Today, Jackson (Mich.) Public Schools unveiled 21 new electric buses being added to its fleet. The new electric school buses are funded through the EPA's Clean School Bus Program, and coincide with the district's commitment to sustainable transportation.
JPS chose Highland Electric Fleets as its electrification partner to support its fleet modernization and infrastructure upgrades. Consumers Energy, based in the district's hometown, provided $300,000 for the bus purchases and free electrical work to power the chargers.
The new 72-passenger electric buses come from Blue Bird bus dealer Holland Bus Companies based in Michigan. The buses will transport about 1,500 students daily.
"JPS is excited for the opportunity to remain a leader in school energy savings innovation," Marcus Leon, assistant superintendent of facilities & finance, said in a press release. "A decade ago, we began lowering our carbon footprint with the addition of propane fueled buses, and look forward to the next step in this process by converting nearly all of the district's conventional gas/diesel buses to electric through our partnership with both Highland Electric and Consumers Energy. We look forward to a bright, clean energy future for all students."
"We're proud to collaborate with Jackson Public Schools and Consumers Energy in bringing electric buses to the district," added Duncan McIntyre, CEO of Highland Electric Fleets. "With Jackson's long-standing commitment to sustainability, fleet electrification is a natural step forward, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to explore innovative solutions like vehicle-to-grid technology that will benefit both the district and the broader community."
