Peak to Peak Charter School
Lafayette, Colorado
Peak to Peak Charter School
Nestled in the Boulder Valley School District, Peak to Peak Charter School has forged a transformative alliance with Highland Electric Fleets to unveil a fleet of all-electric school buses. Fueled by Colorado’s SB 193, a $65 million allocation for electric school buses, Highland orchestrated the project, delivering cost-effective infrastructure and presenting IC and Collins/Lightning electric buses. The initiative, supported by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, aims to transition to cleaner transportation, benefiting students, drivers, and communities, providing not just buses, but a pathway to a greener future. Highland’s comprehensive electrification service allows Peak to Peak to avoid high upfront costs and provides clean, reliable transportation for students at a fixed price.
“Without the expertise of Highland Electric Fleets, Peak to Peak would not have been able to build an electric bus fleet from the ground up”
Sam Todd
Executive Director of Operations, Peak to Peak Charter School
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming electric school bus events at Peak to Peak Charter School. 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.