electric school buses. Even when it is shown that the operational cost is less expensive than conventional gas-powered school buses, the initial cash outlay can be daunting. New electric buses can cost anywhere from $350,000 to $415,000 each, not including char- gers, whereas diesel counterparts are priced around $100,000 to $110,000. To resolve this dilemma and address student health and the environmental concerns, utilities and energy management companies are partnering to devel- op programs that assist school districts by paying the lion’s share of the upfront purchase cost, up to $250,000. School districts then pay the balance, which is roughly the same amount they would have paid for a diesel bus. That cost can be covered by grants from state environmental agencies and energy commissions. Grant amounts and eligibility require- ments vary from state to state. Dominion Energy’s Birdsong said that Virginia school districts pay about $100,000 for an electric bus and the utility picks up the rest of the tab, includ- ing the chargers and their installation. “Dominion’s
idea is to reduce the carbon footprint of the bus and reduce greenhouse gases,” Birdsong said. “The air quality on an electric bus is five to six times better than on a diesel bus. The program is popular among residential customers and the school districts are ec- static because they are getting these buses that they would never be able to afford on their own.” Birdsong said his innovation team handles in-
quiries from school districts and utility companies across the country every day. “They are interested in duplicating our program,” he said. One aspect of the initiative that Dominion shares
with other like-minded energy companies is the poten- tial to store reserve energy in the batteries of the electric buses that can be distributed back to the power grid in emergencies to reduce generation costs and rates. The details of a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) arrangement
are still being worked out between school districts and energy companies. The obstacles of the arrangement were discussed last month during the virtual Green Bus Summit. ●
—Art Gissendaner
Arrive safe and on time.
Onspot provides extra starting and stopping traction in slippery conditions. With Onspot you can reduce the risk of sliding at a bus stop or getting stuck simply by flipping a switch.
December 4-9, 2021 Peppermill Resort | Reno, NV
December 4-5, 2021 The Chateau | Lake Tahoe, NV
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stnexpo.com/west PRESENTED BY Member of VBG Group 38 School Transportation News • MAY 2021
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