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Levittown board to pilot one electric bus amid state 2035 mandate; members raise technical, cost and lifecycle concerns
Summary
Facing a state mandate to electrify buses by 2035, the Levittown board agreed to pilot a single electric bus and a Level 2 charger while urging a vendor and utility briefing; members raised issues about depot grid capacity, charging time, maintenance certification and battery lifecycle costs.
Mr. Winch told the board the state requires districts to move to electric buses by 2035 and described the district’s short-term plan to purchase one electric bus and a Level 2 charger as a pilot to test real-world operations.
He said the district has met with PSEG and facilities staff and discovered the Hunt Road Depot lacks the electrical supply needed now to charge a full fleet; that constraint makes Level 2 charging (about 10 hours per bus) the current practical choice while the district pursues utility options. “Right now, the plan is to purchase 1 and 2, test it out,” he said.
Board members urged the district to invite the bus manufacturer and utility representatives for a technical briefing. One board member outlined operational concerns about range, charging rates and maintenance: noting reported battery sizes in the 210–250 kW range, the member warned that Level 2 charging could lead to range anxiety on routes and that battery-repair expertise is limited locally. The member also raised lifecycle-cost risk if buses purchased now depreciate before the 2035 deadline, increasing replacement costs.
Mr. Winch said the district is exploring the utility program PowerUp and vendor demonstrations, and he proposed collecting board questions in advance and scheduling a vendor/utility presentation, likely in September.
The board did not vote on fleet purchases beyond approving the pilot approach to purchase a single bus and evaluate infrastructure needs; staff will return with technical briefings and answers to board questions.
