Beverly Public Schools
Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly Public Schools
Beverly Public Schools was one of the first districts in the country to use their electric school buses for more than transportation. They are pioneering an innovative approach to meet high electricity demand by utilizing electric buses as on-demand power plants. Equipped with bidirectional chargers, the buses’ batteries send excess energy back to the grid. The project began in 2021 with one bus and expanded to two, contributing seven megawatt hours last summer, the equivalent of powering over two hundred homes for an entire day. The concept leverages electric buses’ large lithium-ion batteries and idle summer periods, offering an eco-friendly solution for grid support and potential nationwide impact. The district has now expanded to four buses.
“It’s better for the environment, it’s better for students and staff, and it’s more affordable.”
Dana Cruikshank
Transportation Director, Beverly Public Schools, MA
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming electric school bus events at Beverly School District. Please check back later for updates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is an electric bus structurally any different than a traditional bus?
No. Electric school buses are structurally identical to their traditional counterparts. They are built on the same chassis as diesel buses by many of the same manufacturers, including Blue Bird, Thomas Built Buses, and IC. Electric school buses meet all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS).
What are the health benefits of electric school buses?
Electric school buses eliminate student, driver, and community exposure to diesel fumes, which have been linked to childhood asthma, respiratory illnesses, and absenteeism. These effects are often more severe in historically marginalized and underrepresented communities.
How far can a fully-charged bus travel?
Depending on the model, a typical electric school bus can travel 100-120+ miles on a full charge. This range makes electric school buses suitable for more than 90% of all school bus routes in the United States. Electric school buses also have a regenerative braking mode that enables them to partially recharge while they’re being driven, which can help extend range.
What is vehicle-to-grid technology?
Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology allows an electric school bus to both draw energy from the grid to charge its batteries, and discharge energy from its batteries back to the grid when the community needs it. This bi-directional charging infrastructure transforms an electric school bus into a valuable Distributed Energy Resource (DER) — effectively a large battery that utilities can draw on during periods of peak demand to reduce strain on the electric grid and make communities more resilient. Utilities with V2G programs pay for this extra power, which can help reduce the cost of electrification.