search.noResults

search.searching

dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
and lawsuits commenced, the plan has been drastically scaled back. Still, Ott said he is hopeful for the cost savings and other benefits that electric buses can provide the district. Ott explained that he wants


to prepare infrastructure to charge up to 40 buses. The district is acquiring 10 electric buses through state grants, but “you want to look at where you are today and where you want to be in five years,” Ott added. Smart technology would


…There’s a big


allow the district to be able to schedule the buses to charge during times of low demand and in sequence. That way, not too many buses would be charging at the same time—even if they are all plugged in. Ott said the district is working with the company EV Connect on smart charging software. “We know what our needs are, based on the engineer’s


difference in price. You really need to study how important some of the data features are, before you jump in and purchase these intelligent features.” —Steven Russell, Massachusetts


Department of Energy Resources, on choosing electric chargers for school buses


charges, where customer electric bills are based on their highest single spikes in use, Russell noted. But for a small fleet, it would matter less. While smart electric chargers can cost $4,000 to $5,000, Russell said a “dumb charger” could cost under $1,000. “So, there’s a big difference


in price. You really need to study how important some of the data features are before you jump in and purchase these intelligent features,” he added. In Nevada, Nathaniel Nor-


land of Clark County School District in Las Vegas said he would like to purchase smart systems with keyless fuel- ing, plus data collection and


recommendations. But in real life, will what the engineer says is going to happen, actually happen?” he asked. “The smart charging technology will allow us to connect buses and charge as needed, and hopefully work within a time frame that’s the least expensive.” Meanwhile, on the other coast, the alternative trans-


portation program coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, Steve Russell, works with schools to select and install electric charging stations. “They’d want to look at whether they purchase a smart


charger or a regular charger that turns on when you plug it in,” said Russell, who spoke on electric school buses at last month’s STN EXPO Reno. “There’s a difference in cost. But the smart charger can tell you how much electricity is being used. It notifies you if the bus driver forgets to plug it in. Someone gets an email saying, ‘Hey I’m not charging,’ so you don’t wake up with no juice in your bus.”


Peak Demand Charge Concerns Scheduled smart charging could be particularly important for larger fleets in areas with peak demand


sharing for his district. But money is too tight, which is a significant issue for many districts. He said the systems he has in mind would cost about $350 per bus. However, the district has over 2,000 buses, which makes it one of the biggest fleets in the country. “That’s one thing I’d love to do at our site,” Norland


commented. “But due to cost constraints, we can’t do it right now,” he sighed. “It’s always a wish item. If we have funding for it, I would love to have it, but funding always comes up [short].” Meanwhile, he noted, drivers are used to fuel keys and


might not be eager to switch. “They’ve been doing it for 20-plus years [that way],” he added. In northern California, Katie Delano said she would


similarly like to purchase electric buses with smart charging for the Coalinga-Huron Unified School District. While diesel buses generally fuel at their home location, where smart fueling infrastructure would be in place, she pointed out that electric buses might need to charge while on the road. “We’re in a rural area, so we’re hoping there will be some other school districts that put in at least one” smart electric charger, she said. “If we can drive the electric bus there, we can charge during the sports game or activity, then drive home. That’s my long-term dream and goal.” ●


28 School Transportation News • AUGUST 2019


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52