LISLE, Ill. – IC Bus® supports dealers in educating customers on funding opportunities for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program. The federal rebate program has allotted $5 billion over the next five years to replace current school buses with alternative fuel or electric vehicle (EV) models. Through customer education and grant writing support, IC Bus has helped more than 230 school districts – many of which are in high-need or low-income areas – take their first step toward electrification.
“The Clean School Bus Program prioritizes electric school bus deployments to communities that will experience the most positive impact,” said Trish Reed, vice president and general manager, IC Bus. “IC Bus is committed to ensuring customers have the necessary resources to obtain the funding needed in their transition to electric. This starts with supporting our dealer network with EV and grant education.”
IC Bus began educating dealers in early 2022 on their critical role in supporting the EV transition. Dealers have aided customers in funding opportunities, charging infrastructure, route analysis and overall EV education.
Cumberland, an IC Bus® dealer based in Nashville, Tennessee, worked with 19 customers to identify nearly 60 eligible buses for the EPA Clean School Bus Program rebate funding.
Ashley Scurlock, bus account manager at Cumberland, approached customers when grant applications opened. Over the course of the next few months, Scurlock met with school boards, transportation directors and district superintendents to educate them and answer all the questions they had surrounding electric buses.
Other customer education initiatives that Scurlock and the Cumberland team conducted included meeting with area utility companies to understand charging infrastructure needs, hosting the NEXT Experience trailer for educational and demonstration sessions, holding IC Bus® Electric CE Series school bus ride and drives, and inviting potential electric bus customers to see the delivery process.
“The key is to make the process simple for every stakeholder to understand, dispel the myths and reassure our customers that we will be there to help them through the unknowns,” said Scurlock. “The education portion of this process is vital in obtaining customer buy-in and making them comfortable with the change.”
Now that the initial round of funding has been announced, IC Bus will continue supporting customers through their entire electrification journey. Additionally, IC Bus is poised to support future rounds of grant funding.
For more information about EV grants and how to get started, download the IC Bus whitepaper, The Electric Bus Journey: Grant Funding and Beyond, and read a recently published thought leadership article, How Customers Can Begin the EV Grant Process.
About Navistar:
Navistar, Inc. (“Navistar”) is a purpose-driven company, reimagining how to deliver what matters to create more cohesive relationships, build higher-performing teams and find solutions where others don’t. Based in Lisle, Illinois, Navistar or its subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial trucks and engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial buses, all-makes OnCommand Connection advanced connectivity services, and Fleetrite, ReNEWeD and Diamond Advantage brand aftermarket parts and includes a Brazilian manufacturer of engines and gensets, MWM Motores Diesel e Geradores. With a history of innovation dating back to 1831, Navistar has more than 14,500 employees worldwide and is part of TRATON SE, a global champion of the truck and transport services industry. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com.
