Latest news with #CleanSchoolBusProgram
Cision Canada
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
Cache Public Schools to Debut Electric School Buses at Back-to-School Event Français
New electric fleet is expected to deliver significant operational savings for the district CACHE, Okla., Aug. 11, 2025 /CNW/ -- Cache Public Schools is unveiling six new electric school buses during its annual back-to-school night, an annual opportunity for families to visit classrooms, connect with educators, and mark the start of a new academic year. The rollout marks a major step forward in the district's efforts to modernize student transportation. In partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, North America's leading provider of electrification-as-a-service, the district is introducing six Thomas Built Type C electric buses along with six Tellus 30kW DC chargers. The initiative is supported in part by an award of approximately $2 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program. Cache Public Schools is investing in its students and community by transitioning to electric school buses. The new fleet is expected to cut fuel and maintenance expenses and reduce overall transportation costs, with initial estimates showing more than 50 percent savings in total cost of ownership. These modern buses also provide air conditioning, a major upgrade for students during warm Oklahoma rides to and from school. "Bringing these 6 buses to Cache is a step toward a cleaner, quieter future for our students and our community. This change not only helps us save money over time, but it also shows how thoughtful planning can lead to real benefits for students. We're excited to see the buses in action as school begins this week and proud to be a leader in EV innovation for SW Oklahoma schools," said Chad Hance, Superintendent of Cache Public Schools. Once in operation, the new electric buses will serve daily routes across the Cache public school district, averaging about 50 miles per day. The district partnered with Highland Electric Fleets to oversee the full project, including vehicle delivery, charger installation, and ongoing maintenance and support. Cache Public Schools secured its advanced electric vehicles through Midwest Bus Sales. "By making the shift to electric school buses, Cache is not only creating a cleaner ride for students, but also taking control of long-term transportation costs," said Joshua Williams, Senior Midwestern Regional Manager of Highland Electric Fleets. Cache Public Schools will mark the arrival of the new electric school buses with a ribbon-cutting ceremony during its annual back-to-school night on Monday, August 11, 2025, at 4:00 PM CT. The event will include remarks from district and community leaders. All media and back-to-school night attendees are invited to take a ride on one of the new electric buses and join a guided tour of the district's new charging infrastructure. About Cache Public Schools Cache Public Schools is a public school district located in Cache, Oklahoma, serving approximately 2,000 students across five campuses, from Pre-K through 12th grade. Founded in 1902, the district has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence, community involvement, and student-centered learning. With a mission grounded in the belief that "What starts here changes the world," Cache Public Schools is committed to preparing students for college, careers, and citizenship through a well-rounded education that emphasizes character, leadership, and lifelong learning. About Highland Electric Fleets Highland Electric Fleets is North America's leading provider of electrification-as-a-service. Founded in 2019, Highland makes it simple and affordable to transition fleets of all sizes to electric, from school buses to public safety, municipal and commercial vehicles. Highland led the first use of electric school buses in a commercial vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program and operates the largest electric school bus project in the U.S. With approximately 95% of school buses built in the U.S., the shift to electric drives American innovation, strengthens domestic manufacturing, and creates jobs in communities across the country in addition to reducing emissions and lowering operating costs. Learn more at Stevey Davis | Highland [email protected] SOURCE Highland Electric Fleets
Business Wire
07-08-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Blue Bird Delivers Electric School Bus Fleet to Little Rock School District in Arkansas
MACON, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, is delivering 25 electric school buses to Little Rock School District (LRSD) in Arkansas. The zero-emission school bus fleet marks a new era of clean student transportation for the school district. LRSD is the third-largest school district in the state and operates more than 40 schools serving over 19,000 students. Blue Bird provides its most advanced Vision electric school buses to Little Rock School District. The state-of-the-art electric buses have a vehicle range of up to 130 miles on a single charge and can carry up to 69 passengers. The high-performance batteries take merely two hours to fully recharge. Following the completion of the Blue Bird electric school bus order, LRSD will maintain a bus fleet of approximately 70 vehicles. LRSD's zero-emission school buses will travel nearly 1,400 miles each school day, as they pick up and safely transport 500 students to and from schools. 'This is more than just adding new buses—it's about doing what's right for our kids and our community,' said Dr. Jermall D. Wright, superintendent of the Little Rock School District. 'We're proud to introduce Blue Bird's electric school buses as a step toward a cleaner, healthier future. Every mile these buses travel means less pollution, cleaner air, and a stronger commitment to the well-being of our students and the neighborhoods we serve.' 'We are pleased that Little Rock School District continues to place its trust in Blue Bird to help the school district shift to clean student transportation,' said Albert Burleigh, vice president of North America bus sales at Blue Bird Corporation. 'For more than 25 years, the school district has relied on Blue Bird and our local dealer partner to meet its school bus and service needs. We look forward to helping LRSD expand its school bus fleet with safe, reliable, and environmentally-friendly vehicles.' LRSD received a $9,875,000 grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) widely popular and highly effective Clean School Bus Program to purchase its Blue Bird electric school bus fleet. The EPA has already awarded nearly $3 billion through the landmark bipartisan initiative. The program to date will enable more than 1,300 school districts nationwide to replace old diesel buses with nearly 9,000 electric and ultra-low emission vehicles. LRSD can considerably lower its operating expenses by replacing diesel with electric school buses due to reduced fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. School districts have reported paying a mere 19 cents per mile in energy costs for electric buses compared to fuel costs of up to 79 cents per mile for their diesel buses. Blue Bird is the only U.S.