“Is it running?”
USD 257 Transportation Director Aaron Cole says this is a frequent question when people first see the district’s new electric buses in action. “They are very quiet,” he said, compared to the traditional diesel models.
Thanks to a $690,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USD 257 has adopted clean energy for its school transportation. The district used the funding to purchase two electric buses, along with a dual charging station. The grant was made possible by the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, which was created through former President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The initiative, designed to modernize the nation’s school bus fleet, prioritizes electric vehicles (EVs) in an effort to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
“The EPA grant allowed us to buy the electric buses for about half the cost of a traditional diesel bus,” Cole said. Without this support, the district would have found it financially challenging to adopt EV buses. The district’s contribution to the initiative was $70,772. 
The grant comes in the form of a rebate — the district paid the cost up-front and will be reimbursed. Cole noted the reimbursement is currently in process and is not expected to be affected by the federal funding freeze by the Trump administration. “It was awarded in 2023, so we don’t foresee any issues,” he said.
The EPA’s Clean School Bus Program was part of a larger $5 billion funding effort to reduce harmful emissions from school buses. The goal is to replace outdated diesel buses with electric buses that produce zero-tailpipe emissions. The program also funds propane and compressed natural gas buses, which also provide cleaner alternatives to the traditional diesel fleet.
As part of the terms of the grant, USD 257 had to promise to decommission two of its diesel buses by putting a hole in the engine block. Cole noted that this has to be done by November 2025 and they will likely do so this summer.
THE NEW electric buses have already begun serving the students of USD 257. After being delivered at the end of 2024, the buses were put into service in mid-January. The district has transitioned one of their drivers to operate the electric buses, and Cole reports that they’ve been running smoothly, with only minor issues such as a few cold weather-related disruptions.
During the last winter storm, Cole noted the extreme cold posed challenges for the buses’ batteries and charging stations, causing a few days of downtime. “The cold affects the batteries and the charging station, which slows down the charging process,” he explained. Still, with approximately 22-mile routes for the buses in the morning, the electric buses are able to charge fully within an hour, giving them ample time to recharge during the school day.
“We’ve had no significant issues with the buses — just your typical, routine maintenance,” Cole said.
CITY OFFICIALS worked alongside the district to install the necessary electrical infrastructure to accommodate the charging station. Located on the southeast side of the bus lot, the station was supplied by InCharge Energy Inc. and is intended to ensure the buses remain powered for their daily routes.
Despite the initial success, Cole is realistic about the future of electric buses within the district. The high price of EV buses — approximately $385,000 each — compared to diesel buses that cost around $130,000, makes further expansion difficult, especially as rebate funding from the EPA becomes limited. Cole emphasized that while the district hopes to continue making eco-friendly choices, they don’t foresee purchasing more electric buses without additional financial support.
“Without the rebates, I don’t think it will be feasible for us to get more EV buses,” he said. “The program funding is starting to dwindle.”
Cole also mentioned that while the electric buses have a range of about 80 miles per charge, they won’t be used for long-distance trips unless other schools in the area develop their own charging infrastructure. The district has made provisions for nearby schools by allowing them to use their charging station. The system tracks usage and will bill those schools accordingly.
Overall, Cole and the district are pleased with the performance of the new electric buses. Both drivers and students are adjusting well to the quieter ride, and the reduced emissions are in line with the district’s commitment to sustainability. For now, the two electric buses in Iola serve as a step forward for USD 257 and a glimpse into a cleaner, more sustainable future for school transportation.
