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Quartus study: 75% of Greenville bus runs feasible now, $16.5M cited for full fleet conversion
Summary
Consultant Josh Robin presented an electric-school-bus feasibility study showing that three-quarters of current routes can run on existing battery technology, while a phased infrastructure plan and utility coordination would be needed; estimated full transition costs were discussed at about $16.5 million including chargers and site upgrades.
Quartus Technologies consultant Josh Robin told the Greenville Central School District board that 75% of the district’s current bus runs "can be supported with today's technology," but that converting the whole fleet to electric will require phased infrastructure work and careful coordination with utilities. Robin said the district’s peak charging need was roughly 1.2 megawatts and that translating the study into a practical plan means breaking the work into legs so the district avoids a single, large capital spike.
"We wanted to break it up because nobody can really tell you what the technology is going to do," Robin said, describing a staged approach that moves from small, achievable deployments to larger transformer and site upgrades. He said the firm’s electrical design team modeled realistic infrastructure needs and that an overall estimate for a full transition — vehicles plus chargers and distribution upgrades — landed near $16.5 million, though the presenter cautioned the figure is sensitive to incentives, vehicle pricing and future technology changes.
Board members asked about timing and state requirements. Robin explained New York’s mandate limits non–zero-emission vehicle purchases starting in 2027 and requires a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2035 unless a district secures hardship waivers. "You can apply for a hardship waiver," he said, noting the waiver process can shift the near-term purchase timeline but does not change the 2035 end point.
Questions from members focused on utility capacity, charging at multiple school sites, spare vehicles and emergency response. Robin said utilities have improved planning but that problems remain around power quality and local delivery; he recommended early engagement with the utility to identify whether the district sits on a branch with adequate capacity. On emergency response, he advised inviting first responders to inspect vehicles and review manufacturer emergency-service documentation before deployment.
The report recommended a phased buy and charger rollout tied to fleet replacement cycles and available incentives. Robin emphasized that state incentives and evolving battery ranges will strongly affect which routes are electrified first and how many fast chargers will be required for sports trips and out-of-district travel.
Next steps outlined during the meeting included refining replacement-year matching, engaging the district’s electrical design/architecture team for final capital planning, and tracking state guidance on hardship waivers and incentives. The board thanked the presenter and directed staff to keep the EV study on future agendas as the district evaluates capital timing.
