PHOTOS: California District's Electric School Bus Ribbon Cutting

California Assemblymember Eloise Reyes, who represents the state's 47th district, told attendees that she worked on Assembly bill 523 to make sure that the percentages of funding in the Electric Program Investment Charge program were fairly allocated to disadvantaged communities.

The buses feature flexible seating, support wheelchair access, and can be configured to accommodate up to eight wheelchairs for routes with special-needs students.

Erick Richardson, the transportation director for Colton Joint Unified School District, said that the district is "100% committed to the environment" across all of its departments, and noted that the two electric school buses will join the district's fleet of all compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. Image courtesy EV Safe Charge

On Nov. 1, Colton (Calif.) Joint Unified School District joined its partners, including Creative Bus Sales, drivetrain technology supplier Motiv Power Systems, charging infrastructure supplier EV Safe Charge, and the California Energy Commission, in a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the delivery of two Type C Starcraft eQuest XL electric school buses.

The buses were funded in part by a grant through the California Energy Commission and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

The CEO and founder of Motiv Power Systems, Jim Castelaz, discussed how the electric buses reduce children's exposure to air pollution. Image courtesy EV Safe Charge

Mark Matijevich, vice president of operations for Creative Bus Sales, told event attendees that in addition to reducing emissions, the district's electric buses will reduce operating expenses for fuel by up to 85% and cut maintenance costs by two-thirds. Image courtesy EV Safe Charge