National contractor Student Transporation of America operates in about 25 states and most of the Canadian provinces.
Benish explained that Cook-Illinois has been using alternative fu-
els for a long time. Under the leadership of his father, John Benish, Sr., the company was one of the first to use compressed natural gas in the 1970s. Benish, Jr. shared that when he got involved in the company in the 1980s, gasoline buses were being converted to propane. Then, diesel took over. About 10 years ago, Cook-Illinois started transi- tioning to next-generation propane systems. Of the total 2,000 school buses in the company’s fleet, Benish said about 300 of them run on propane. The remaining buses use biodiesel blends, and in 2019 it was the first operation in the state to purchase two electric school buses. He shared that with this next round of CSBP funds, he hopes to receive a little more than 20 electric school buses. He added that believes electricity is the future but doesn’t necessarily believe the full switchover will happen in the next three to five years.
A Mandated Transition Suffolk Transportation Service is the largest contractor on Long
Island and one of the largest in the state of New York, operating about 1,000 vans and 700 school buses. The family-owned company recently purchased 11 electric school buses and is preparing to apply for the next round of the CSBP to purchase 25 more. New York is mandating that by 2027 every school bus purchased must be ze- ro-emission, and by 2035 every bus on the road is zero-emissions. Thomas W. Smith, vice president of school operations and business
development for the company, said Suffolk is currently preparing for the mandate by building data and understanding costs. For example, Suffolk is looking at potential cost savings in its shops and on the road. “We have [electric] in our fleet, so that’s preparing us to understand the technology, and being ready when electric becomes a bigger
60 School Transportation News • JULY 2023
Student Transportation of America not- ed that alternative fuels are not always available in every area, though the national contractor looks to use them when they are. The company operates in about 25 states and most of the Canadian provinces. While the primary focus is electrification, there are several large and successful propane deployments that it will continue to support. Rachel Lane, vice president of electrification and sustainability for STA, shared three main points found to be essential to realizing a successful electric deployment.
1. Positive engagement with the local
utility. It is important to contact utilities early for a clear understanding of their re- quirements for upgrades. Utilities can help by being responsive to service requests and supportive of the deployment, while pro- viding accurate timelines for upgrades. It’s always a plus if the utility offers incentives like Make-Ready programs or favorable rates for charging.
2. Support from both the school district and the local terminal. Enthusiasm for elec- trification by both parties will help promote the benefits of electrification to the local community, and participants will be more likely to proactively tackle any issues that arise.
3. A clear chain of custody for main-
tenance and support. Have firm service and maintenance plans in place from both the bus OEM and the charger provider so troubleshooting and escalation steps are understood and adhered to, and any issues are quickly resolved.
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