program in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order Unleashing American Energy to ensure hard-earned American tax dollars are being put to the best use possible and not frivolously wasted as was often the case under the previous administration,” the statement reads. “Under Administrator [Lee] Zeldin’s leadership, EPA is committed to being exceptional stewards of taxpayer dollars and delivering measured results for American families, while still fulfilling Congressional intent. Administrator Zeldin has cancelled roughly $30 billion in wasteful grants and contracts since being confirmed as EPA Administrator. EPA anticipates providing additional information about the revamped and modernized Clean School Bus Program in the near future.”

The EPA website says 1,152 school districts have received 888 awards valued at over $2.62 billion to replace 8,236 school buses. The World Resource Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative indicates via its Electric School Bus Data Dashboard that over 2,000 of those are electric school buses in operation or on order. Electric school buses have accounted for about 95 percent of Clean School Bus Program awards to date.

---

Related: Future of Clean School Bus Program?
Related: Deploying Electric School Buses in Rural and Suburban Districts
Related: New Resource Helps Connecticut Districts Transition to Electric School Buses
Related: Transportation Director Shares How Propane Buses Benefit Special Needs Routes

The post EPA ‘Revamping’ Clean School Bus Program appeared first on School Transportation News.

The international biofuels industry has found an unlikely ally in the waste management sector. A heightened global urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) is incentivizing renewable fuels production like never before, but the International Energy Agency (IEA) recently warned of an impending feedstock shortage for biodiesel, renewable diesel and biojet (aviation fuel) production, estimated …

The post Merging Net Zero With Zero Waste: One solution to biofuel feedstock shortage appeared first on Alternative Energy HQ.