In many districts adding electric buses to their fleets, the buses can arrive before the grid is ready to charge them. 

Pontiac: America’s Electrification Gridlock Test Case

In Pontiac, Michigan, the district refused to wait for infrastructure. Backed by $15.65 million in federal EPA grants, Pontiac School District became the first in the state to replace its school bus fleet with electric buses. There, they turned to L-Charge’s off-grid, ultra-fast charging solution. By bypassing grid constraints, L-Charge enabled Pontiac to begin deploying many of its buses managed by First Student.

The district's 40 new electric buses will replace older diesel models and transport over than 4,000 students each day. Without off-grid charging, the EV fleet would have remained idle while utility and construction upgrades were completed. 

“These buses aren’t parked waiting on the grid – they’re moving students,” said Dr. Kimberly Leverette, superintendent of the School District of the City of Pontiac. “Every quiet, fume-free ride is a win for student health, mental well-being, and our community’s future.”

Each bus is expected to eliminate nearly 1,700 tons of CO₂ emissions over its lifespan – equivalent to taking 27 cars off the road. 

“The real bottleneck isn’t buses – it’s power,” said Stephen Kelley, CEO of L-Charge. “Districts everywhere have buses arriving before the grid is ready. Pontiac proves schools don’t have to wait. And our off-grid charging unlocks electrification now.”

The district’s fleet may also double as a community resource. With bidirectional batteries, the buses can act as “generators on wheels,” providing backup power for phones, medical devices, and critical needs during outages.

Pontiac School District is hosting a ride on one of its new electric school buses. Join them Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. EST, at Fell Center – Facilities Center, Pontiac School District, 650 North Saginaw Street, Pontiac, MI 48342.

L-Charge: Now with Sourcewell

Additionally, as of last August, L-Charge's solutions are available through Sourcewell via its new authorized reseller, INF Associates. With INF Associates as the Sourcewell contract holder, organizations can now quickly and compliantly purchase L-Charge’s charging and power generation services.

“Having Sourcewell as a procurement vehicle gives organizations an entirely new level of access to our Charging-as-a-Service and Power-as-a-Service models,” said Dmitry Lashin, CTO of L-Charge. “Public fleets can now deploy ultra-fast charging, or power their existing EVSE  within days, with no CAPEX and full operational flexibility, all through a procurement platform they already trust.”

To purchase through Sourcewell:

• If not already registered as a Sourcewell user, go to the Sourcewell website and register for free.

• Request a quote from L-Charge or INF for procurement through Sourcewell Contract #051123-INA with associated Sourcewell discount.

• Issue purchase order referencing Sourcewell Contract #051123-INA.