According to the Environmental Law and Policy Center, about 16 school districts across Iowa have received grants to incorporate electric school buses into their fleets. School districts across Iowa combined own about 46 electric buses, whereas the Sioux City School District owns 15 alone. Siouxland Public Media spoke with Tim Paul, director of operations and maintenance for the school district, and Doug Stewart, the transportation supervisor. We go over the savings the electric buses have provided, some expectations they may have for the future, and some expenses that come along with them.
In January 2024, the school district received about a $6 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to purchase the 15 electric buses. Other school districts, including Akron-Westfield and West Sioux, also received grants to purchase electric buses. According to the EPA, Akron-Westfield received $400,000 to buy two electric buses. It also says that West Sioux received $790,000 to help purchase their two electric buses.
According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the average diesel prices on March 4th, 2026, were at $3.90 per gallon, and on May 6th, 2026, they were at an average of $5.40 per gallon. According to Kerlin Bus Sales and Leasing, the average costs of fuel for diesel buses range between $5,200 and $7,500 per school year. Now we listen to Stewart explain what the buses are like during the wintertime and what expectations they have for the buses next winter.
According to the Electric School Bus Initiative, the average electric school bus batteries last about 12 to 15 years; that’s 100 to 300 miles per charge. It also says that batteries degrade 1.5 percent to 2 percent per year, adding that most buses that retire are due to structural reasons before the battery ever needs to be replaced.
According to the school district website, about 3,500 to 3,800 use the bus system during the school year. The district operates a fleet of about 70 buses across 48 routes, including the electric buses.
As gas prices continue to rise, the electric buses will continue to help the district with saving costs on fuel. The school district plans to continue diversifying its transportation system and has done so over the past few years. I spoke with Tim Paul, director of maintenance and operations, and Doug Stewart, transportation supervisor. We discussed the savings from the electric buses, expectations they have for the buses, and expenses that come along with them.
