East St. Louis School District 189
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis School District 189
East St. Louis School District 189 is transitioning to an electric school bus fleet. The district will deploy 25 Thomas Built electric school buses and 25 Heliox EV chargers, with operations scheduled to begin in the 2025–2026 school year. The new electric fleet will add to the district’s existing 80-bus operation and will serve students across seven schools.
The project is being delivered in close partnership with North American Central School Bus (NACSB) and Highland. NACSB will operate and maintain the buses, while Highland is managing the charging infrastructure and long-term electrification support.
“Our students deserve clean, safe, and modern transportation. These electric buses reduce harmful air pollution, reflect our commitment to safety, and help ensure that every child arrives at school ready to learn and thrive. This is an exciting step forward for student wellness and a cleaner, healthier future for East St. Louis.”
Arthur R. Culver
Superintendent of East St. Louis School District 189
Events
We recently celebrated the launch of the electric school bus project with a groundbreaking event!
Read the press coverage:
East St. Louis School District 189 Marks Next Phase in Electric School Bus Project | PR Newswire
Illinois District Debuts Charging Depot for 25 Electric School Buses | School Bus Fleet
Bus Talk
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.
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.