At our most recent Clean Fleets Work Group meeting, members took a step back from the daily noise to ask a simple question: What’s actually going right in the bus space right now?
The answer was encouraging. Despite shifting federal priorities and an uneven incentive landscape, clean buses remain one of the clearest bright spots in Michigan’s clean mobility transition. Vehicles are being deployed, manufacturing capacity is expanding, and fleets are moving from planning to implementation.
This is exactly the kind of practical, forward-looking discussion that happens inside our member-only work groups. We wanted to share a snapshot of that conversation more broadly.
Michigan’s Clean School Bus Progress Is Tangible
Michigan continues to show strong momentum in clean school buses. In October, the Michigan Department of Education and EGLE announced $35.9 million in Clean School Bus Grants to support 87 electric school buses, 10 propane buses, and 23 school districts statewide. To date, the CBEG program has awarded $81 million, with applications expected soon for a final round of approximately $44 million.
Adoption data reinforce this momentum, with 404 electric school buses committed in Michigan through Q3 of 2025. Pontiac City School District leads the state with 40 operational electric school buses, moving Michigan firmly beyond pilot territory.
Across Michigan, fleets are moving forward with electric, propane, and other clean fuel buses, choosing technologies based on routes, infrastructure, and readiness rather than waiting for a single perfect solution.
The Market Is Stronger Than Two Years Ago
From a technology and supply-chain perspective, the bus market is in a much better place.
- There are now more than 20 electric school bus models available.
- Propane buses remain widely available and proven, offering a lower-emissions, lower-cost pathway for districts looking to quickly replace aging diesel buses, particularly where electric infrastructure upgrades may take more time.
- Hydrogen fuel cell buses continue to advance, especially for longer routes and high-utilization applications. Flint MTA has long been a leader in hydrogen transit, and Detroit and Ann Arbor have hydrogen buses on order.
Manufacturing and technology are also improving:
- OEMs continue to expand production capacity across electric and alternative fuel platforms.
- Charging and fueling solutions are becoming more flexible, including above-ground, no-trenching charging options that can significantly reduce deployment timelines for electric fleets.
- For propane and hydrogen, fueling infrastructure is increasingly modular and scalable, helping align investments with phased fleet deployments.
Members also expect a surge of orders tied to state awards, particularly from California, which should help keep manufacturing lines active and costs competitive.
2026 Is the Year of Implementation
The consensus across the group was that 2026 will be less about new announcements and more about making projects work. Key needs identified by members include:
- Support for school districts and fleets that have already received grant funding
- Practical workshops focused on real-world deployment challenges
- Ensuring vehicles, chargers, and software systems communicate effectively
- implementing grant dollars responsibly and visibly
Strong deployments now will directly support future policy campaigns requesting additional funding for clean bus deployments.
Why This Matters for Michigan
The bus space shows what’s possible when policy, technology, and on-the-ground implementation align. Michigan is not starting from scratch. We have buses on the road, chargers installed, manufacturers investing, and fleets learning by doing.
It is crucial to continue sharing positive, credible stories. This isn’t merely for marketing purposes, but to provide concrete evidence that these investments are generating value for taxpayers, utilities, and the communities they serve.
That’s exactly the role our Clean Fleets Work Group plays: bringing together practitioners to learn from each other and move the market forward. If you’re interested in joining these conversations, we’d love to have you join us. Reach out to Jane for more information.
Thank you to our members who provided background information for this blog, especially Carolyn Bido with the Electrification Coalition, who provided key statistics and resource links.