Ds, and 10 Lion Type Ds. Plus, he said, Beaverton is partnering with Forth Mobil-
ity, to repower a 2016 Blue Bird Vision diesel to electric. This would bring the total electric fleet to just over 80. (Beaverton doesn’t currently purchase electric Thom- as Built Buses because no short wheelbase Type C is available. Beaverton uses that bus in place of Type As to transport students with special needs.) “By spreading out [by manufacturer], we spread out the
risks,” he said. “If we have a problem with certain models and challenges with certain models, we’re not wiping out the whole fleet.” The school district works with OpConnect to evalu-
ate DC fast charging, high-powered Level 2 charging systems, V2G integration, and advanced energy man- agement. Beaverton also runs renewable propane school buses,
and recently purchased another 10 propane buses for this school year. In terms of benefits of propane, Bea- ver noted that it’s half the cost of diesel per gallon and there’s no need for particulate filters. Beaverton is cur- rently running 65 propane, and in April 2023 the district converted to renewable propane. “It’s a more economical way of pursuing a cleaner
fuel,” Beaver shared. “Sure, it has some emissions, but it’s minimal and hugely inexpensive, especially when you’re able to buy even 4,000 gallons at a time.” He noted as the propane fleet expands, he expects to see more cost savings when purchasing propane in greater bulk, adding that they have a great partnership with Blue Star Gas. He said Beaverton plans to expand its investment in propane buses amid the California Air Re- sources Board’s Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, which Oregon is adopting. Beaver said all diesel special needs buses will be retired by fall 2026, to avoid any issues with meeting the standard. In two years, Beaverton’s fleet will consist of over 300 school buses, between 80 and 90 of which will be elec- tric, with about 115 propane and the rest diesel (110). “At this point we’re always going to have diesel buses,
at least for the foreseeable future,” Beaver noted, adding that the range on EVs and propane cannot compete with diesel. “When that gets there, then we’ll have to re-evalu- ate but it’s not going to be anytime soon, at least the next few years. So, that’s why we’ll always have diesel buses.” He noted Beaverton also transitioned to 99-percent
renewable diesel in January 2023. “We’re doing every- thing we can to get the cleanest possible environment for kids and the communities in which our employees drive,” he said. Infrastructure-wise, Beaverton has 31 charging sta-
tions installed for its current 25 EVs. However, as the next round of buses arrive, the district will be short on chargers. He’s looking at above-ground infrastructure
36 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2024
options as well as the feasibility of his own transporta- tion microgrid—consisting of a battery storage system and solar panels on a covered lot—and adding another 66 chargers at two locations. “We were fortunate with good planning with the utility
and advice from places like [World Resources Institute],” he said. “We’ve been uniquely positioned in the front of everything. … I had quotes for everything. I had the RFPs already out, everything was done. It was just a matter of putting together the invitation to bid and getting the school board approval,” he said of applying for grants to make this reality happen.
Breaking Down the Costs One of Beaver’s claims to fame and a reason he was selected as this year’s Transportation Director of the Year is his willingness to share information with his peers. Every month he publishes data on his alternative fuel and energy buses, reflecting reduction in emissions, performance and vehicle costs. Beaver shared that he will be honest if he doesn’t think electric is a good fit for a certain district and will advise if he thinks it should pursue a different alternative, such as propane. He noted during a panel discussion at this summer’s STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada that his cost is $1.06 per mile to operate a diesel bus, 72 cents per mile for a propane bus, and 56 cents per mile to operate an elec- tric vehicle. He noted that he started to share his data,
A Driver’s Perspective Maris Sofra, a school bus driver at Beaverton School Dis-
trict, shared her perspective after driving an electric school bus for summer school routes in July. “They are so nice and quiet, and the ride is really smooth,” she shared, adding that driving habits do need to change. For example, the suspen- sion reacts differently over dips and speed bumps. She added that all drivers went through training before driving the EV, noting that the pre-trip inspection is simpler as there is not much under the hood to examine.
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