-owned and operated school bus manufacturer in the United States. The company remains the proven clean transportation leader with more than 2,500 electric-powered, zero-emission school buses in operation today. LRSD purchased its advanced electric-powered vehicles through Blue Bird's authorized school bus dealer Central States Bus Sales in North Little Rock, Ark. About Blue Bird Corporation Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird's complete product and service portfolio, visit About the Little Rock School District The Little Rock School District (LRSD) is the state's third largest district, serving more than 19,000 students. The District has the distinction of having three national Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence; nearly 200 teachers with National Board Certification; and historically within the past decade, the most National Merit Semifinalists in the state. LRSD is also home to the 2019 Arkansas Teacher of the Year and consistently ranks among the top award recipients in STEM-related competitions and the performing/creative arts. For more information, visit
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Advocates call for action on dangerous issue with public school buses: 'Especially bad for kids'
Advocates call for action on dangerous issue with public school buses: 'Especially bad for kids' A clean energy advocacy group is calling attention to a powerful way to protect kids from childhood asthma — switching to electric school buses. To mark World Asthma Day, Clean Energy Generation — a grassroots campaign by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy — joined forces with the Alliance for Electric School Buses to rally public support for cleaner rides to school. The day of action was especially focused on spreading awareness and support for the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program, which provides $5 billion to help schools replace diesel buses with electric ones. Advocates collected handwritten postcards and digital signatures from community members urging lawmakers to keep the EPA program alive. Local chapters of Moms Clean Air Force, Sierra Club, and the League of Women Voters helped spread the word, showing how powerful community advocacy can be when people work together. In a statement, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy said its recent work "shows how, when many voices are singing from the same score, the chorus is harmonious and unmistakable." Electric buses are a powerful way to protect school children's health, reducing exposure to diesel exhaust, a known asthma trigger. Vehicle exhaust — especially that of massive school buses — releases a mix of toxic pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and ozone. These potent pollutants have been linked to cancers and chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, and more. And that includes childhood asthma. "Diesel exhaust pollution is harmful for everyone, but is especially bad for kids as their lungs are developing," the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy said in a statement. That's partly because children breathe faster than adults and inhale more air — and, therefore, pollutants — per body weight. Studies have shown that switching from diesel to electric school buses can reduce asthma attacks, respiratory illnesses, and school absences for children. A recent study found that smart global action on road pollution — including electric vehicle adoption and tightened pollution standards — could prevent 1.4 million new childhood asthma cases by 2040. While there have been recent strides toward lowering road pollution, there's still a long way to go. That's why the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy said it plans to keep the pressure on lawmakers — and invites supporters to raise their voices to advocate for clean energy and healthier kids. Do you worry about the quality of the air inside your home? Yes — often Yes — but only sometimes Only when it's bad outside No — I never do Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Cision Canada
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
East St. Louis School District 189 Marks Next Phase in Electric School Bus Project
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill., June 11, 2025 /CNW/ -- East St. Louis School District 189 will host a community event on Thursday, June 12 to celebrate continued progress in its electric school bus initiative. The event will highlight the construction of a new depot that will support 25 electric school buses and chargers. The district was awarded funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program as part of a competitive, multi-district application. The project includes the deployment of 25 Thomas Built electric school buses and 25 Heliox chargers, with operations scheduled to begin in the 2025–2026 school year. "We are proud to roll out 25 new electric school buses for regular routes this coming school year—an investment in both the health of our students and our community," said Arthur R. Culver, Superintendent of East St. Louis School District 189. "Our students deserve clean, safe, and modern transportation. These electric buses reduce harmful air pollution, reflect our commitment to safety, and help ensure that every child arrives at school ready to learn and thrive." Culver added, "This is an exciting step forward for student wellness and a cleaner, healthier future for East St. Louis." The project is being delivered in close partnership with North American Central School Bus (NACSB), one of the largest student transportation providers in North America and Highland Electric Fleets, a leading provider of Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS) for school bus fleets across North America. NAC will operate and maintain the buses, while Highland is managing the charging infrastructure and long-term electrification support. Work is underway at the NAC depot in Caseyville, which will serve as the operational hub for the new fleet. Ameren Illinois, the project's utility partner, is assisting the infrastructure development with make-ready funding through its Electric Vehicle Charging Program. "Partnering with the East St. Louis School District and Highland to deliver clean, innovative transportation is a powerful step toward empowering tomorrow's leaders. This electric fleet represents our commitment to student safety, community health, and a brighter future," said NAC CEO Jason Walker "We're proud to support the district and NAC as we move into the next phase of the project and prepare for deployment across the