Board hears options for bus proposition as district weighs EV grants, operational limits

Ellen Dorado, the district’s director of student transportation, and John McPhillips of the business office laid out options for a May bus proposition and detailed operational experience with electric buses acquired under the district’s capital program.

Dorado told the board the district currently expects to have 10 electric buses on site after recent deliveries and that electric vehicles present operational limitations: cold weather and terrain reduced range in some runs, manufacturers’ warranty work has required dealer servicing, and some EV maintenance items are limited to manufacturer/authorized dealers. “Buses were going out in the morning and coming back with less than 50%, so they were unable to make up that charge and the [battery] so they could go back out for their afternoon run,” Dorado said, describing winter performance. She also described mandatory EV maintenance programs costing about $2,000 per vehicle per year on top of regular maintenance.

Financial tradeoffs…