Board approves three grant‑funded electric buses despite cybersecurity and lifecycle‑cost concerns
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Summary
The board approved piggyback procurement and a grant funding update to buy three BYD electric buses; trustees and public speakers raised questions about charger and battery costs, mechanic training and recent federal inquiries into vendor corporate affiliates and data security.
The Chula Vista board authorized the district to piggyback on another agency's contract and to accept a grant funding update to acquire three electric school buses, a move staff said would replace three aging, unreliable vehicles.
Transportation staff and the chief financial officer explained the decision: the buses are largely grant‑funded and would replace 20‑plus‑year‑old vehicles that increasingly break down. David Ocampo, director of transportation, said the district already operates 17 electric buses and has chargers in place, and that electric‑vehicle mechanic training has been underway for several years.
Several trustees and public commenters pressed for more information before committing. Trustee Karen Tamayo and others asked about charging infrastructure costs, battery replacement expense, mechanic certification needs (EVITP), warranties and long‑term parts supply. Trustee Tamayo also requested explicit vendor disclosure after national reporting that a congressional subcommittee has sought documents about BYD US operations and affiliated entities; a public speaker asked for confirmation of cybersecurity safeguards and ownership disclosures.
Mr. Pong and staff said the district had been awarded the bus grant and that the action before the board updated the funding amount and authorized the piggyback procurement; the district also said it is pursuing separate infrastructure grants to cover charging equipment. The procurement motion passed 3–0 after divided discussion (two trustees voted against or abstained), and the board later approved the grant update.
Opponents asked the board to delay final authorization to allow staff to verify vendor cybersecurity, long‑term parts supply and warranty protections; supporters argued the grant opportunity and the urgent need to replace failing buses justified moving forward. The district said delivery is expected by December and that staff will continue to pursue infrastructure grants and training.