About Us

Driving school bus electrification forward, together!

Welcome to CALSTART, the national pioneer in clean transportation technology solutions. As a not-for-profit consortium, we lead the market in developing innovative and sustainable transportation alternatives. With a robust network of over 300 member organizations, CALSTART collaborates seamlessly with OEMs, suppliers, transportation providers, utilities, government agencies, and NGOs to accelerate the adoption of advanced vehicle technology. 

Since our establishment in 1992, CALSTART boasts over 30 years of experience supporting the transportation industry with cutting-edge vehicle technologies and groundbreaking infrastructure solutions. We are committed to driving change and fostering a cleaner, more sustainable future.

What We Do

At CALSTART, we’re catalysts for change and work with our vast stakeholder network to lead the charge in moving the zero-emission vehicle industry forward. Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles and ease the transition through public policy, incentive administration, technical assistance, and tool development.   

Our School Bus Team at CALSTART specialized in electric school bus adoption by helping fleets at each stage in the process and connecting them with the resources necessary to make their deployment a success. As a non-profit organization, our team is an independent third party that can help fleets better understand their options and opportunities so they can make the decisions that are right for them.  

Meet the Team

  • Headshot of Rachel Chard

    Rachel Chard

  • Headshot of Alise Crippen

    Alise Crippen

  • Headshot of Ian Fried

    Ian Fried

  • Headshot of Liza Walsh

    Liza Walsh

  • Headshot of Katelyn Tomaszewski

    Katelyn Tomaszewski

  • Headshot of Sarah Stalcup-Jones

    Sarah Stalcup-Jones

  • Headshot of Michelle Hanson

    Michelle Hanson

  • Headshot of Crystal Ales

    Crystal Ales

  • Headshot of Emily Gasca

    Emily Gasca

  • Headshot of Juan Espinoza

    Juan Espinoza

  • Headshot of Skyler Potocek

    Skyler Potocek

  • Headshot of Ibraheem Ameer

    Ibraheem Ameer

Electric School Bus Network

Join CALSTART’s Electric School Bus Network and participate in our Electric School Bus Forum meetings where we will discuss funding opportunities, address challenges impacting the industry, and provide accessible resources to support your transition as you electrify your school bus fleet. 

Tools & Resources – Our suite of tools, including a comprehensive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculator, insightful “Zeroing on ESBs” white paper, and the innovative Zero Emissions Technology Inventory Tool (ZETI), are designed to guide fleet operators smoothly on the road to electrification. 

Market Insights – Stay ahead of the curve with our market insights. Tap into CALSTART’s extensive industry network to explore the latest in electric school bus technology and gain unique perspectives that will inform your fleet transition strategy. 

Connect With Peers – Connect, collaborate, and share experiences with fellow educators at our ESB Network Forum meetings. It’s a space to meet other districts on the same electrification journey and industry experts who can help you navigate any challenges along the way. 

Funding Updates – Don’t miss out on funding opportunities that can make electrification a reality for your fleet. Our customized funding updates provide you with the latest information to help you access the resources you need to power your transition to electric school buses. 

Our Partner

Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP)

California’s HVIP, initiated in 2009 by the California Air Resources Board, is a groundbreaking project under California Climate Investments. This pioneering initiative accelerates the deployment of zero-emission and near-zero-emission technologies by providing point-of-sale vouchers, making advanced vehicles more affordable. As the earliest model in the U.S., HVIP demonstrates the success of first-come, first-served incentives, effectively reducing the incremental cost of commercial vehicles.