SPECIAL REPORT
Electric School Buses: Optimized Routing
Written by Mark Rowh
Optimizing routes operated by electric school buses requires a multipronged approach to keep school bus drivers like Sheree Neal of Orange County Unified School District in Southern California and students from being stranded on the side of the road due to a depleted charge.
W
hether you’re a fan or critic of the elec- tric vehicle (EV) movement, there’s no denying electric buses offer some real advantages. But at least for now, impres-
sive range isn’t one of them. With distance potential affected by everything from battery basics to weather and terrain, electric school buses (ESBs) can pose chal- lenges for transportation leaders seeking to optimize their routing. According to the World Resource Institute, ESBs
typically have a range of 100 to 220 miles per charge, de- pending on the type of bus and its battery configuration. And while one manufacturer now claims a 300-mile range, that’s in perfect-world condition and still less than diesel or propane, which have more options on the open road for refueling. Given such limitations, districts venturing into the world
of electric vehicles have found it wise to embrace some strategic thinking when it comes to efficient routing.
18 School Transportation News • JUNE 2024
Living Within Limits Orange Unified School District in Southern Califor-
nia, which has been building its ESB fleet since 2021, is taking a cautious approach to adoption amid a state regulation that will require zero-emissions school bus purchases starting in 2035. The district currently has 17 electric buses in a fleet of 119. “Currently, we schedule EV buses on home-to- school routes and/or field trips that are local to our bus yard,” said Christina Celeste-Russo, director of transpor- tation. “This allows our drivers to become familiar with each bus and the range and battery life. It also allows drivers to provide feedback to management staff on how each bus performs.” She noted that terrain, ambient temperatures, bus
weight and the number of stops on a route can affect the battery life on electric buses. For example, steeper inclines will dictate energy demands that may cause energy loss within the electric drive system. These
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