Lion Electric Joins EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan to Celebrate Clean School Bus Program Delivery
The Lion Electric Company is taking significant strides forward in the pursuit of a greener future, leading the charge in the school bus industry’s transition to electric power in 2022. The company recently marked a milestone with a vehicle delivery under the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, an initiative that emphasizes the reduction of children’s exposure to diesel exhaust.
Lion’s own Nate Baguio, Senior VP of Commercial Development, had the privilege of joining a roundtable discussion alongside Administrator Regan and other key leaders in the industry, utility, and school district. The delivery of clean energy vehicles to Wabaunsee Senior High School served as both a celebration of the program’s victories and a platform to deliberate on the electrification trajectory. The event further solidified Lion’s position as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) committed to environmental sustainability.
“Since last year, we have worked alongside the EPA on the Clean School Bus Program to bring reimagined school buses to communities across the country – zero-emission vehicles that provide cleaner air, improve the health of students and teachers, and reduce the maintenance and operational costs for school districts,” said Nate A. Baguio, Senior Vice President of Commercial Development. “The electrification transition is happening now and these buses that you see at Wabaunsee Senior High School are proof of this program’s impact. We’re proud to be the first school bus manufacturer to deliver all-electric EPA school buses and acknowledge how federal investments have made a significant difference for many communities.”
The detrimental impact of diesel emissions on children is a significant concern for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Diesel fumes can trigger severe respiratory diseases such as asthma, which currently impairs nearly 6.3 million children in the U.S., making it the most prevalent long-term childhood disease in the country. A recent report from the World Resources Institute highlighted that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are at a higher risk of suffering from the adverse effects of diesel pollution, with 70% of all children taking a bus to school, compared to just 50% of children from affluent families.
As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EPA is earmarking $5 billion towards clean school transportation. In the previous year, the Clean School Bus Program received close to 2,000 applications, requesting nearly $4 billion to cover over 12,000 buses. Looking ahead, the EPA has proclaimed that an additional $1 billion in funding will be made available for the fiscal year 2023, and more details regarding this year’s funding are expected to be announced shortly.
