Wilkes County Schools has made history, just becoming the first district in Georgia to serve all of its 25 daily bus routes exclusively with zero- and ultra-low-emission school buses with its newest buses. Its fleet of electric- and propane-powered buses eliminates regular diesel bus routes.

Blue Bird delivered five electric and 12 propane-powered school buses to the district. The electric school buses can carry approximately 60 students up to 130 miles on a single charge. The propane buses carry approximately 60 students around 250 miles on a single tank of propane autogas. 

WCS operates a fleet of 22 Blue Bird propane buses. Blue Bird estimates that's a cost savings of more than $1.2 million over the 15-year life of its vehicles.

"We are proud to be among the first school districts in the nation to launch a fleet of all electric and propane-powered school buses,” said Michelle Smith, superintendent of Wilkes County Schools. “Blue Bird’s zero- and ultra-low-emission school buses will help us to create a healthier environment for our students and our communities at-large while significantly lowering our operating costs. Together, we have transformed our ambitious vision of clean, sustainable student transportation into a reality.”

Highland Electric Fleets also stepped in to help, installing five new Tellus charging stations to support the district’s five electric school buses. These chargers allow WCS to utilize overnight and downtime charging, ensuring the buses are always ready to go.

WCS received a $2,335,000 grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Rebate Program to purchase its bus fleet. 

Blue Bird is the only school bus manufacturer in the U.S. to offer propane school buses.

Wilkes County purchased its vehicles through Blue Bird’s dealer Yancey Bus Sales & Service in Austell, Ga.