By: Richard L. Smith
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has awarded the East Orange School District a $1.7 million Electric School Bus Grant, providing funding for the purchase of five electric school buses and the installation of three charging stations.
The grant will allow the district to acquire five Type C electric buses, each with a capacity of 54 passengers, marking a major step toward cleaner and more sustainable student transportation in East Orange.
The funding is part of New Jersey’s broader effort to transition away from diesel-powered vehicles and reduce harmful emissions that impact children, school staff, and surrounding communities.
As part of the program requirements, the district has confirmed its participation in the New Jersey Fleet Advisor Program.
Through this initiative, the district will receive a customized fleet electrification roadmap, an on-site assessment of electric infrastructure needs, and ongoing technical support to assist with the transition to electric vehicles.
District officials say the grant represents the beginning of East Orange’s move toward owning its own school bus fleet while prioritizing healthier transportation options for students.
Planning, staff training, and infrastructure development will now begin to support the rollout of the new electric buses.
City leaders also highlighted the grant as a significant investment in East Orange’s clean energy future, noting that the addition of zero-emission buses will help improve air quality while strengthening sustainability efforts across the city.
The Electric School Bus Grant Program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and funded through the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Fund.
The program was authorized by legislation signed in 2022 by Phil Murphy and provides up to $45 million over three years to replace diesel school buses with battery-electric alternatives, including the necessary charging infrastructure.
State officials say the grant aligns with New Jersey’s Electric School Bus Law, which is designed to accelerate the transition to zero-emission transportation while improving public health and environmental outcomes in local communities.
The funding will also support the district’s goal of expanding transportation services for students who attend schools outside their immediate neighborhoods, as well as for athletics and extracurricular programs that require travel beyond city limits.
The Fleet Advisor analysis is expected to be completed by the end of January 2026.
Production of the electric buses and installation of the charging stations are scheduled to take place over the next year.