Mass. Pushing Adoption Of Electric School Buses

The Patrick administration is unveiling the launch of an electric school bus pilot program as part of a renewed push to support alternative fuel vehicles in Massachusetts.

As part of the initiative, the administration will provide $1.8 million in grants for eight electric school buses. Districts across the state can apply for one of the buses.

Electric school buses have energy storage capability and can also serve as backup energy resources during natural disasters and similar events.

The administration is also pushing to increase the number of publicly accessible charging stations and to replace or convert more than 200 public and private fleet vehicles currently powered by gasoline and diesel with vehicles fueled by natural gas, propane, electricity, solar electric and hybrid technologies.

The ongoing push for electric cars is intended to help ease reliance on fossil fuels.