Distributed Energy Resources, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  January 16, 2024

LA School District Adds Electric Buses to Fleet

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) ordered 180 electric zero-emission school buses to assist the school district in transitioning to 100% electric student transportation.

The school district purchased the buses through their local Blue Bird dealer, A-Z Bus Sales, Inc. This purchase represents the single largest order of electric school buses from a school district for Blue Bird Corporation.

LAUSD currently operates 26 Blue Bird electric school buses in its fleet; 30 Vision and 150 All American electric buses will be added to the districts’ zero-emission school bus fleet. 

The district anticipates delivery of the first buses in October 2024 and for the order to be fulfilled in early 2025.

Both model vehicles have a range of up to 130 miles on a single charge. Based on LAUSD’s future charging infrastructure, the buses could take between three and eight hours to recharge fully.

“Los Angeles Unified is excited to move toward the electrification of our Sun Valley Bus Yard school buses,” said Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho in a statement. “We must fully commit ourselves to creating a model of sustainability that benefits our students, our school communities and generations to come.”

Blue Bird electric buses come standard with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability. This bi-directional charging technology will allow LAUSD to potentially sell excess energy stored in school bus batteries back to electric power companies at a profit.