San Diego Schools to Expand Electric Bus Fleet

News Summary

The San Diego Unified School District is set to triple its electric bus fleet by the 2026-27 school year, enhancing sustainable transportation for over 5,000 students daily. The district’s ambitious initiative includes rigorous maintenance, retrofitting older buses, and securing nearly $10 million in grants for new electric buses and charging infrastructure. This move aligns with California’s environmental goals and aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving student health and safety.

San Diego – In a significant move towards sustainable transportation, the San Diego Unified School District is preparing to triple its electric bus fleet by the 2026-27 school year. Currently, the district operates just 13 electric buses, which serve more than 5,000 students each day across its extensive network of over 1,300 bus routes, including those for field trips, athletic events, and various extracurricular activities.

The school district is focused on implementing rigorous maintenance routines for its entire fleet of more than 400 buses. A team of 15 technicians diligently performs engine assessments, oil changes, brake inspections, and tire installations, with the summer months designated as peak periods for repairs. Additionally, older, traditional buses are being retrofitted with modern technology, including GPS tracking, enhanced video surveillance, onboard communication systems, and a Child Check System to improve safety.

Electric buses are recharged at the district transportation center and typically travel around 70 miles on morning routes, returning with approximately 30% battery charge before recharging for afternoon runs. The cost of each electric school bus is around $370,000, which is more than three times the price of a conventional diesel bus. Despite this significant investment, the district has secured nearly $10 million in grants since 2020 to help acquire additional electric buses and the necessary charging infrastructure.

In line with California’s environmental goals, the state has allocated $500 million to support zero-emission school buses and charging stations for 133 school districts and transportation agencies. The San Diego Unified School District is the largest recipient of this funding and will receive specific grants for 50 new electric buses and accompanying charging facilities. The Zero-Emissions School Bus and Infrastructure project, funded through the state’s general fund, mandates that recipients must scrap one internal combustion engine bus for every new zero-emission bus they receive.

This investment in electric buses is part of a broader effort to address public health concerns, as diesel bus exhaust has been linked to serious health and developmental issues in children, particularly those in low-income neighborhoods. San Diego Unified aims to contribute to California’s ambitious goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, even though currently, less than 10% of students utilize electric buses. The introduction of these new electric buses is projected to eliminate approximately 18,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

California law requires that all newly purchased or contracted school buses must be zero-emission by the year 2035. As part of this transition, the state has already seen around 12,000 electric school buses either committed, funded, ordered, or delivered across the country. Governor Gavin Newsom has highlighted the importance of investing in zero-emission vehicles as a step toward creating a healthier future for students.

The initiative aligns with Senate Bill 114, which allocated $500 million for the Zero-Emissions School Bus and Infrastructure project, dividing funds into $375 million for purchasing electric buses and $125 million for the necessary infrastructure upgrades. The successful rollout of electric buses is seen as a crucial component in meeting environmental and public health goals, particularly in urban areas heavily impacted by air pollution.

As the San Diego Unified School District works to increase the number of electric buses from 13 to nearly 100 in the coming years, the emphasis is placed not only on environmental sustainability but also on the health and well-being of its student population. The district’s comprehensive approach to modernizing its bus fleet aims to enhance safety while fostering a smarter, cleaner, and more efficient transportation network for the students it serves.

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Additional Resources

• Mass Transit Magazine: MTS Electric Fleet Surpasses 1 Million Miles
• Axios: Electric School Buses in San Diego Unified
• San Diego Union Tribune: State Money for Zero-Emission School Buses
• Fox 5 San Diego: NCTD Breaks Ground on Electric Bus Fueling Station
• GovTech: Electric School Bus Maker Lion Likely to be Liquidated
• Wikipedia: Electric Bus
• Google Search: Electric School Buses California
• Google Scholar: Electric School Buses
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Electric Bus
• Google News: Electric School Buses San Diego