Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) now boasts the nation’s largest electric school fleet, celebrating 86 new electric buses, marking a significant move toward sustainability. In partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, MCPS plans to replace 326 diesel buses with electric ones by 2025. This initiative aligns with Maryland’s Climate Solutions Now Act, mandating electric school bus purchases by 2025. The shift addresses environmental and health concerns, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by replacing 17,000 gallons of daily diesel fuel usage. The collaboration with Highland, using an innovative public-private partnership, emphasizes the feasibility and affordability of large-scale electric school bus adoption.
“From the initial concept to rollout, Highland has been there every step of the way, answering questions…They’ve made a complicated process smooth and simple”
Jim Beasley
Bethesada Depot Manager, MCPS, MD
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming electric school bus events at MCPS. 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.