The first zero-emissions electric school buses in the state of Texas were recently received by Everman Independent School District. The three buses, manufactured by Blue Bird Corporation, started transporting students this school year.
“We are thankful that the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of three new Blue Bird electric buses,” said Everman ISD school superintendent Curtis Amos, Ed.D. “Everman ISD is certainly proud to be the first in the state to receive the electric buses. These buses are environmentally friendly, we will not have to worry about emissions, they are considerably quieter, and will improve air quality in our district. Most importantly, the buses will contribute to protecting the health of our students,” said Dr. Amos.
“The electric buses were a great opportunity to bring new technology and safety to the school district in the form of transportation, and to the state of Texas,” said Jason Gillis, transportation director for Everman ISD. “We’ve been monitoring our energy costs for our electric buses and we are already experiencing a substantial savings in fuel costs. These buses are the best thing for our community and our kids, allowing the district to save money and improve air quality.”
Blue Bird’s electric school buses produce zero emissions, and have fewer parts when compared with a diesel bus. Their performance is comparable to a bus powered by a combustion engine, and their quiet performance allows the driver to better hear the passengers they are transporting.
“We look forward to seeing the environmental- and cost-saving benefits that Everman ISD will experience with these electric-powered school buses,” said David Bercik, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Blue Bird Corporation. “We applaud the work that everyone has done to get the funding for these buses, and see a bright future
ahead for cleaner transportation in the state of Texas. Blue Bird is the best-selling electric-powered school bus manufacturer in the United States and we welcome these first units in the state of Texas.”
With help from their local dealer, Rush Bus Centers, and the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the district was able to fund the buses and charging stations with grants from the Volkswagen settlement. Based on data the district has provided, they are looking to save over $4,000 a year on fuel savings and $2,000 a year on maintenance savings when compared with the diesel buses in their fleet.
“We are honored to offer the technological advancements of electric buses to our customer, Everman ISD,” said W.M. “Rusty” Rush, chairman, CEO and president of Rush Enterprises Inc. “As the technology and electric systems of these vehicles become more advanced over time, we believe they will become a popular choice for many districts, and we are excited to be a part of it,” he added.
