School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Solar Charging Depot Unveiled for California District's Electric School Buses

Turlock Unified welcomed nine new electric Blue Bird buses and partnered with The Mobility House and Schneider Electric for charge management to maximize solar consumption and minimize utility bills.

Turlock Unified staff and partners hold a ribbon-cutting in front of new electric school buses under solar canopies at the district transportation center.

Turlock Unified School District unveiled nine new electric buses and solar-powered charging infrastructure as part of its transition to an all-electric fleet by 2035.

Photo: The Mobility House

2 min to read


Turlock Unified School District (TUSD) celebrated the delivery of nine electric buses and charging infrastructure with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its transportation center. Members of the school district were joined by project partners Schneider Electric, The Mobility House, Turlock Irrigation District, A-Z Bus Sales, Valley Air District and NV5.

The electric Blue Bird buses will replace diesel buses in the TUSD fleet, reducing air pollution and contributing to the district’s goal to transition to an all-electric fleet by 2035. The buses will be charged by a combination of AC and DC chargers, with power from the solar canopies shading the parking lot. The charging logic of the charge management system, provided by The Mobility House, maximizes the use of on-site solar energy and minimizes the cost of energy purchased from the electric utility.

Ad Loading...

The solar-powered EV bus chargers are in place at the district.

Photo: Schneider Electric

“I am so proud to congratulate Turlock Unified School District for this important step toward zero emissions transportation, powered by zero emissions energy,” said Greg Hintler, CEO of The Mobility House North America. “Solar energy and electric buses are complementary technologies that provide a vision for the future of sustainable school transportation.”

Schneider Electric and The Mobility House have jointly deployed several electric school bus charging infrastructure projects in California to date, including previous installations at Stockton Unified School District and Modesto City Schools, with further deployments planned for later this summer.

“California school districts like Turlock are leading the way towards our electric future,” said Elliott Feldman, program manager at Schneider Electric. “Their ambition and drive to implement sustainable solutions is a testament to the role they play in their community.”

More Alternative Fuels

School Bus Fleet graphic showing two yellow electric school buses parked beside a charging station, with the headline “Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Extend Clean School Bus Program Through 2031.”
Alternative Fuels•by Elora Haynes•October 14, 2026

Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Extend Clean School Bus Program Through 2031

The proposed legislation would renew federal support for cleaner school buses as districts navigate funding uncertainty, rising fuel and infrastructure costs, and fleet replacement needs.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet graphic reading “Alt-Fuel Moves: Bidirectional Charging & Propane” alongside an electric school bus and charging station.
Alternative Fuels•by Elora Haynes•October 5, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: Electric Bus Rollouts, Bidirectional Charging & Propane Growth

See which fleets are adding electric and propane school buses as districts and operators invest in charging infrastructure, bidirectional technology, and alternative-fuel expansion.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet graphic reading “When Fuel Prices Change the Math: What rising diesel costs mean for fleet planning,” illustrated with a fuel pump and oil barrels.
Alternative Fuels•by Steve Mitchell•October 4, 2026

Nobody Told Diesel Prices They Were Supposed to Come Down

With diesel prices surging, school bus fleets have new reason to stress-test fuel costs, consider diversification, and calculate what each route really costs to operate.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Yellow full-size school bus traveling along a tree-lined road beneath the words “Gas is Back!” in a School Bus Fleet graphic.
Alternative Fuels•Cover Story•by Amanda Huggett•October 2, 2026

Why Gasoline School Buses Are Making a Comeback

Gasoline is gaining ground in full-size school buses. See how today’s options stack up against diesel on cost, maintenance, emissions, performance, and more.

Read More →
EPA DERA funding graphic featuring a yellow school bus beneath a blue sky with the EPA logo and the words “DERA Funding Returns!”
Alternative Fuels•by Amanda Huggett•September 25, 2026

EPA Opens $180M DERA Funding Round for Diesel Upgrades

The 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program seeks applications from eligible organizations to accelerate the retirement of legacy diesel vehicles.

Read More →
A yellow RIDE Type D electric school bus is parked along a tree-lined street outside a school.
Alternative Fuels•by Elora Haynes•September 25, 2026

The Secret Life of an Electric School Bus Battery

Batteries change throughout years of daily routes, but degradation doesn’t necessarily mean the end. Here’s what operators should know about performance, safety, and second life.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Catalyst Mobility: Building Clean Transportation Together
Management•by Alex Roman•September 14, 2026

CALSTART and Forth Combine to Form Catalyst Mobility

The new name represents a renewed vision for the nonprofit focused on advancing clean, equitable, and affordable transportation solutions that move people and goods.

Read More →
An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of a propane deployment event with text reading "Charging Hubs & Real World EV Testing."
Alternative Fuels•by Elora Haynes•September 3, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: New Buses, Charging Hubs & Real-World EV Testing

Propane and electric school bus deployments continue to grow as districts add new vehicles, expand charging infrastructure, and gather more real-world operating data.

Read More →
Electric school buses parked in a parking lot.
Alternative Fuels•by Elora Haynes•August 24, 2026

Fewer Electric School Bus Models Reshape the U.S. Market

WRI’s latest buyer’s guide points to a consolidating electric school bus market, but fewer options may reflect a maturing industry rather than fewer meaningful choices for school bus operators.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A yellow school bus with its red stop arm extended is stopped to load or unload students as a blurred child crosses in the foreground, illustrating the importance of motorists stopping for school buses and protecting students in the loading zone.
Alternative Fuels•August 12, 2026

The Fuel Budget You Can Actually Predict: How Propane Autogas Keeps Money in the Classroom

Learn how propane autogas helps school districts manage fuel costs with predictable pricing, lower maintenance, and reduced emissions from former transportation director Joel Stutheit.

Read More →