California District Commits to Electrify 25% of School Bus Fleet by 2028

One of the nation's largest school bus electrification projects to date demonstrates how grants, charging infrastructure, and public-private partnerships can help fleets transition to EVs at scale.

by Elora Haynes

August 12, 2026

Three speakers participate in a panel discussion at the Road to 2028 Summit Series. A man in a gray suit speaks into a microphone while two other panelists listen on stage beneath a "Road to 2028 Summit Series" sign. — Road to 2028 Co-Chairs Russell Westbrook and Matt Petersen kick off the Road to 2028 Summit with a fireside chat moderated by TIME Senior Correspondent Justin Worland, July 14, 2026.
Credit:
LACI

1 min to read

A California district plans to electrify 25% of its school bus fleet by 2028, marking a significant commitment to sustainability.
The project is among the largest school bus electrification initiatives in the nation, showcasing a model for large-scale EV transitions.
The effort relies on grants, charging infrastructure, and public-private partnerships to facilitate the shift to electric vehicles.

*Summarized by AI

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has committed to electrifying 25% of its yellow school bus fleet by 2028 as part of a broader series of climate commitments announced by the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI).

Under the initiative, LAUSD plans to purchase 329 electric school buses and 329 charging stations by 2028, making it one of the nation's largest school bus electrification efforts to date. To support the transition, LACI, LAUSD, and Highland Electric were recently awarded a $2.93 million grant from the California Energy Commission.

The commitment is part of LACI's Road to 2028 initiative to mobilize nearly $600 million in climate-related investments, which is accelerating transportation electrification and clean energy projects ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

The initiative builds on LACI's public-private Transportation Electrification Partnership and Clean Energy Partnership, which aim to advance electrification projects, pilot programs, and policies that support cleaner transportation, job creation, and economic growth across the region.

Topics:zero emissions public-private partnerships school bus fleet grants Electric Vehicles