Manassas City Public Schools
Manassas, Virginia
Manassas City Public Schools
Highland Electric Fleets is collaborating with Manassas City Public Schools to introduce 12 electric buses and chargers over three years. This partnership, blending private capital and public funding, eliminates upfront costs for districts. This initiative aligns seamlessly with the city’s sustainability plan and the school board’s commitment to eco-friendly transport.
“The purchase of the electric buses supports our efforts towards a greener, more eco-friendly school transportation system. We look forward to monitoring the progress and impact of this initiative as we work with Highland to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Andy Hawkins
Executive Director of Finance & Operations at Manassas
Press Coverage
Manassas City Public Schools Partners with Highland Electric Fleets to Deploy 12 Electric School Buses to Manassas, VA | PR Newswire
Highland Electric partners with Virginia school district | The Buzz EV News
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.
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.