The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and California Energy Commission (CEC) have launched the Zero-Emission School Bus and Infrastructure (ZESBI) program to promote the adoption of zero-emission school buses and supporting infrastructure in California.
Program Details
| Program Status |
Open |
| Program Type |
State |
| End Date |
September 30, 2024 |
Applicant Prioritization
Applicants will be prioritized in the following order:
- Tier 1: Small or rural school districts, or applicants serving a high percentage of unduplicated pupils.
- Tier 2: Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) and Low-Income Communities (LIC) areas.
- Tier 3: All other applicants.
Eligibility
- Applicants must receive a grant for a new school bus to apply for infrastructure.
- Eligible applicants include:
- California public school districts
- California County Offices of Education (COE)
- California Joint Powers Authority (JPA)
- California Public Charter Schools (Not eligible if designated as a “nonclassroom-based charter school” as of FY 21–22)
Infrastructure Rebates
| Charger Type |
Rebate Type |
Maximum Rebate |
| Level 2 Charger |
Prescriptive |
Lesser of $20,000 per Charger OR 100% of Project Cost |
| DCFC Charger |
Prescriptive |
Lesser of $75,000 per Charger OR 100% of Project Cost |
| DCFC Bi-directional Charger |
Prescriptive |
Lesser of $95,000 per Charger OR 100% of Project Cost |
Additional Information
- One charger will be awarded per each ZESBI-funded school bus.
- Applicants cannot apply for infrastructure only.
- Maximum infrastructure award of $75,000 per school bus (increased to $95,000 for DCFC Bi-directional Chargers).
- Infrastructure must be installed in a fleet application.
