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Niskayuna delays larger electric-bus purchases; seeks May ballot approval for diesel/gas replacements after EV pilot charger installation
Summary
District staff reported progress on a two-bus electric vehicle (EV) pilot and said they will install chargers this spring. Because charging infrastructure and a fleet-electrification study remain in progress, staff recommended that the May 2025 bus proposition focus on replacement gas/diesel buses totaling $1.68 million; the district remain
District staff briefed the Finance Subcommittee on the status of a two-bus electric-school-bus pilot the community approved in May 2024 and on plans for a May 2025 bus proposition. Staff said they expect to finalize a purchase order for charging equipment and installation within weeks and that, once chargers are in place, the two electric buses purchased last year will enter service for operational and first-responder familiarization.
Key points staff presented - EV pilot and chargers: The district has selected a charger company and is negotiating final line items for chargers, installation and charge-management software. Staff said chargers are 'shelf items' and that they anticipate issuing a purchase order within approximately three weeks. The district held a first-responder training with the bus vendor Matthews on Feb. 3 and completed an initial fleet-assessment with National Grid. - Timing and strategy for larger purchases: Because important pieces remain (charging-infrastructure installation, a fleet-electrification routing and replacement study with Wendell Engineering, and continuing state and incentive developments), staff recommended holding off on larger electric-bus purchases in the May 2025 proposition. Instead, staff proposed a conventional-bus proposition for May 2025 consisting of: one passenger wheelchair bus, two 36-passenger midsize buses and six 77-passenger full-size buses for a total proposition amount of $1,680,000. - Funding and aid: Staff noted that bus purchases are eligible for transportation aid (presentation cited 73.4% typical eligibility) and that the district advertises bus purchases over a five-year cycle to stabilize operating impacts.
Why the district is pausing large EV purchases now Staff said the district's immediate priority is to put the two electric buses into operation and collect operational data (charging logistics, route impacts, maintenance, first-responder procedures) while the fleet-electrification study and the state's evolving requirements and incentives mature. Staff also noted that while the state currently has timelines for EV purchase requirements (staff cited 2027 for new purchases and 2035 for a fully zero-emission fleet), some state legislators and agencies are reviewing whether the 2027 start date is achievable.
Next steps - Issue purchase order and begin charger installation, then place pilot buses in service this spring. - Complete fleet-electrification study through the Wendell Engineering engagement and use results to shape future bus-procurement propositions. - Bring the May 2025 conventional-bus proposition forward for board consideration; March 11 staff update will provide more detail and developers expect an informational presentation on March 11 and an action request on March 25 to place the proposition on the May ballot.
Context and budget impact Staff emphasized that even with point-of-sale vouchers (the presentation referenced $200,000 per electric bus voucher factor), electric buses remain more costly than conventional replacements and that the district accelerated its replacement plan in recent years to maintain a modern fleet. The proposed May 2025 conventional-bus proposition of $1,680,000 would continue the district's five-year replacement cadence and remain eligible for state transportation aid, reducing the net local cost.
