Compton Unified School District
Compton, California
Compton Unified School District
Compton Unified School District (CUSD) in California recently added 25 new electric school buses to their fleet. CUSD is implementing 25 buses from Thomas Built and 25 DC fast chargers from Tellus. The project was made possible in part by funds from the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, as well as collaboration with Southern California Edison and Durham School Services.
CUSD serves more than 17,000 students in Compton and parts of Carson and Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County, where 1 in 11 children have asthma, these new zero-emissions buses are critical in providing cleaner and healthier transportation in the community.
“These buses represent more than just a ride to school. They represent a brighter, cleaner, and a healthier future for our students.”
Sandra Moss
Compton School Board Trustee
Events
We celebrated with Compton Unified School District at their Electric School Bus Ribbon Cutting Event as they unveiled their 25 new electric school buses!
Read the press coverage:
Kids will soon be riding electric school buses in this L.A. County school district | KTLA
California District Celebrates First Electric School Buses | School Bus Fleet
Compton, California, just got its first 25 electric school buses | Electrek
Videos
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.