Zum Launches All-Electric, V2G-Capable Fleet in California District [Updated]

Zum, a modern student transportation platform, has deployed what it calls the first 100% electric school bus fleet in the nation. The Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is the first major school district in the United States to transition to a 100% electrified school bus system with vehicle-to-grid technology.

Originally announced in May 2024, Zum is providing a fleet of 74 electric school buses and bidirectional chargers in Oakland, managed through its AI-enabled technology platform.

"Today marks an exciting milestone in student transportation," Zum Founder and CEO Ritu Narayan said. "By converting Oakland Unified's school bus fleet to 100% electric, we are showing that sustainability solutions are here – and can positively impact an entire community. Electric school buses with V2G capability create cleaner transportation and send untapped energy from bus batteries back to the grid. It's a win-win for children, families, schools and drivers."

The all-electric vehicle (EV) fleet will not only transport students sustainably but also play a critical dual role as a virtual power plant (VPP), providing up to 2.1 gigawatt-hours of energy back to the power grid annually.

Student transportation is the largest mass-transit system in the nation, moving 27 million students twice daily. Today, more than 90% of the nation’s 500,000 school buses run on carbon-based fuels, releasing more than 8.4 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, exposing students and communities to harmful gases every day.

"This is a landmark achievement, especially in Oakland, where families are disproportionately impacted by exposure to air pollution and high rates of asthma and other respiratory ailments," OUSD Superintendent Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell said. "Zum's electric school buses provide our students quieter, cleaner rides to and from school, giving them a better chance at success in the classroom, while ensuring the District is doing its part to cut down on air pollution to the benefit of all Oakland residents."

Electrification of such a large fleet with V2G capabilities requires a vast ecosystem of partners.

Federal and California State programs that have been critical to the acceleration of this project are: the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus program, California Air Resources Board (CARB), Heavy Vehicle Incentive Program (HVIP) vouchers, Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and Clean Mobility Operations (CMO) programs.

The acceleration of the EV transition was the result of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s, Zum’s utility partner, ability to provide 2.7 megawatts of load to Zum’s Oakland EV-ready facility in record time.

"PG&E is proud to work closely with Zum and Oakland Unified in deploying what is the largest electric school bus fleet and vehicle-based, grid-supporting resource in the country," said Mike Delaney, vice president of utility partnerships and innovation, PG&E. "Oakland is PG&E’s headquarters; it is home to many of our customers and co-workers, and a city we’ve proudly served for more than a century. Achieving this advanced fleet electrification and vehicle-grid-integration milestone for the people and students of Oakland reflects our commitment to delivering excellent customer service outcomes for our hometowns using breakthrough thinking, collaboration, and swift execution."

Zum has set a goal of electrifying 10,000 bidirectional school buses, which will create the potential to supply 300 gigawatt-hours of energy to the power grids annually. In addition, Zum is electrifying school buses in its fleet in districts across the country, with San Francisco Unified and Los Angeles Unified — which are three and six times the size of Zum’s Oakland school bus fleet, respectively — to soon follow.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published May 15, 2024 and was updated on Aug. 29, 2024 with more information and photos, after the electrified school bus fleet officially launched in Oakland.