A small school district in east Texas is the first in the state to replace its diesel school bus fleet with no-emission electric buses. Martinsville ISD in Nacogdoches County received a grant of $1.6 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is investing $5 billion in its clean school bus program. Martinsville ISD began running morning and afternoon bus routes with its four new buses in late October.
Texas Tribune said EPA has awarded grants to 376 school districts, including 11 in Texas, in its clean school bus program. Tribune said up-front costs for electric buses can be cost prohibitive for many school districts because an electric bus costs $400,000 (three or four times more than a diesel bus). An electric bus can travel about 100 miles before it needs to be recharged. The school continues to use diesel buses for longer field trips and athletics events. Martinsville also received charging infrastructure.