Electric School Buses

Carbon neutral student transportation.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to providing carbon neutral student transportation by 2035. 

Having electric school buses in our fleet is consistent with the Fairfax County Joint Environmental Task Force’s goal to become carbon neutral.  This is a great step forward for FCPS and it underscores our commitment to being an environmentally responsible community.

FCPS is part of the Fairfax County Joint Environmental Task Force (JET), which was formed to address climate change and environmental sustainability proactively and collaboratively in Fairfax County.  The JET is composed of representatives from both the Board of Supervisors and the School Board, and community partners from higher education, industry, and community and student advocacy groups.  One of the JET’s goals is for FCPS to transition to electric or zero-carbon alternatives for school buses and eligible fleet vehicles by 2035.

FCPS currently has eight electric buses, which are already operational, and help transport more than 141,000 eligible bus riders to and from school each day. 

FCPS was chosen to receive the buses in a competitive process after applying for a grant from Dominion Energy in fall 2019.  Dominion Energy covers the difference in cost so that school districts pay no more for electric buses than they would for diesel models. The required charging infrastructure has been installed and is maintained by Dominion at the Stonecroft Transportation Center.

FCPS applied for and received another grant from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for an additional 10 electric buses and should receive them this summer 2022.