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LPS to add five 84-passenger buses, pilots three electric buses with federal rebates
Summary
Board approved fleet purchases including five large 84-passenger buses (diesel) and discussed a pilot of three electric buses acquired with federal rebates; staff said two electric buses have arrived and a third is pending dealership training and charging infrastructure.
The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education approved purchases to refresh the district’s bus fleet and discussed a pilot program for electric buses at its March 25 meeting.
Transportation staff member Phil told the board the district received two electric buses the day before the meeting and expected a third after dealer-provided maintenance training in Omaha. Phil said charging infrastructure still needs installation and the district plans to run the electric buses in a limited summer pilot to evaluate range, battery performance and operations before wider deployment.
Board members and staff clarified that the five 84-passenger buses under consideration for replacement are the district’s largest rear-engine ‘pusher’ buses and will be diesel-powered because electric technology for that size and range is not yet mature for the district’s needs. Phil said the diesel 84-passenger buses being purchased include lap-and-shoulder belts; earlier buses being replaced carried lap belts only. Staff also described built-in child restraint seats on some newer designs for early-childhood routes.
On funding, staff said the district participated in a federal rebate program that reduced the electric buses’ cost. Board members asked about maintenance, reliability and whether electric buses reduce repair frequency; staff responded the rollout is exploratory and data on repair trends is still early. District staff emphasized the small footprint of the transportation facility and said the limited lot area influences the pace of any wider electric transition.
The item was on the consent/approval list and approved by the board during the meeting (see “Votes at a glance” for vote details).
