the process has taken over a year.” He shared that the next phase is going to go a little
slower, based on their location and other projects in the works. It’s expected to be completed within in the next six to seven months. Harris added that he was future-proofing during Phase 1 of the infrastructure implementation, noting that it’s important to not only consider current needs but also the those in the future. That is why the district purchased six chargers at once. The district is also running propane school buses and has infrastructure on-site as well. In Michigan, Schrader added that Three Rivers is planning to add more electric buses to its fleet through grants, one of which is from the state of Michigan. She said she’s also working with utility American Electric Power on developing a pilot program for funding the charging infrastructure or purchasing the buses. She noted that when they started the electric journey,
chargers weren’t as available as they are now, so the dis- trict selected Level 2 ClipperCreek chargers. Sometimes the electric buses run upwards of 100 miles a day, and in that case, they are plugged in for a couple hours in
the middle of the day to replenish the battery. However, she noted a negotiated tariff with the utility substantially reduced the rate for overnight charging. Plus, Three River’s new transportation facility is just
about complete, after breaking ground last summer. In analyzing future needs, the district purchased an addi- tional four electric chargers and is moving its original two chargers to that site as well. When upgrading the facility, Three Rivers ran lines capable of charging up to 20 EVs. Right now, the district is currently running a total of 24 school buses. “This is the perfect opportunity to plan ahead and not
pedal backwards when the time came,” Schrader said. Zum’s Garg added that executing a successful large fleet implementation requires utility coordination, financing, lead-time on bus and charging equipment procurement, and stakeholder engagement. “Early and continuous engagement with all stakeholders, in- cluding drivers, maintenance staff, families, and local administration, has been pivotal for Zum,” he said. “This collaboration helps in addressing concerns and myths about electrification and integrating useful feedback
50 School Transportation News • JUNE 2024
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