community," said Duncan McIntyre, Founder and CEO of Highland Electric Fleets. The new electric fleet will add to the district's existing 80-bus operation and will serve students across seven schools. As part of the event, attendees will be invited to take a ride on an electric school bus and preview what students will experience when the buses hit the road next year. The event is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. CT on June 12 at the Illinois Central School Bus Garage, 8203 Bunkum Rd, Caseyville, IL 62232. About East St. Louis School District East St. Louis School District 189 is focused on providing rigorous, high quality education and exceptional educational experiences to the nearly 5,000 students within the community. Our vision is for students to be supported physically, socially, and emotionally in a safe and nurturing environment to achieve academic success that prepares them for college, the workforce, and citizenship in the 21st century. For more information, visit Follow more great stories @estl189 on Facebook and Twitter. About North American Central School Bus (NACSB) NACSB's mission is to "empower tomorrow's leaders and provide them with access to world changing opportunities." They strive to foster a culture of safety, innovation, excellence, and engagement in all operations. About Highland Electric Fleets Highland Electric Fleets is North America's leading provider of electrification-as-a-service. Founded in 2019, Highland makes it simple and affordable to transition fleets of all sizes to electric, from school buses to public safety, municipal and commercial vehicles. Learn more at Media Contacts East St. Louis School District 189 Sydney Stigge-Kaufman [email protected] Highland Electric Fleets Chris Orlando [email protected]
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GreenPower Announces Delivery of Three BEAST School Buses to Its Dealer for Grant County under EPA Clean School Bus Program
West Virginia Deployments Now Total 22 GreenPower School Buses SOUTH CHARLESTON, May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (NASDAQ: GP) (TSXV: GPV) ("GreenPower"), a leading manufacturer and distributor of purpose-built, all-electric, zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles serving the cargo and delivery market, shuttle and transit space and school bus sector, today announced that three Type D all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission BEAST school buses have been delivered to its West Virginia dealer for the Grant County School District under Round 2 funding of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program (CSBP). "GreenPower continues to manufacture and deliver its all-electric, purpose-built school bus products to its dealer in West Virginia and dealers across the nation for school districts in a timely manner despite the current uncertainties of public policy, tariffs and funding," said Brendan Riley, President of GreenPower. "This week's delivery to our West Virginia dealer is for the second school district in West Virginia under the Clean School Bus Program since the contract with EPA was signed just four months ago and the federal funding became available in mid-March." Delivery of the West Virginia-manufactured school buses under the EPA grant was paused for a few weeks as part of the freeze on spending implemented by the Trump Administration as the new EPA team evaluated program spending. After the freeze was lifted, GreenPower's first delivery to its dealer in West Virginia under the CSBP was for Kanawha County and today's announcement represents the second set of buses under the award to Grant County. Calhoun County's school buses funded under the CSBP will be the next delivery for GreenPower to its dealer. To date, GreenPower has delivered 22 of its all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission school buses in West Virginia for deployment in school districts across the Mountain State, including 16 BEASTS and six Nano BEASTs. The deployments represent approximately one-half of the orders placed for West Virginia school districts that have installed charging infrastructure and are prepared to accept the buses. As the leading purpose-built American manufacturer of EV school buses, GreenPower is the only all-electric OEM that manufactures both a Class 4 Type A school bus and a Class 8 Type D school bus. The BEAST is a purpose-built 40-foot Type D all-electric, zero-emission school bus with seating for up to 90 students. Designed from the ground up as an EV, it is a fully integrated structure that features a strong and corrosion resistant aluminum body made from extruded aluminum, manufactured by Constellium, seamlessly mated to a high strength steel Truss (bus) chassis. The complete flat floor design allows for adjustable track seating with no wheel wells in the passenger compartment, and the high floor keeps students out of the impact zone. Combined port charging is standard with Level 2 rates up to 19.2 kW and DC Fast Charging rates up to 85 kW, allowing for full charging in less than three hours. Contacts: Brendan RileyPresidentbrendan@ About GreenPower Motor Company, designs, builds and distributes a full suite of high-floor and low-floor all-electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, including transit buses, school buses, shuttles, cargo vans and a cab and chassis. GreenPower employs a clean-sheet design to manufacture all-electric vehicles that are purpose-built to be battery powered with zero emissions while integrating global suppliers for key components. This OEM platform allows GreenPower to meet the specifications of various operators while providing standard parts for ease of maintenance and accessibility for warranty requirements. GreenPower was founded in Vancouver, Canada with primary operational facilities in southern California. Listed on the Toronto exchange since November 2015, GreenPower completed its U.S. IPO and NASDAQ listing in August 2020. For further information go to Forward-Looking StatementsThis document contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, GreenPower's business and operations and the environment in which it operates, which are based on GreenPower's operations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "upon", "may", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. A number of important factors including those set forth in other public filings (filed under the Company's profile on could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Consequently, readers should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. In addition, these forward-looking statements relate to the date on which they are made. GreenPower disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. All amounts in U.S. dollars. ©2025 GreenPower Motor Company Inc. All rights reserved. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE GreenPower Motor Company Sign in to access your portfolio
