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WITH OUR DPFS Beaverton also has 65 clean-burning propane buses using renewable
propane. While the district plans to replace 225 diesel-powered buses with ESBs and propane-powered buses, some will be retained for long-distance field trips and athletic events. The district uses renewable diesel fuel, noting its higher cost is expected to drop as its supply expands. That plan may be revisited if future battery technology improves to ex- tend the distances ESBs can travel on a single charge. Molly Hale, marketing communications manager for Cummins’ Accelera
zero-emissions business, noted Blue Bird has the company’s integrated powertrain, the PowerDrive 7000, that includes the BP97E battery, assem- bled in Columbus, Indiana, at its main manufacturing facility. “Additionally, Thomas Built Buses recently announced the launch of their
new Jouley Gen 2 bus with the new addition of our 14Xe eAxle and ELFA inverter,” she said. “We are pleased to be partnering with two major school bus OEMs and are excited to see the success of these buses gaining mo- mentum and adoption. Blue Bird has delivered more than 2,000 ESBs with our powertrain.” As speed bumps increase on the path to school districts incorporating
more ESBs into their fleets, districts are pursuing a variety of approaches, such as this pilot project in New Mexico, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ESB manufacturer GreenPower Motor Company. The state will seek an appropriation of $5 million to conduct a pilot
program funding the purchase of ESBs, charging station installations and management costs.
Rolling with the Punches Uncertainty over the future of ESB funding has affected many school
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districts, including the Ritenour School District in Overland, Missouri. The district on Feb. 4 announced the arrival of the first three Thomas Built Buses Jouleys of a 24-ESB fleet funded by a nearly $9.5 million EPA Clean School Bus Program grant sought to replace 24 diesel buses. The district announced 24 new charging stations as well. However, the
district indicated uncertainty over receiving the remaining 21 ESBs from the Clean School Bus Program due to its funding pauses. Brooks McQuinn, transportation director for the Malone Central School
District in Malone, New York, noted the district has four ESBs and had received the EPA grant. The district received $1.4 million dollars for the pur- chase of the buses and chargers, covering most of the project cost. McQuinn pointed out existing infrastructure accommodated the char- gers. The district also has its own lot and inside storage space for the buses. The district’s fleet includes 43 65-passenger buses fueled by propane, gas, diesel and now the four ESBs. “We cover 386 square miles in this district, with a lot of different ter-
rain,” said McQuinn. “We have used propane buses for years because it was a cleaner source of fuel, and we get tax credit for that fuel type. We have geared to gasoline engines due to the size of our district and sport- ing events. We have phased out our diesels and only have three left.” McQuinn noted the district is surprised the power capability of the ESBs
is limited to about 75 miles a day. “We have also not had a very cold winter here since we received these buses last March,” he added. “Our winters here can hit 30 degrees below [zero]. Overall, [ESBs] have a place in this district, but we certainly cannot meet the [state of New York] deadlines of 2035 for a complete EV bus world.” McQuinn said the cost of a propane- or gasoline bus is about $185,000, in- cluding added options. The ESB costs about $465,000 and has limited options.
24 School Transportation News • APRIL 2025
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