South Texas K–12 District Debuts Region’s First Electric Bus Fleet
The Valley View Independent School District in Pharr, Texas, recently announced a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets to launch the district’s—and the region’s—first fleet of all-electric school buses, according to a news release. The fleet consists of eight Thomas Built Type-C electric buses and eight Tellus 30kW chargers, with the ultimate goal of reducing district operating expenses and providing cleaner and quieter rides for students.
According to the news release, the move will reduce fuel and maintenance costs as well as overall transportation expenses by up to 25 percent. Benefits to students, meanwhile, include “cleaner air, a quieter ride, and air conditioning to keep them comfortable in the South Texas heat.” The district held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to debut the fleet on Thursday, October 16.
"Valley View ISD is proud to bring the first electric school buses to our community," said Valley View ISD Interim Superintendent Monica Luna. "This project helps us lower transportation costs while giving our students cleaner air to breathe. A healthier, quieter ride means they can arrive at school ready to learn."
The district partnered with Highland Electric Fleets for the transition. Highland Electric, which offers Electrification-as-a-Service to districts, will manage the buses, charging infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance and support needs. Each new bus will average about 40 miles a day on its morning and afternoon routes, the news release reports.
"This milestone shows what's possible when schools, communities, and partners work together," said Highland Electric Fleets Regional Business Manager Mattew Scott. "For Valley View, it means students breathing cleaner air, reliable buses for drivers, and savings the district can put back into classrooms."
The project cost $2.7 million, and funding came from the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program.
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Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].