One of the biggest school districts in the US, the Montgomery County Public Schools, has deployed the single largest electric school bus fleet in the whole country, according to Electrek.
(Photo : Win McNamee/Getty Images)
CULPEPER, VIRGINIA - AUGUST 23: Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) steps off new electric powered school bus while highlighting the benefits of recently passed federal infrastructure legislation August 23, 2022 in Culpeper, Virginia. Spanberger is running against Republican candidate Vesli Vega in Virginia's 7th congressional district.
The delivery of the first 25 electric buses occurred last year, along with the installation of electric infrastructure at one of its transportation depots. Now, they added 61 more electric buses to their fleet.
This is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools' plan to replace 326 diesel school buses with electric school buses by 2025. In ten years' time, it will have a full electric school bus fleet.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda with Highland Electric Fleets.
Highland Electric Fleets design and organizes electric school bus projects for school districts. They also create a subscription plan that includes chargers, buses, and depot improvements. The company also procures electric school buses and manages the construction of depot upgrades within school districts.
The Buses
Every school district gets to choose which make and model of electric school buses they want. Currently, Montgomery County has chosen Thomas Built electric school buses. Some are Type C, with a 226 kWh standard battery capacity, while some are Type A, which is smaller.
Demand for Electric School Buses
The demand for electric buses has grown tremendously in just the last two years. They are popular thanks to the assistance of state, local, and federal grants as well as incentives. Plus, zero-emission school buses have grown popular among both politicians and the public.
While these buses are a great milestone for the environment, it is also a reflection of how much public demand there is for the buses. People want them and are willing to help pay for them. School districts are listening and answering.
Because of this demand, school districts have to be selective of the buses they buy. Not only are they more expensive, but not all electric school buses are created equal. Some are way more efficient than others. The internal design and make-up of the buses can greatly affect their efficiency and cost.
What's Next?
While a single school district converting to electric buses is a great milestone to celebrate, the real celebration only occurs when enough school districts do the same thing. This is important because it sends a message to the school bus industry that electric buses are here to stay.
If enough school districts convert, the school bus industry will have no choice but to make electric school buses the norm. That means no diesel buses in school districts. This not only greatly reduces air pollution but also greatly reduces noise pollution.
Related Article: These Electric School Buses Send 80 Hours of Energy to Power Massachusett's Grid
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Written by April Fowell
