Provider offers three electric buses under PG&E grant; 1st Student would cover shortfall

Greg Newman, regional vice president for 1st Student (speaker 21), presented a proposal for three Type C electric buses tied to a PG&E grant and outlined costs, timeline and operational considerations. Newman said the grant package would include $703,000 toward the three buses and $150,000 for charging infrastructure against a total project cost of $1,278,000; 1st Student proposed to cover the shortfall so the district would not incur additional funding obligations.

Newman described the company’s electric-bus experience, estimated timelines (about 16 months from start to finish), training and safety procedures and operational benefits such as lower emissions, regenerative braking and quieter operation. He said the company currently supports hundreds of electric buses and that electric buses "typically" cost about three times a diesel bus but can reduce fuel and maintenance costs over time.

Board members asked about range, charging time, battery life and ownership. Newman said the buses would typically range 100–140 miles per charge, recharge in one to four hours depending on charger type, and batteries are projected to last eight to ten years under a manufacturer's warranty; ownership and long-term battery-replacement responsibility would fall to the bus owner per the proposed arrangement. Newman also addressed concerns about equity and route planning in hilly terrain, explaining hills affect range but regenerative braking recovers some energy.