The first of the electric buses arrived at the new Jarvis Transportation Center on June 14 after the board approved the buses and the necessary electric charging stations in May. Drivers and technicians will train on the new models in August, according to a statement from the district.
How we got here
The move toward cleaner transportation comes after the district acquired 266 propane buses in 2021, funded by the 2019 bond package to replace diesel vehicles and provide environmentally conscious and cost-efficient service, officials said.
Propane fueling stations were also constructed at each CFISD transportation center, with each housing an 18,000-gallon tank to service the buses. Supervisors and trainers had the opportunity to drive the vehicle and see the differences between the electric bus and its fuel-powered counterparts. The district now features electric-, propane-, diesel- and gasoline-powered buses.
In their own words
“It’s exciting to see that first new electric vehicle school bus come into our fleet, and it’s going to be the largest EV fleet in Texas just with these first 10 that we purchased,” Transportation Director Kayne Smith said in a statement.
The benefits
Smith said the intention now is to compare each fuel type and each type of bus to determine cost per mile and overall operation costs to determine which is best for the district. The new electric models will provide drivers and passengers a quieter ride and no harmful emissions.
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report found that one electric bus can eliminate 1,690 tons of carbon dioxide over a 12-year lifespan—the equivalent of taking 27 gas- or diesel-powered cars off the road, according to a CFISD news release.
