Transportation

Bechtel to Design, Build Electric School Bus Charging Stations

• By Matt Jones
• 03/21/23

Engineering, construction, and project management company Bechtel recently announced that it will begin designing and building a series of electric school bus charging stations, according to a news release. The firm was chosen by First Student, North America’s largest provider of student transportation, to begin developing the project. The release also announced that the two organizations plan to partner on future electric vehicle deployments.

“Bechtel provides electric vehicle charging infrastructure to fleet customers so they can focus on their core business, whether it is safely moving students or delivering packages,” said Catherine Hunt Ryan, Manufacturing & Technology business president. “Vehicle fleet operators are instrumental in the electric vehicle transition. Bechtel will help First Student advance their electrification goals by being a one-stop partner through design and build.”

Electric school buses are more efficient, more sustainable, and need less maintenance than traditional school buses, according to First Student. Bechtel’s electrification-related services include feasibility studies, site selection, front-end engineering design, procurement, construction management, and project management, according to the news release.

“Bechtel offers predictable project outcomes across the electric vehicle value chain,” said Justin Britt, Bechtel’s general manager for Electric Vehicles. “Building a future of vehicle electrification means investing in infrastructure today in everything from raw material extraction, processing plants, battery component manufacturing, final assembly, charging stations, and recycling.”