On Feb. 8, 2024, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of $1.5 billion in funding through the Low or No Emission Grant Program and the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Grant Program.
The Low-No Program provides funding to state and local government authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, as well as the acquisition, construction and lease of required supporting facilities. The Buses and Bus Facilities Program assists in the financing of capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, purchase or lease buses or related equipment.
Grant proposals for this round of FTA funding must be submitted by April 25. Visit the FTA website to learn more about these funding opportunities.
Things to consider before applying
The FTA welcomes applicants to apply for either one of the grant opportunities or both. However, there are a few key points to consider before you apply.
- Specified vendors. The application for the Low or No Emission Grant Program allows you to name preferred bus and charging solution vendors (such as ChargePoint) in your proposal. If awarded funding, the award itself fulfills the federal competitive procurement requirement; grantees can simply engage with their chosen vendor to begin work on their project without going through the lengthy bidding process and saving time on project execution. Be aware that the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program does not allow applicants to specify vendors in this way.
Interoperability between bus manufacturers, EV charging solution providers and software vendors is critical to a successful transition to electric. Be sure to select partners with the experience and resources needed to ensure everything works together seamlessly.
- Buy America. All deployed charging infrastructure must be Buy America-compliant (which all ChargePoint DC fast solutions are, by the way).
- Work timelines. Project costs incurred prior to award selection are ineligible for reimbursement. Grant applicants should not begin project work before receiving a grant award.
- Additional funding. These FTA funds can be stacked with most other local, state and utility funds. Plan ahead and combine programs to help reduce your overall costs. ChargePoint experts can help you understand what additional funds are available in your region.
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Project planning. For projects related to the deployment of zero-emission buses or equipment, applicants must submit a Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan. Work with an experienced electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) provider to ensure your plan meets your organization’s goals as well as award program requirements.
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Workforce development. Applicants proposing projects related to zero-emission vehicles must spend 5% of their award on workforce development.
Bring it all together
With so many moving pieces, from funding research and planning to electric bus delivery to EV charging make-ready and implementation, it’s critical to find a partner who can guide you along your journey and ensure that resources and project timelines align. ChargePoint offers a reliable, flexible and future-proof solution (charging stations, software, services), available as an end-to-end package or standalone components, backed by over a decade of experience and rigorous testing standards.
