Electric School Buses in Florida: A Breath of Fresh Air for Students and Communities

Backpacks are packed, new sneakers are laced up, and Florida students are counting down the days until school starts. From Miami to the Panhandle, over 10,000 students will step aboard a whisper-quiet, fully air-conditioned electric school bus (ESB) that represents far more than just a ride to class. For their drivers, it will welcome relief from diesel fumes, engine noise and student behavioral disruptions that once made the daily commute exhausting.

Florida has come a long way in its shift to ESBs. As of 2025, the state has committed over 500 ESBs, of which 219 are delivered or operating. Miami-Dade County Public Schools lead in the state with 150 buses committed, catapulting Florida as the regional leader and ranking 6th in the nation for ESB commitments. Broward County Public Schools follow closely behind but lead in most operational ESBs with 60 on the road dating back to 2023.

Outside of the bustling urban districts, rural districts like Glades County Schools are also joining the ESB transition, recognizing lower long-term operational and maintenance costs that can be reinvested into classrooms. “We’ve had a lot of phone calls just saying, ‘Thank you so much for putting my child’s safety at the forefront of your thoughts,'” says Daniel Thomas, Director of Administrative Services for Glades County.

Beyond the health, environmental and economic benefits, Florida school districts recognize the role ESBs can play in the hurricane prone state. The buses can play a role in disaster response by serving as giant rolling batteries during power outages, providing cooling stations, access to charge phones, Wi-Fi, and contacting insurance companies or FEMA. This is made possible through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies, which enable ESBs to supply electricity back to the power grid and vice versa. Broward County Public Schools Blue Bird buses for example are already V2G capable and can eventually generate revenue by supplying energy to the grid should they pursue coordination with local utility companies.

This revolutionary transition wouldn’t have been possible without our collective effort and coordination as clean transportation advocates. Federal investments from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program, Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program as well as tax credits have been essential in supporting Florida school districts’ transition from diesel to electric. The future of these programs remains uncertain as decision-makers continue to repeal funding and delay progress, putting school districts in a difficult position to mitigate the high upfront costs of ESBs and charging infrastructure, and jeopardizing the health of millions of Floridian students and their bus drivers.

Like any transition, electrifying a school bus fleet comes with its challenges. Still, the benefits outweigh the hurdles, so we must continue to prioritize investing in the transition to a healthy and clean future for all Floridians.

By: Carolyn Bidó, Policy Associate, Electrification Coalition