SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Los Angeles District Orders 2 Electric School Buses

The largest school district in California is adding the GreenPower Synapse 72 electric school buses to its fleet with state funding.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
December 5, 2017
Los Angeles District Orders 2 Electric School Buses

Los Angeles Unified School District is adding two GreenPower Synapse 72 electric school buses to its fleet.

2 min to read


Los Angeles Unified School District is adding two GreenPower Synapse 72 electric school buses to its fleet.

PORTERVILLE, Calif. — The Los Angeles Unified School District (USD) has ordered two of GreenPower Motor Co.’s Synapse 72 all-electric school buses.

The school district was awarded $536,000 from the California Air Resources Board and South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) for two electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, documentation from the management district shows.

Los Angeles USD has the largest school district fleet in California and the third largest in the nation, according to School Bus Fleet’s most recent Top 100 School District Fleets survey. Survey findings show that the school district’s transportation department operates a fleet of nearly 1,700 school buses and transports nearly 45,000 students to and from school each day.

“We are thrilled to have secured this purchase with L.A. Unified, the largest school bus operator within the state of California,” said Brendan Riley, president of GreenPower. “This order represents not just the first electric school bus for the district, but also the start of what we believe will facilitate further electrification of their fleet in the future. We are proud to be working with a leader like L.A. Unified and are incredibly supportive of the school district’s overall initiative to promote sustainability and reduce student exposure to harmful emissions.”

Another Southern California school district recently received two electric school buses: Colton Joint Unified School District took delivery in September of two electric Type C Starcraft eQuest XL school buses powered by all-electric powertrains from Motiv Power Systems.

Meanwhile, in Northern California, Calaveras Unified School District ordered three GreenPower Synapse 72 all-electric Type D buses from School Bus Sales of California Inc., Adomani's new vehicle distribution-focused subsidiary, for over $1 million.

More Alternative Fuels

An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of electric Thomas Built Buses and text reading "Alt-Fuel Moves: Racking Up Miles & Scaling Up Fleets."
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesApril 27, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: Racking Up Miles & Scaling Up Fleets

Electric school buses are hitting the road in greater numbers as fleets expand, infrastructure catches up, and mileage accumulates.

Read More →
Image of the outdoor vehicle expo at Virginia Clean Cities' Rally at Richmond event.
Alternative Fuelsby StaffApril 13, 2026

Virginia Clean Cities Celebrates 30 Years, Highlights Award Winners in School Bus Innovation

At its annual rally, the organization spotlighted propane and electric school bus advancements while recognizing leaders driving forward-looking student transportation.

Read More →
An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of an electric IC Bus school bus and text reading "Funding & the Road to Electrification."
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesApril 8, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: Funding & the Road to Electrification

From federal oversight fixes to state funding milestones and district deployments, the transition to cleaner school transportation continues to advance.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A yellow school bus drives along a rural road surrounded by green grass and trees under a partly cloudy sky. Overlaid text reads “SAF-T-LINER C2 GASOLINE ARRIVES,” with the School Bus Fleet logo in the corner.

Thomas Built Buses Adds Gasoline Engine Option to Saf-T-Liner C2 School Bus Lineup

The gasoline-powered bus features the Cummins B6.7 Octane engine and industry-first compression brake, joining the OEM's C2 powertrain lineup for 2026.

Read More →
Row of yellow school buses with overlay text reading “The essential guide to school bus fleet maintenance: Maximizing safety and uptime” and the Geotab logo.
SponsoredApril 1, 2026

Data-Driven School Bus Maintenance Guide

Stop reacting to engine lights and start predicting them. This guide reveals how transitioning from a "break-fix" model to a data-driven maintenance strategy can drastically reduce fleet downtime and protect your district's budget. Learn how to transform your garage operations from a cost center into a reliability powerhouse.

Read More →
Graphic displaying InCharge Energy and Foreseeson logos over an aerial facility background, highlighting a partnership to expand EV charging infrastructure in Canada.

InCharge Energy Plugs Into Canada with New Key Partnerships

InCharge Energy has expanded into Canada through partnerships with RocketEV and Foreseeson, aiming to deliver end-to-end EV charging infrastructure and support for fleet and public-sector customers.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic titled “Canada’s First Electric School Bus Report Card: 2026” with CESBA branding and an image of the report cover featuring a map of Canada

Report: Canada's Transition to Electric School Buses Lags Behind Goals

Canada’s first electric school bus report card finds that most provinces are failing the transition away from diesel buses used for student transportation.

Read More →
An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of Blue Bird propane school buses.
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesMarch 19, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: EV Charging Expansion & Fleet Deployments

From EV charging growth to V2G testing and new bus deployments, districts and providers advance alt-fuel goals amid challenges.

Read More →
Buyers Guide and Directory thumbnail
SponsoredMarch 13, 2026

2026 School Bus Fleet Vendor Directory & Buyer's Guide

Searching for the right equipment, technology, or services for your school transportation program? This industry guide brings together manufacturers and suppliers across the entire school bus market, all in one place. Download it to find the partners who can help move your operation forward.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Front view of an IC Bus next generation electric CE Series bus driving on a suburban street.
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesFebruary 27, 2026

EPA Revamps Clean School Bus Program, 2024 Rebates Halted

The EPA will open a 45-day comment period and is planning a March 3 webinar as it reshapes Clean School Bus funding for 2026.

Read More →