Colorado school district commissions six electric school buses with bidirectional charging

Jefferson County Public Schools, which serves 75,000 students at 145 Colorado schools, recently placed six new electric school buses and six bidirectional chargers into service. The six IC electric buses will begin serving Jeffco students during the current school year.

Xcel Energy provided $3.4 million in funding through its Electric School Bus (ESB) Program to support the school district’s transition to electric transportation. Through the program, the company is supporting the launch of 38 electric school buses and 30 bidirectional charging systems in Colorado.

Highland Electric Fleets is supporting the project through its Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS) model, providing the electric buses, charging infrastructure and long-term services needed to operate the fleet.

The buses and charging infrastructure will serve as a demonstration of bidirectional charging technology. The buses will function as mobile energy assets, storing electricity in their batteries and returning it to the grid when needed. The project will provide real-world insights into how this technology can be integrated with fleet operations and the electric grid.

“These new electric buses will deliver cleaner air for our students and schools while giving us a hands-on look at how innovative energy solutions can benefit our entire Lakewood community,” said Jeff Gatlin, Chief Operating Officer at Jeffco Public Schools.

“Through our Electric School Bus Program, we’re helping school districts like Jefferson County Public Schools invest in cleaner transportation today while gaining valuable experience with technologies that can strengthen and add flexibility to the grid in the years ahead,” said Robert Kenney, President, Xcel Energy, Colorado.

“Replacing just five diesel buses with electric school buses can reduce pediatric asthma risk for 1,500 students, while bidirectional technology creates the potential for those same buses to serve as mobile energy assets when they aren’t on the road,” said Brian Buccella, Chief Commercial Officer, Highland Electric Fleets.

Source: Highland Electric Fleets